Financing and Loans
A variety of funding resources are available to Annapolis companies, from small businesses selling locally, to those engaged in international trade. Businesses in Annapolis have a variety of funding sources to help take their ventures to the next level.
The City of Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, and the State of Maryland offer a wide range of financing and tax credits that provide new and existing businesses with the opportunity to reduce costs, spur investment, increase revenues, and create jobs.
Annapolis Tax and Financial Incentives
When making decisions about your business, costs are important. We recognize your investment in the community and the City of Annapolis wants to help you invest more of your resources in your business. Incentives are the City’s investment in its economic future and your business.
Sprinkler Cost Assistance Program
Annapolis Arts and Entertainment District Tax Benefits and Incentives
Maryland Historical Trust Financial Assistance Programs
Anne Arundel County
Through the City’s partnership with Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, businesses may qualify for available loans.
Arundel Community Reinvestment (ACR) Fund - Loans up to $100,000 to be repaid over three to seven years at zero percent interest available to businesses located in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County-designated revitalization districts. Eligible improvements include renovation and upgrades to building exteriors and site improvements, including landscaping.
VOLT Fund - Small and minority, women and veteran owned businesses in Maryland may be eligible for loan between $25,000 to $500,000 for purposes such as business and commercial real estate acquisition and expansion, lease-hold improvements, equipment, and working capital.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program - An affiliated lending program that allows property owners to make energy efficient upgrades with no money down. The financing is then repaid as a benefit assessment on the property tax bill over long terms (up to 20 years).
Workforce Training Grant - A matching grant program to help fund on-the-job training, classroom/offsite training, purchasing training software, and train-the-trainer scenarios.
State of Maryland
Maryland Department of Commerce offers various financial incentives that include venture capital investments and tax credits, direct loans, grants and loan guarantees.
Job Creation Tax Credit - Annapolis businesses may qualify for an income tax credit of $5,000 per new job if creating 25 new full-time jobs.
Federal Grants
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development. The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) is another program that expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation research and development arena.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant
Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) Grant
Equity Funding
An equity investment generally refers to the buying and holding of shares of stock on a stock market by individuals and firms in anticipation of income from dividends and capital gains, as the value of the stock rises. Connect with investors at Gust, Angelist, MyCapital, Mid-Atlantic Venture Association and Funding Post.
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is the process of raising money to fund a project or business venture through many donors using an online platform. Today, in addition to some of the first crowdfunding platforms Kickstarter and Indiegogo, others have been developed to cater to specific categories.