MDOT - Maryland Department of Transportation
05/07/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/07/2026 06:42
Maryland Department of Transportation Celebrates National Small Business Week, Announces $600,000 in Purple Line Small Business Grants
More than 200 Small Businesses Along the Purple Line Have Received Grants Totaling $2.6 Million
HANOVER, MD (May 7, 2026) - The Maryland Department of Transportation celebrates small businesses across Maryland during National Small Business Week (May 3-9). Small businesses are the fabric of Maryland's economy and its communities, and during National Small Business Week, the Maryland Department of Transportation recognizes the resiliency of small business owners, celebrates their contributions and re-affirms its commitment to helping small businesses grow.
"Maryland is a national leader in economic inclusion, innovation and shared prosperity for all," said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. "With nearly 700,000 small businesses in Maryland and more than 40% of small businesses minority-owned, the Maryland Department of Transportation remains committed to supporting and partnering with small businesses."
Today, the Maryland Department of Transportation announced $600,000 in new grants to support operations at 60 small businesses impacted by the construction of the Purple Line. The Maryland Department of Transportation created the Purple Line Small Business Grant Program in 2024 and has awarded nearly 250 grants totaling $2.6 million to small businesses in Montgomery and Prince George's counties. For additional information about the program and a complete list of grant awards, click here .
Last week, the Maryland Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Department of Social and Economic Mobility, hosted a "Ready, Set, Grow!" workshop. The workshop provided businesses with information about the State's procurement process, tools and resources and the Maryland Department of Transportation's upcoming contracting opportunities. In addition to the "Ready, Set Grow!" workshops, the Department of Social and Economic Mobility also offers Trainings & Insights for Procurement Success (T.I.P.S.) webinars to provide information and resources to small businesses.
The Purple Line is nearing 90% completion of construction and live testing is underway along portions of the system. Work continues to install overhead catenary lines to power the system, complete stations and test systems. The Purple Line is set to open in late 2027.
The Purple Line Small Business Grant Program distributes grants in three rounds each year. Grant awards to eligible businesses are prioritized based on the location of the business and its proximity to areas most significantly impacted by construction in the prior and upcoming six months. Grant amounts vary by business size and location and funds may be used for any business-related expenses. Eligible small businesses must primarily conduct business with customers onsite at a location within one-quarter of a mile of the Purple Line and have been open and operational since July 1, 2023.
This is a highly competitive grant program and not all businesses that are eligible will receive funding. Businesses that did not receive an award from this round of funding and businesses that did not apply are encouraged to apply in the next funding cycle, which opens June 29, 2026. Program details, full eligibility requirements and a link to the grant application can be found here .
The Maryland Transit Administration is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States. The Purple Line is a 16-mile, 21-station light rail line connecting communities from New Carrollton in Prince George's County to Bethesda in Montgomery County. The Purple Line will directly connect to the Metrorail's Red, Green and Orange Lines at Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park and New Carrollton. The Purple Line will also connect to MARC, Amtrak and local bus services. To learn more, visit purplelinemd.com and follow the project's progress on Facebook , Instagram , X , YouTube , Threads and Bluesky .
MDOT - Maryland Department of Transportation published this content on May 07, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 07, 2026 at 12:42 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]