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Page 1

DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP OF BALTIMORE

Application: Baltimore Culinary Exchange Grant


By completing and submitting this application, you certify that the statements and answers within are true and accurate to the best of your knowledge and that you are authorized to apply for these funds on behalf of the applicant.


Applicants will be responsible for complying with all Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Inc. (DPOB) program requirements and with any City, State or federal reporting requirements related to any funds received from the Baltimore Culinary Exchange Grant.


Additionally, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Inc. may be required to disclose information about grant applicants and awardees to the City of Baltimore and its agencies and the Maryland General Assembly and may desire to disclose such information to other State officials or their staff, local government officials or their staff, and other lenders and funding sources.  


DPOB's funding is available to support businesses and/or property owners with projects within the Downtown Management Authority boundaries. 

Check to see if your business/property is in the Downtown Management Authority boundaries. 

Map
APPLICANT INFORMATION


NOTE-READ CAREFULLY: If the applicant is a business entity, your legal name, needs to be typed as it appears on your Certificate of Good Standing with the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT).  If the applicant is a general partnership or sole proprietorship, your legal name needs to be typed as it appears on your Business Registration with the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT).    However, only capitalize the first letter of each word unless your official name includes more capitalization. Also, please use the exact spelling of such suffixes as Inc. or Incorporation and use exact abbreviation and punctuation as used in the SDAT Certificate of Good Standing or Business Registration. Being attentive to this will ensure faster processing of your application. For More Information visit: https://egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/EntitySearch

Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.

DIRECTIONS: Upload a screenshot from the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) website showing the applicant's good standing status or business registration. 


NOTE: You DO NOT need to purchase an official Certificate of Good Standing, but the screen shot showing the good standing status or business registration MUST show a date and the date must not be older than 30 days prior to the date the application is submitted.





NOTE-READ CAREFULLY: This Federal ID# MUST be the same as listed on the W-9 submitted with this application. Please carefully review and ensure that these items are correct before submitting.


Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.

DIRECTIONS: The name on the W-9 must be the legal name of the applicant business and should be exactly as it appears on your Certificate of Good Standing or Business Registration with the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT). In addition, the Federal ID# and mailing address on the W-9 must be the same as the one you provide in this application. Please carefully review and ensure that these items are correct before submitting. Being attentive to this will ensure faster processing of your application.


Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.

DIRECTIONS: Upload a signed and dated copy of the Debarment Affidavit which can be found on DPOB’s website: Grants For Downtown Businesses.

NOTE: This document must be signed by a legal signatory for the applicant business or organization.


Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.

DIRECTIONS: Upload a signed and dated copy of the Assurance of Compliance which can be found on DPOB’s website: Grants For Downtown Businesses.


NOTE: This document must be signed by a legal signatory for the applicant business or organization.


Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.

DIRECTIONS: If your application is awarded a grant from DPOB funds will be disbursed via electronic fund transfer. Please upload a completed and signed ACH/Deposit Authorization Form. Providing this information at the time of application ensures faster processing of payments to support your project activities.

Mailing Address: This mailing address MUST be the same as listed on the W-9 submitted with this application.  Please carefully review and ensure that these items are correct before submitting.




Contact Information: Please provide the primary contact for this application.






Please provide business’ website and social media information:







As of January 1, 2025, how many employees does your business have:



work less than 40 hours/week

How many employees do you estimate will be hired:



work less than 40 hours/week




Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.


Please provide the following information for the owner/operator of the business:



Page 2

APPLICANT FINANCIALS AND BUSINESS INFORMATION:


DIRECTIONS: 

Based on your answers above, if you are an Existing Business (in operations two or more years) upload two years of your profit and loss statements or federal tax return. If you are a New Business upload a copy or your business plan and pro forma and if applicable, your most recent profit and loss statement.


Upload, in a single file, a copy of your Profit & Loss Statement or Federal Tax Return or Business Plan and Business Pro forma as applicable based on date business was established.


Upload Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.

Please answer EACH of the following: Provide (a) a brief description of current business operations, (b) planned use for the requested funds and how those funds will benefit business operations and (c) the financial capability to start, sustain or expand operations in the space, including specific information from your uploaded most recent financial statements and/or business plan/pro forma.



Page 3

PROPERTY INFORMATION:

Provide the address of the property that the business currently occupies or will occupy if you are requesting funding to support a new location for your business.






Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.

Upload a screenshot from the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation's Real Property Database showing the applicant owns the property.  For more information and to obtain the screenshot visit:  https://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx


Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.
NOTE: If the facility/property was recently purchased and the Real Property Database is not updated to show you as the owner, please provide a copy of your deed or HUD-1 settlement statement indicating a change in ownership from the property owner of record currently on the Real Property Database and you as the new owner.

Please upload the following pictures: (1) at least 2 photos of exterior view of property with business signage visible (2) at least 3 photos of interior of business operations – photos should include people/activities related to the business operating out of the property.


Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.


Please upload a copy of  the signed and dated lease agreement for the property.


Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.

Please upload the following pictures: (1) at least 2 photo of exterior view of property with business signage visible (2) at least 3 photos of interior of business operations – photos should include people/activities related to the business operating out of the property.


Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.


Page 4

GRANT REQUEST
The BCX Grant offers two grant opportunities

Operations-Only Grant: $10,000-$40,000 to support existing or new businesses with general operating costs. 
Grant funds can be used for operating costs related to sustaining and growing the business, such as but not limited to staff costs (including training and certifications), marketing, inventory and supplies, equipment, systems software, rent and utilities, as well as other business operations and/or start-up costs.

Building & Operations Grant: $50,000 to $200,000 to support existing or new businesses with interior and/or exterior property improvements and general operating costs. 
Grant funds must be used for both property improvements and operating costs. Request for operating costs may not exceed 25% of the total requested funds. 
Operations: Grant funds can be used for operating costs related to sustaining and growing the business, such as but not limited to staff costs (including training and certifications), marketing, inventory and supplies, equipment, systems software, rent and utilities, as well as other business operations and/or start-up costs. 

Building: Grant funds can be used for exterior property improvements such as but not limited to signage and lighting, cleaning and/or painting building exterior, historic restoration/renovations and repair, removal and/or installation of windows and door and interior improvements such as painting, flooring, furniture/fixtures and other costs associated with tenant improvements.


Minimum Request Amount: $10,000                    Maximum Request Amount: $40,000

$
Please do not add a comma to the amount.

Based on the use of funds described upload costs estimates, proposals and/or contracts for the specific business operations support you are requesting funds for in the application

Upload Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.
Minimum Request Amount: $50,000                    Maximum Request Amount: $200,000

$
Please do not add a comma to the amount.

$
Please do not add a comma to the amount.
Note: Request for operating costs may not exceed 25% of the total requested funds.

$
Current Building Conditions:
Please upload 3-5 photographs showing the current conditions of the property. Include photos that show specifically what elements of the property (interior and/or exterior) are to be improved should you project be awarded funding as well as general views of the property.

Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.
Building Improvements:
Please upload a signed and dated letter from your landlord that acknowledges they are aware you are applying for a DPOB grant and agree to the exterior and/or interior property improvements requested in you application.

Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.
Please upload conceptual design plans for the proposed interior and/or exterior improvements. For signage projects, include renderings that depict sign lettering style, size and sign dimensions.

Upload Image or Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.
Please upload a detailed line-item budget from a registered/licensed contractor or licensed architect for your total project costs.

Upload Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.
Please upload 2 written costs estimates/bids from licensed construction professionals for the specific interior and/or exterior improvements you are requesting funds for in this application

Upload Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.
Business Operations:

Based on the use of funds described in the previous question, upload costs estimates, proposals and/or contracts for the specific business operations support you are requesting funds for in this application.

Upload Office documents only. Combined file size of all upload fields must be 30 MB or less.
BUDGET: Use of Requested Funds Below list separately each item/activity, including the dollar amount, which will be supported by this grant request.  Be specific. DO NOT write “Misc Expenses” or “Other”.  BE SURE LINE ITEMS TOTAL THE SAME AMOUNT YOU ENTERED ABOVE IN THE GRANT REQUEST SECTION AND DESCRIBED IN THE BUDGET NARRATIVE SECTION.                  USES OF FUNDS                                       AMOUNT REQUESTED 
$
Please do not add a comma to the amount.
$

Budget Narrative:

BUDGET: Use of Requested Funds Below list separately for Building Improvements and Business Operations each item/activity, including the dollar amount, which will be supported by this grant request. Be specific. DO NOT write “Misc Expenses” or “Other”.  BE SURE LINE ITEMS TOTAL THE SAME AMOUNT YOU ENTERED ABOVE IN THE GRANT REQUEST SECTION AND DESCRIBED IN THE BUDGET NARRATIVE SECTION. Grant Request for Building Improvements USES OF FUNDS: Building Improvements             AMOUNT REQUESTED 
$
Please do not add a comma to the amount.
$
Grant Request for Business Operations BE SURE LINE ITEMS TOTAL THE SAME AMOUNT YOU ENTERED ABOVE IN THE GRANT REQUEST SECTION AND DESCRIBED IN THE BUDGET NARRATIVE SECTION. USES OF FUNDS: Business Operations                  AMOUNT REQUESTED 
$
Please do not add a comma to the amount.
$


Budget Narrative:

ARPA FUNDING
The 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided funding to the City of Baltimore through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts. The City awarded ARPA Funds to support DPOB’s business assistance grant programs to ensure that businesses have the resources needed to recover from the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic on their business operations.





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