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Business Funding & Incentives

Learn more about the useful and wide-ranging resources available to grow and expand your business.

Targeted Assistance Programs

Montgomery County Economic Development Grant and Loan Program

Financial assistance to private employers who retain jobs or stimulate new job creation in Montgomery County.

Priority is given to the following businesses:

  • high technology companies
  • manufacturing companies
  • businesses located in urban revitalization areas, and
  • other private employers providing the greatest public benefits.

Amount

The typical amount of EDF assistance ranges from $5,000 to $100,000. Higher amounts are possible for businesses involved in large projects.

Evaluation Criteria

Projected employment growth and capital investment, or other positive economic impacts that the County's assistance will facilitate.

  • Financial history and projections, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  • Background of the company and its management.
  • Present and future market outlook for the business.

The applications will be further evaluated using “priority” criteria to arrive at a funding decision.

Priority will be given to:

  • cases where the private employer's business will create significant employment growth by creating new jobs within 1 to 3 years of funding.
  • cases that will result in significant capital investment in the county.
  • assistance that will materially improve the County's economy and advance the County's economic development objectives and strategies.
  • cases where County funding complements and leverages existing state and private sector funding programs.

Montgomery County SBIR/STTR Matching Grant Program

Thank you for your interest in the Montgomery County SBIR/STTR Matching Grant Program. Currently, the County’s Executive Branch and MCEDC are working with the Council’s PHED Committee on revisions to this program. We are excited that these changes will make this program work even better for more Montgomery County businesses. A new application period and other details will be announced after the changes are adopted and formalized, which is anticipated to be sometime in the Fall.  If you have any questions, please contact the Montgomery County Business Center:  [email protected]

Montgomery County MOVE Program

The MOVE program is an innovative approach intended to attract new businesses to Montgomery County, Maryland. Eligible new businesses will receive a one-time grant upon signing a commercial lease within the county.

Businesses new to the county that lease up to 20,000 square feet of Class A or B office space may receive a grant of $8/sf. All grants are capped at 10,000 square feet for purposes of calculating the grant award.

Certain limitations apply. Businesses should review the MOVE Program application to determine if they meet the eligibility criteria. 

Participation in the program involves 3 simple steps:

  1. Sign a 3 year (minimum) commercial lease.
  2. Complete an application .
  3. Mail the completed application along with the supporting documents to:

    Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation
    Attn: Chief Executive Officer
    1801 Rockville Pike, Suite 320
    Rockville, MD 20852

Supporting documentation includes a copy of the signed lease and evidence of occupancy (i.e., a utility bill). The MOVE Program Application details the documentation that is required. 

Applications must be received within 90 days of lease signing.

Once an application is reviewed and approved, the applicant will receive a grant based on the square feet leased. A pre-qualification letter can be issued upon request.

What People Are Saying:

“Being in one of the most educated, commuter-friendly and culturally rich business centers of Montgomery County will greatly accelerate the continuing growth and success of L-Soft. As a pioneer in the permission email industry, L-Soft is pleased to be the first company in the county’s innovative MOVE program, and we look forward to many more decades of success and strong relationships with our current and future customers, in the National Capital area and around the world.”

— Eric Thomas,
Founder and CEO of L-Soft and inventor of LISTSERV

“This rent subsidy will greatly enhance Montgomery County's reputation as a pro-business environment. Office rents are typically one of the highest expenses on a company's financial statement and the proposed subsidy represents a significant reduction in start-up and relocation expenses. The workplace has now become both a hiring and retention tool for employers. As these employers seek to attract the best and brightest employees while also reigning in real estate costs, this subsidy will create a competitive advantage for Montgomery County, not only as a place to work, but also to live.”

—Scott C. Randolph,
Senior Vice President, TRANSWESTERN

Biotechnology Investor Incentive Program

Montgomery County was first in the nation with a local biotechnology investment incentive program.

The Montgomery County Biotechnology Investor Incentive Program is a supplemental grant available to investors of biotechnology companies located in Montgomery County. Investors who are approved and receive tax credits from the Maryland Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit Program will automatically receive the supplemental grant from the County. The supplemental grants are typically disbursed between March and May each year for investments made in the previous calendar year.

For more information, contact the Montgomery County Department of Finance at 240-777-8860.

Cybersecurity Tax Credit Supplement Program

The county's local incentive program aimed at spurring job and business growth in the cybersecurity sector. Montgomery County offers a local supplement to the Maryland Cybersecurity Investment Incentive Tax Credit to Qualified Maryland Cybersecurity Companies that receive a final Maryland tax credit certificate and have their headquarters and base of operations in Montgomery County. The program is subject to appropriation of funds. For more information, contact the Montgomery County Department of Finance at 240-777-8860.

Small Business Plus!

  • Montgomery County has deposited funds in community banks and these banks have agreed to focus on lending to small businesses in the County. The following banks are participating:

*Inclusion in the Small Business Plus! program does not imply endorsement by Montgomery County Government.

Targeted Assistance Programs

Montgomery County Small Business Assistance Program

The Montgomery County Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP) assists certain small businesses located in the County that are adversely impacted by a County-funded redevelopment project or a redevelopment project located on County-owned property. 

The SBAP is currently focused on the Wheaton Redevelopment Project, a public-private partnership between Montgomery County and
Stonebridge-Carras. The SBAP can provide technical and financial assistance to small businesses that meet eligibility requirements and criteria for assistance including:

1) Is the business a small business?
2) Is the business financially healthy?
3) What is the remaining term of the business’s lease?
4) Did the business participate in any required technical assistance programs?

After participating in the required technical assistance program, a business seeking financial assistance must complete a  Small Business Assistance Program Application (English - page 4, Español - página 7) and provide, at a minimum, the information and documentation requested in the application.

Montgomery County Small Business Impact Assistance

The Impact Assistance Fund will provide financial assistance and/or technical assistance to certain financially healthy small businesses in designated areas of the County that are adversely impacted by a redevelopment project initiated by the County, a redevelopment project located on County-owned property, or a redevelopment project constructed by a private entity for use in whole or in part by the County as a public facility. Financial assistance may take the form of a conditional grant or a loan.

The objective of the Fund is to help businesses continue operations during and after a redevelopment project. The maximum amount of assistance a business can receive under the program is $25,000. Businesses receiving assistance from the Impact Assistance Fund are not eligible to receive assistance from the Small Business Assistance Program.

Program Guidelines
Impact Assistance Application Form

MicroLoan Program

Montgomery County created a microloan program that provides loans ranging from $500 to $15,000 for County residents needing additional help to start and grow small businesses. The County has contracted with two experienced microloan providers – Life Asset and Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) – to underwrite and monitor the portfolio of microloans generated through the Microloan Program.  For information, please inquire directly with LEDC or Life Asset.