Baltimore Is Handing Out $200,000 to Restaurants

Baltimore is stepping up efforts to revitalize its downtown with a new grant program offering up to $200,000 to restaurants in the area. The initiative is aimed at supporting both new and existing food businesses located within a designated 106-block zone, which includes landmarks like Lexington Market and the Convention Center.

The new funding opportunity, called the Baltimore Culinary Exchange (BCX), is part of Mayor Brandon Scott’s broader Downtown RISE plan, a 10-year strategy to breathe new life into the city’s commercial core.

“Baltimore’s restaurants don’t just serve food, they create jobs, drive our economy, and bring people together,” said Scott in a statement announcing the program.

Downtown Baltimore, including the Inner Harbor, has struggled in recent years, with numerous business closures linked to falling foot traffic, economic challenges, and infrastructure problems. For example, several restaurants on North Charles Street were forced to close for weeks last year due to an underground fire.

The BCX grant program is designed to help turn things around. It offers two funding tiers:

• Operations-only grants of up to $40,000
• Grants up to $200,000 for businesses looking to make property improvements in addition to operational support

For entrepreneurs like Sumayyah Bilal, owner of Codetta Bake Shop, the grant could be a game changer. She’s preparing to open a new location on Howard Street and is hoping for support to offset the nearly $900,000 cost of building out the space — especially since she’s avoiding traditional loans for religious reasons. “That would be a big step in the right direction,” she said.

Administered by the Downtown Partnership and funded through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the grant program aims to help restaurant owners both stabilize and upgrade their businesses.

Applications are open now, with a deadline of May 30. Click here to get started.