FLAVORS (above) is one of the county businesses that received grants through the Greater Washington Community Foundation. IROK Consulting, featured in the lead photo, is another county business that was given a grant recently.

Greater Washington Community Foundation Awards $330,000 In Grants To Support Prince George’s County Small Businesses

With Funding Made Possible by PNC Foundation, 17 Small Businesses Along Blue and Purple Line Corridors Receive Grants, Coaching, Technical Assistance

REPRINTED COURTESY OF THE GREATER WASHINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

In April 2024, The Community Foundation, with funding from the PNC Foundation, announced the Small Business Support Program - an initiative to support small businesses located along the Purple Line and Blue Line corridors.

In support of our Small Business Partners, The Community Foundation is excited to highlight the work and mission of these incredible organizations and the impact that they've had in empowering and uplifting their respective communities.

The Greater Washington Community Foundation has awarded over $330,000 in grants from the Prince George’s County Small Business Support Program to invest in small business infrastructure and development in Prince George’s County. The program was made possible by funding from the PNC Foundation.

Seventeen small businesses operating along the Purple Line and Blue Line corridors will receive up to $20,000 in grant funding, plus additional business coaching and technical assistance. The grants and assistance will enable businesses to harness the economic benefits of development along the transit corridors. All grant recipients are small businesses with 10 or fewer employees and have operated out of a location within Prince George’s County targeted corridors for more than three years.

The grant program was designed with insight and guidance from several leading business groups in the county – including LISC, Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce, Purple Line Coalition, Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation, FSC First, and Bowie BIC – to support the growth and sustainability of small businesses as key employers and economic drivers in the county.

“95-percent of all businesses in Prince George’s County are small businesses and they contribute nearly half of all jobs in the county,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “We are proud to work with the PNC Foundation to enhance small business infrastructure and connect business capital to the region’s economic anchors to help individuals and families in Prince George’s County build wealth and set a new paradigm for economic development in the county.”

Small businesses along the Purple Line and Blue Line corridors in Prince George’s County face significant challenges while these transformational infrastructure projects are under development. Due to disruptions caused by construction, as well as the ongoing effects of the pandemic, small businesses require increased access to resources and support for operational costs, technical upgrades and other assistance to retain and grow their customer base and workforce.

“PNC is excited to partner with the Greater Washington Community Foundation to provide capital and technical assistance to small businesses in Prince Georges County,” said Jermaine Johnson, PNC regional president for Greater Washington. “The grants will advance economic opportunity for small business owners, their employees and the surrounding community. Although the transportation improvements will positively impact this corridor in the long term, the disruption during construction will temporarily delay progress. This much-needed capital and technical support will serve as a bridge.”

The grant funding will help cover operational costs (payroll, rent, utilities, etc.), equipment or technology, renovations, and training/certifications to build business capacity for sustainability and strategic growth. Grants were awarded to companies supplying critical goods and services across multiple industries including IT, business services, restaurants and catering, health, childcare and beauty. Two-thirds (67%) of grant recipients identify as women-owned or Black-owned, while nearly a quarter (22%) are Latino/a-owned.

Below are a few examples of small businesses that received grants and how they play a critical role in our community.

Chapina Bakery

In business for 20 years, Chapina Bakery is a Guatemalan-style bakery that provides customers with a taste of their homeland. For Chapina, construction of the Purple Line has caused traffic and other issues near the bakery, which has resulted in fewer customers and lower sales. This grant will support operations (wages, rent, utilities) and costs to repair bakery equipment.

Oral Health Guardians

In business for three years, Oral Health Guardians is a pediatric dentistry practice and one of the few dental practices in Maryland that is a Medicaid provider in the Healthy Smiles program ensuring all children have access to care. This grant will help offset the operating expenses of salaries, equipment, and rent to help expand capacity to hire additional staff and increase efficiencies.

Perfect Harmony II

In business for nine years, Perfect Harmony II is a licensed childcare center that provides full day, year-round childcare. This grant will support rent payments and the purchase of computer equipment to help teachers implement the Maryland State Early Learning Assessment. This will allow Perfect Harmony II the financial flexibility to purchase more accessible outdoor play equipment required to pursue the highest Maryland EXCELS rating and become accredited.