The Baltimore BASE (Business Assistance and Support for Equity) Network is a partnership of entrepreneurial support organizations led by the Baltimore Development Corporation and the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development that is committed to helping Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) owned small businesses located in Baltimore City access pandemic-related recovery assistance. The Network was launched in April 2020 and has helped more than 2,000 Baltimore businesses access upwards of $40 million in recovery assistance.

In January 2022, the Network launched a new initiative, called the Economic Recovery Fund. This program is being administered in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs and is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. The Economic Recovery Fund will provide grants and technical assistance to small businesses with the goals of helping businesses recover, stabilize, and grow.

Throughout 2022, the Baltimore BASE Network will administer several rounds of grant programs to small businesses through the Economic Recovery Fund.

To be eligible, businesses must be located in Baltimore City and established as of February 2020. Priority will be given to BIPOC-owned businesses with fewer than 10 employees, including sole-proprietors. Grant funds will be used to help small businesses invest in critical business services to address pandemic-related challenges or opportunities, such as e-commerce, technology, marketing, human resources, legal, and accounting.

The first grant application window will be January 18 to February 3 2022. View the grant terms and conditions here. Sign up here if you would like to request assistance in completing the application.