Grant Program Overview:
The Community Engagement Cluster and the Office of Grants Management are soliciting grant applications under the County’s FY 2024 Emerging Business Districts Grants Program, which aims to establish Business Improvement Districts or Urban District Corporations within Montgomery County by subsidizing the formation and support of non-profit commercial district management entities to conduct place making, place management, branding, and economic development activities in a designated neighborhood. A total of $450,000 will be made available to fund awards between $100,000 and $300,000 for up to 12 months. Applicants may submit multi-year funding proposals for up to three years but funding beyond the first 12 months will be contingent on both satisfactory project performance and availability of funding. Montgomery County Government will hold a virtual Information Session on the date indicated below to allow eligible and interested applicants the chance to ask questions about the solicitation and receive guidance on how to complete the application form.
Key dates for this program are:
- Program Opens for Applications: Wednesday, December 6, 2023 12:00AM
- MS Teams Live Online Grant Program Information Session: Monday, December 11, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
- Submission Deadline: Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at 11:59 PM
Program Resources:
- FY24 Emerging Business Districts Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) document in .pdf format
- Click here to view the virtual Information Session [note: you will be able to open Microsoft Teams to view the recording, but you may also select the "Watch on the web instead" option to view directly in your web browser.]
- Information Session Presentation Slides
- Information Session Questions and Answers
- 5 Steps to Prepare for Montgomery County Grants
The BID and UDC establishment process can be roughly divided into three phases to be completed over an estimated period of three years: (1) planning, (2) outreach, and (3) legislative approval. While the long-term goal of this program is to support the establishment of BIDs and UDCs, selected awardees are anticipated to be at various points along the continuum of the three phases. The support provided under this grants program aims to help applicants advance through these phases.
Target Population
The direct target population for this Grants Program are organizations that are already working towards becoming a BID or UDC. The indirect target populations are businesses, organizations, and residents of Montgomery County benefitting from their work.
Funding Priorities
Montgomery County Government will prioritize awards to organizations that demonstrate the following in their applications:
- Efforts towards becoming an independent business district
- Broad-based community support for the commercial district revitalization process, with strong support from both the public and private sectors or a plan for obtaining the needed community support
- Vision and mission statements relevant to community condition and equity principles
- Clear and measurable milestones
- Cultural proficiency
- Inclusivity of the LGBTQIA+ community members
- Application of a racial equity lens
The application will consist of the following Tasks:
- Applicant Information – Organization mission, contact information, background documents and optional demographics (Reusable Task)
- Applicant Background - Optional demographic and organization size questions (Reusable Task)
- Project Strategy – Series of narrative questions detailing the proposed project
- Project Budget and Budget Narrative – Explanation of proposed project costs
- Project Staffing Plan - Proposed allocation, Level of Effort and qualifications of staff required to successfully implement the project
- Project Work Plan/Timeline – Proposed project implementation schedule
- Performance Plan and Performance History – Outline of metrics to be collected, targets for each metric, and the data collection method for each metric as well as any qualitative evaluation methods
- Supporting Documents – Optional upload of background documents supporting your proposal
- Application Certification, Acknowledgments, and Assurances – Confirmation of ethics considerations, legal terms, and the authenticity of the application
Additional Task Trainings: The Office Grants Management has provided a series of four trainings focused on a more detailed explanation of each standard Task, optional templates, and past Review Committee feedback on what they felt was useful. Each training session has been recorded and are available by clicking on the links below.
- Applicant Information and Applicant Background Reusable Tasks
- Project Strategy and Project Work Plan/Timeline Tasks
- Project Budget, Project Budget Narrative/Justification, and Project Staffing Plan Tasks
- Performance Plan and Performance History Task
In addition to submitting this application, organizations should also do the following:
- Register and create a profile on this platform for each team member who will be working on your application. Click on the green "Register" button in the top right corner to get started.
- Verify that your organization is registered with the Maryland State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT). Click here to go to the SDAT Business Express site to confirm. Even if your organization is registered in another jurisdiction, you must be registered with SDAT for Montgomery County to finalize an award with your organization.
- If your organization is not in Good Standing with SDAT, take the necessary steps to get back into Good Standing. SDAT will advise what steps are required. Montgomery County cannot finalize an award with you or organization if you are not in Good Standing. Your application for a grant could be disqualified if you are not in Good Standing.
- OGM now REQUIRES that all applicants already be registered with CVRS by each application deadline. Register with the Montgomery County Central Vendor Registration System (CVRS) by clicking here. If you or your organization receives an award from the County then you will need to be registered with CVRS to receive payments.
Questions about the application process can be directed to the Office of Grants Management, by calling 240-773-3344 or emailing grants@montgomerycountymd.gov.
FY24 Emerging Business Districts Grants Program
Grant Program Overview:
The Community Engagement Cluster and the Office of Grants Management are soliciting grant applications under the County’s FY 2024 Emerging Business Districts Grants Program, which aims to establish Business Improvement Districts or Urban District Corporations within Montgomery County by subsidizing the formation and support of non-profit commercial district management entities to conduct place making, place management, branding, and economic development activities in a designated neighborhood. A total of $450,000 will be made available to fund awards between $100,000 and $300,000 for up to 12 months. Applicants may submit multi-year funding proposals for up to three years but funding beyond the first 12 months will be contingent on both satisfactory project performance and availability of funding. Montgomery County Government will hold a virtual Information Session on the date indicated below to allow eligible and interested applicants the chance to ask questions about the solicitation and receive guidance on how to complete the application form.
Key dates for this program are:
- Program Opens for Applications: Wednesday, December 6, 2023 12:00AM
- MS Teams Live Online Grant Program Information Session: Monday, December 11, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
- Submission Deadline: Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at 11:59 PM
Program Resources:
- FY24 Emerging Business Districts Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) document in .pdf format
- Click here to view the virtual Information Session [note: you will be able to open Microsoft Teams to view the recording, but you may also select the "Watch on the web instead" option to view directly in your web browser.]
- Information Session Presentation Slides
- Information Session Questions and Answers
- 5 Steps to Prepare for Montgomery County Grants
The BID and UDC establishment process can be roughly divided into three phases to be completed over an estimated period of three years: (1) planning, (2) outreach, and (3) legislative approval. While the long-term goal of this program is to support the establishment of BIDs and UDCs, selected awardees are anticipated to be at various points along the continuum of the three phases. The support provided under this grants program aims to help applicants advance through these phases.
Target Population
The direct target population for this Grants Program are organizations that are already working towards becoming a BID or UDC. The indirect target populations are businesses, organizations, and residents of Montgomery County benefitting from their work.
Funding Priorities
Montgomery County Government will prioritize awards to organizations that demonstrate the following in their applications:
- Efforts towards becoming an independent business district
- Broad-based community support for the commercial district revitalization process, with strong support from both the public and private sectors or a plan for obtaining the needed community support
- Vision and mission statements relevant to community condition and equity principles
- Clear and measurable milestones
- Cultural proficiency
- Inclusivity of the LGBTQIA+ community members
- Application of a racial equity lens
The application will consist of the following Tasks:
- Applicant Information – Organization mission, contact information, background documents and optional demographics (Reusable Task)
- Applicant Background - Optional demographic and organization size questions (Reusable Task)
- Project Strategy – Series of narrative questions detailing the proposed project
- Project Budget and Budget Narrative – Explanation of proposed project costs
- Project Staffing Plan - Proposed allocation, Level of Effort and qualifications of staff required to successfully implement the project
- Project Work Plan/Timeline – Proposed project implementation schedule
- Performance Plan and Performance History – Outline of metrics to be collected, targets for each metric, and the data collection method for each metric as well as any qualitative evaluation methods
- Supporting Documents – Optional upload of background documents supporting your proposal
- Application Certification, Acknowledgments, and Assurances – Confirmation of ethics considerations, legal terms, and the authenticity of the application
Additional Task Trainings: The Office Grants Management has provided a series of four trainings focused on a more detailed explanation of each standard Task, optional templates, and past Review Committee feedback on what they felt was useful. Each training session has been recorded and are available by clicking on the links below.
- Applicant Information and Applicant Background Reusable Tasks
- Project Strategy and Project Work Plan/Timeline Tasks
- Project Budget, Project Budget Narrative/Justification, and Project Staffing Plan Tasks
- Performance Plan and Performance History Task
In addition to submitting this application, organizations should also do the following:
- Register and create a profile on this platform for each team member who will be working on your application. Click on the green "Register" button in the top right corner to get started.
- Verify that your organization is registered with the Maryland State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT). Click here to go to the SDAT Business Express site to confirm. Even if your organization is registered in another jurisdiction, you must be registered with SDAT for Montgomery County to finalize an award with your organization.
- If your organization is not in Good Standing with SDAT, take the necessary steps to get back into Good Standing. SDAT will advise what steps are required. Montgomery County cannot finalize an award with you or organization if you are not in Good Standing. Your application for a grant could be disqualified if you are not in Good Standing.
- OGM now REQUIRES that all applicants already be registered with CVRS by each application deadline. Register with the Montgomery County Central Vendor Registration System (CVRS) by clicking here. If you or your organization receives an award from the County then you will need to be registered with CVRS to receive payments.
Questions about the application process can be directed to the Office of Grants Management, by calling 240-773-3344 or emailing grants@montgomerycountymd.gov.