Grant Overview

In April 2025, the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore awarded five Operation Storefront grants totaling $200,000, and the program is still accepting applications on a rolling basis right now, even though the February 27, 2026 priority window has passed. If you run a ground-floor business inside Baltimore's Downtown Management Authority and need funding for an interior renovation or retail consulting, this is worth your time. The average award from that April 2025 cycle worked out to around $40,000 per business. No official maximum is published. No matching fund requirement is stated publicly. No lengthy federal registration required. Just a clear scope, a specific geographic boundary, and a donor with over a decade of history backing downtown Baltimore retail.

One thing to clarify upfront: this is not the BOOST program. BOOST is DPOB's separate cohort-based grant for BIPOC-owned businesses. Operation Storefront is different - broader eligibility, different structure, and its own application entirely.

Key Grant Information

Ongoing

01

Operation Storefront DPOB Grant Program

Funded by Downtown Partnership of Baltimore

02

Grant Snapshot

Grant Award

$40,000

Application Deadline

Rolling

Eligible Region

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

03

Eligibility and Benefits

Eligibility Criteria

• Ground-floor business inside the Downtown Management Authority (DMA) 106-block boundary in Baltimore
• Business owners are eligible (not property-only owners)
• Property owners seeking exterior improvements should look at the Facade Improvement Program instead
• Project must NOT be started or completed before application approval
• DPOB will not reimburse work already done or in progress
• Interior improvements must align with DPOB Storefront Criteria (unpublished - request from DPOB directly)
• Current program funds two categories only: retail consulting services and interior improvements
• Retail consulting includes space planning, interior design and architecture, merchandising strategy and branding
• Interior improvements include renovations, furniture, fixtures, equipment and signage fabrication and installation

Grant Benefits

• ~$40000
• Based on April 2025 cycle: 5 awards totaling $200k (derived average; no official maximum published)
• Earlier ARPA-era cycles (2022-2024) averaged approximately $20k per recipient
• No matching funds requirement stated publicly
• No federal registration (SAM or DUNS) required
• Rolling basis with no published hard close date

04

Focus Areas

Operation Storefront Grant Baltimore Interior Improvement Storefront Renovation Retail Consulting Downtown Baltimore

Check If Your Downtown Baltimore Business Qualifies for the Operation Storefront Grant

The eligibility requirements for this grant are specific to your business location, business type, and project timing. Before you invest hours in the application, the tool below works through the key criteria tied to the Operation Storefront grant in Baltimore - DMA boundary status, project category, and the ground-floor business requirement - and gives you a clear signal on fit. It takes a couple of minutes and saves a lot of guesswork.

If the checker confirms you're eligible, that's a solid starting point - but eligibility alone won't win the grant. DPOB makes discretionary award decisions, and how you frame your project against their stated priorities has a real impact on the outcome. Most applications that miss the mark do so not because the business was ineligible, but because the narrative didn't land. Our team reviews the actual text of your application - how your project is positioned, whether your budget aligns with what DPOB expects, and whether any phrasing might work against you. Submit an Assessment → If you're borderline on eligibility - your address is near the DMA boundary edge, your project mixes interior and exterior work, or you're unsure whether your consulting scope qualifies - book a free consultation before spending time on the application. If the checker shows you're not eligible for this one, we'll match you with similar grants - Maryland and Baltimore have several programs with overlapping criteria.

DPOB Runs Four Grant Programs - Here's Which One Is Yours

DPOB operates four separate grant programs. They're often confused with each other, and applying to the wrong one wastes everyone's time. Here's the fast breakdown:

Interior work or retail consulting? That's Operation Storefront. Exterior upgrades like signage, facade, awnings? That's the Facade Improvement Program. BIPOC-owned business looking for six months of intensive mentorship alongside a larger grant? BOOST is worth exploring separately. Food or restaurant concept? The Baltimore Culinary Exchange has its own dedicated track. You can pursue more than one program if you qualify for multiple - but each requires a separate application and stands on its own review process.

What Operation Storefront Funds Now - and What It Used to Cover

The current program covers two things. That's it.

Retail consulting - space planning, interior design and architecture, merchandising strategy, retail strategy, signage design and branding, and related technical assistance. DPOB has launched a referral partner network of approved retail consultants. Before you commit to a consultant for this track, ask DPOB directly whether your chosen firm needs to be on their approved list. That question can affect your application in ways no other source currently documents.

Interior improvements - renovations, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and signage fabrication and installation. These must align with DPOB's Storefront Criteria. More on that gap below.

Q: Can I still use this grant for staffing costs or marketing?
A: Not under the current program. The ARPA-funded version (2022-2024) explicitly covered staff costs, marketing, inventory, and other operating expenses. The current DPOB grant page lists only retail consulting and interior improvements. If you have a project that crosses categories, contact DPOB via their grant inquiry form to confirm before applying.

Q: Does this grant cover exterior work like awnings or facade painting?
A: No. Exterior work falls under the Facade Improvement Program - a separate DPOB program co-administered with the Baltimore Development Corporation. If your project includes both interior and exterior components, you may need to apply to both programs separately. The Facade Improvement Program averages around $35,000 per award, and both business owners and property owners are eligible for that one.

A Brief Program History Worth Knowing

Operation Storefront has been part of DPOB's toolkit for over a decade - historical program documentation indicates the program dates to approximately 2010, when DPOB first offered grants focused on activating vacant ground-floor storefronts. Early awards averaged around $10,000 per recipient. The program expanded significantly when DPOB received ARPA funding in 2023, which broadened both the eligible uses and average award sizes to approximately $20,000 per business. That ARPA-funded expansion ended as those federal funds were exhausted. The current program runs on Maryland state DHCD grants and focuses exclusively on retail consulting and interior improvements - a narrower but still meaningful scope for ground-floor DMA businesses ready to invest in their space.

Award Amounts - What We Know and What DPOB Doesn't Publish

DPOB does not publish a per-recipient maximum for Operation Storefront. Here's what public sources confirm:

The $40,000 figure is a derived average from a single confirmed award cycle, not an official cap or floor. Individual awards within that April 2025 cohort may have varied above or below $40,000. The state of Maryland allocated $4 million specifically for business development through DPOB in FY2025 - which is the likely current funding base for this program. What that means practically: there is money, but it is finite and discretionary, which makes how you apply matter as much as whether you qualify.

Operation Storefront Eligibility - A Layered Look at the Rules

Each rule below has a nuance that matters in practice. Work through them in sequence rather than assuming you qualify on the headline criteria.

Gate 1: Are you inside the DMA boundary?

This is the only hard geographic gate, and it is absolute. If your business sits outside the Downtown Management Authority 106-block boundary, you are not eligible for this program or any DPOB grant program. DPOB provides a DMA boundary map PDF you can check against your address. Based on historical program documentation, the district runs roughly from Center Street to the north, President Street and the Jones Falls Expressway (I-83) to the east, Pratt and Conway Streets to the south, and Greene Street to the west - but verify your exact address against the official DPOB map rather than assuming based on neighborhood name alone. Addresses on boundary streets have been interpreted differently depending on exact parcel lines. Confirm your specific address directly with DPOB before investing application time.

Gate 2: Are you a business owner - not just a property owner?

Operation Storefront is for business owners operating the ground-floor space. If you own the building but not the business inside it, this program likely isn't your path - but the Facade Improvement Program explicitly includes property owners as eligible applicants. If you're both the property owner and the business operator, you may be eligible for either or both programs depending on your project scope.

Gate 3: Is your business on the ground floor and customer-facing?

The program language targets "ground-floor businesses" seeking to "enhance the customer experience." Home-based businesses and online-only operations fall outside this program's intent. You need a physical, street-level presence inside the DMA that customers can walk into.

Gate 4: Has your project already started or been completed?

DPOB is unambiguous: projects completed before application or before approval will not be considered. This determines your entire project timeline. You apply. You wait for approval. Then you start work. If you've already started a renovation and want to fund it retroactively, you won't qualify under the current cycle. Build your timeline around this sequence from day one.

Gate 5: The Storefront Criteria gap

Interior improvement applications must align with DPOB's "Storefront Criteria." The document is referenced on the official grant page but is not publicly linked or available anywhere online. This is a real friction point many applicants miss until they're mid-application.

Q: What happens if I'm on the edge of the DMA boundary?
A: Don't assume you're in or out based on a visual check alone. Contact DPOB and confirm your specific address before gathering a single application document. Edge-case properties on boundary streets have been interpreted differently depending on exact parcel lines.

Q: Can I apply as a new business that hasn't opened yet?
A: The original program emphasized filling vacant storefronts with new DMA businesses. The current language has shifted to also include established businesses investing in their operations and growth. Whether you're pre-opening or established, confirm your situation via the DPOB inquiry form - the eligibility language appears broad enough for both scenarios, but this hasn't been formally confirmed in current program documentation.

What DPOB Actually Wants to Fund - The Strategic Context Other Pages Miss

Nothing in DPOB's official grant page tells you this directly. But it came through clearly in research: DPOB has a deliberate retail strategy for the DMA, and businesses that align with it have a competitive edge when discretionary decisions are made.

The downtown Baltimore residential base is young - the average resident within the DMA is around 32 years old. DPOB's own economic development staff have described what they want as "third spaces" - places people go between home and work to gather, experience something, and spend money on themselves. A wine bar and plant shop called Stem & Vine at 326 N. Charles Street was specifically directed to Operation Storefront by a DPOB economic development director for exactly this reason. The business represents what DPOB has publicly said they want downtown: a space where residents with disposable income and a preference for lifestyle retail can gather, not just transact.

If your business fits this profile - experiential retail, community-oriented services, creative concepts that give people a reason to linger - make that case explicitly in your application narrative. It isn't a formal requirement. But it reflects what DPOB has consistently funded and consistently said they want more of in the DMA.

The broader market context matters too. Over 6,000 state employees from 11 Maryland government agencies are relocating into the DMA through 2026. Baltimore's E-Permits system launched in February 2025 makes renovation approvals faster. A 2024 liquor license reform removed the previous $700,000 capital investment requirement for downtown restaurants, opening the door for smaller food and beverage concepts. Downtown retail occupancy sits at 93% with $908 million in annual retail sales. The DMA is actively adding foot traffic. Using grant funding to invest in your storefront right now makes business sense in a way it didn't a few years ago.

What This Grant Covers and What It Doesn't

The table below breaks down allowable versus non-allowable costs based on DPOB's program documentation and historical award patterns. Use this before you scope your budget - misaligned line items are one of the most common reasons otherwise strong applications get reduced or rejected.

Budget preparation is where many otherwise-qualified applications run into trouble. Our experts review your project budget before submission to make sure line items align with DPOB's allowable cost categories and don't include anything that gives reviewers a reason to cut your award. Submit an Assessment →

Known Operation Storefront Grantees - Real Businesses That Won

DPOB doesn't publish a comprehensive grantee list, but several recipients have been confirmed through press coverage and DPOB's own communications.

Stem & Vine (326 N. Charles Street) - A wine bar and plant shop opened December 2023 by former metallurgical engineer Quincy Goldsmith. He was directed to Operation Storefront by DPOB's then-VP of Economic Development, Claudia Jolin. The business was described publicly as exactly the kind of community gathering space DPOB wanted downtown - a place to browse plants, have a glass of wine, attend a small event, and connect with neighbors. The AFRO newspaper covered the opening in January 2024 and quoted DPOB directly about why this business fit the DMA's demographics and retail strategy.

Zanders (135 E. Baltimore Street) and Quench Juice Bar (32 S. Calvert Street) were the first two Operation Storefront awards under the ARPA-funded expansion in 2022, confirmed in DPOB's own year-end summary.

The 2024 Annual Report lists several businesses across DPOB's combined grant programs (Operation Storefront and Facade Improvement together), including Codetta Bakery, Jody Davis Design, The Empanada Lady, The Quintessential Gentleman, The Buttonwood, Refocused Vegan, and Ikonic Entertainment - though individual program attribution wasn't separated in that document. An April 2025 awards announcement references businesses including ABB 360, Breaking Bread, and Tribe Social Cafe as part of a round that included Operation Storefront funding, though program-specific attribution for each business has not been confirmed in public documentation.

How to Apply for the Operation Storefront Grant in Baltimore

The application is submitted through a Fillout form at this link. Because the form is JavaScript-rendered, the specific field list isn't publicly indexable - we can't confirm the exact required uploads without manually completing the form. Based on DPOB's standard application requirements and comparable DPOB programs, the table below shows what to prepare before you open the form:

Note: The document list above is compiled from comparable DPOB programs and multi-source research. The actual Fillout form fields could not be confirmed without manual completion. Contact DPOB via the inquiry form to get the definitive current checklist before you start gathering documents.

You should also prepare these items before touching the form:

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with no hard close date. The February 27, 2026 priority window has passed, which means your application won't receive priority consideration - but DPOB continues accepting and reviewing submissions as funds allow. Getting your application in sooner still matters because this is a discretionary program with finite available funding.

Q: How long does it take to hear back after applying?
A: DPOB hasn't published a decision timeline. The April 2025 cohort appears to have been announced as a batch, suggesting awards may be grouped into cycles even within the rolling basis. If you apply and don't hear back within 30 days, the DPOB inquiry form or a direct call to (410) 244-1030 is a reasonable follow-up approach.

Q: Can a business apply for both Operation Storefront and another DPOB grant at the same time?
A: Nothing in the public program materials prohibits it. Operation Storefront (interior) and Facade Improvement (exterior) are designed to be complementary. If your project has both interior and exterior components, applying to both simultaneously may make sense. Confirm this with DPOB before submitting, since simultaneous applications may affect review priority.

Q: Is there a minimum or maximum project size?
A: No minimum or maximum project cost is stated publicly. The scope of your project and its alignment with DPOB's priorities will influence your award amount more than an arbitrary floor or ceiling.

Q: Does my business need to be a specific type of retail?
A: The program description doesn't restrict by retail category. Ground-floor businesses across retail, service, and experiential categories appear in the grantee history. The stronger your case for foot traffic generation and community value, the stronger your competitive position.

Frequently Asked Questions About the DPOB Operation Storefront Grant

Q: What's the difference between Operation Storefront and the BOOST program?
A: BOOST is a completely separate program for BIPOC-owned businesses. It's cohort-based with six months of training and mentorship, more competitive, and awards up to $100,000 per business in Round 4. Operation Storefront is a direct grant with a rolling application, open to any eligible ground-floor DMA business owner regardless of ownership demographics. Different applications, different eligibility, different purposes. They're not interchangeable.

Q: The priority deadline was February 27. Is the program still open?
A: Yes. DPOB explicitly states applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The February 27 date was a priority window - submissions by that date received earlier review. The program itself remains open with no published hard close date.

Q: What is the DPOB Storefront Criteria and where do I find it?
A: DPOB's Storefront Criteria is a design and improvement standard that interior improvement projects must align with. It's referenced on the official grant page but not publicly linked or available for download anywhere we could find. Request it from DPOB directly - contact Emily Breiter or Amy Seitz at the economic development team, or use the grant inquiry form. Don't finalize your interior improvement scope without reading this document first.

Q: Do I need to use an approved consultant from DPOB's referral partner network?
A: DPOB recently launched a referral partner network for retail consultants covering interior design, space planning, branding, retail strategy, and related services. It's not confirmed whether Operation Storefront applicants are required to use a network-listed consultant or whether the network is simply a resource. Ask DPOB directly before you commit to a consultant. The referral network application form at this link is for consulting firms applying to join the network - not for business applicants.

Q: Is there a matching funds requirement?
A: No matching fund requirement appears in any public DPOB source for Operation Storefront. However, this is an absence of a stated requirement - not a positive confirmation of zero match. If your budget depends on this answer, confirm it via the inquiry form before finalizing your application.

Q: Can I get funded for a project I've already started?
A: No. DPOB's official page is unambiguous: "Projects completed prior to application and/or before approval of an application will not be considered for award." If you've started a renovation, you've likely disqualified that specific project scope. You could potentially apply with a different future-facing scope - ask DPOB for clarification on your situation.

Q: Who should I contact at DPOB with questions about this program?
A: The economic development team manages Operation Storefront. Key contacts are Patrick Terranova (Vice President of Economic Development), Emily Breiter (Director of Economic Development and Arts Initiatives), and Germaine Prince (Commercial Revitalization Manager). For general inquiries, use the DPOB grant inquiry form or call (410) 244-1030. DPOB's main office is at 20 S. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Q: How much can I realistically expect to receive?
A: The program doesn't publish a per-recipient cap. The April 2025 cycle produced a derived average of ~$40,000 across five awards. Earlier ARPA-era cycles averaged approximately $20,000. Pre-ARPA (2010 to 2022), average awards were closer to $10,000. Awards are discretionary and vary by project scope and available funding. Ask DPOB directly about the realistic range for your specific project size before scoping your budget.

Key Terms for the Operation Storefront Grant in Baltimore

• Downtown Management Authority (DMA): The 106-block defined district in central Baltimore managed by DPOB. Eligibility for Operation Storefront depends entirely on your business being inside this boundary. The DMA is not the same as "downtown Baltimore" informally - it has specific legal borders. DPOB provides a boundary map PDF for address verification. If you're outside the DMA, no DPOB grant program applies regardless of proximity.
• Ground-Floor Business: A retail or service business that operates at street level with direct customer access from the sidewalk or building entrance. Operation Storefront targets these businesses because DPOB's strategy focuses on activating street-level spaces to reduce vacancy and create pedestrian vitality in the DMA. Upper-floor offices and home-based businesses don't qualify.
• DPOB Storefront Criteria: A design and quality standard document maintained by DPOB that interior improvement projects must align with to qualify for Operation Storefront funding. The document is not publicly available and must be requested directly from DPOB. This is a real friction point for applicants who don't know to ask for it before planning their renovation scope.
• Retail Consulting Track: One of two eligible project categories under Operation Storefront. Covers professional services including space planning, interior design and architecture, merchandising, retail strategy, and signage design and branding. DPOB's referral partner network of approved consultants is relevant here - applicants should confirm whether they need to use a network-listed firm before selecting a consultant.
• Interior Improvement Track: The second eligible project category. Covers physical changes to the inside of your storefront: renovations, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and signage fabrication and installation. Must align with DPOB Storefront Criteria. Does not cover exterior changes - those fall under the Facade Improvement Program.
• Third Space: A retail or service concept that functions as a community gathering place between home and work. DPOB has publicly described this as a strategic priority for the DMA's young residential demographic. Wine bars, specialty coffee shops, creative retail, plant shops, and similar experiential concepts fit this model. While not a formal eligibility criterion, businesses that make this case in their application narrative align with what DPOB has consistently funded and publicly sought.
• Rolling Basis Application: Operation Storefront does not have a single annual deadline. Applications are accepted and reviewed throughout the year subject to fund availability. A priority window existed for February 27, 2026 - applications by that date received earlier consideration - but the program continues accepting applications after that date. Rolling basis means earlier submission works in your favor since this is a discretionary program with finite funds.
• ARPA Funding Era (2022-2024): Operation Storefront was significantly expanded with American Rescue Plan Act federal funds during this period. The ARPA-funded version covered a much broader range of eligible costs including staff expenses, marketing, inventory, and business operating costs. That program ended as ARPA funds were exhausted. The current program is funded through Maryland DHCD state grants and covers only retail consulting and interior improvements. Descriptions of the program from this period are outdated.
• DHCD (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development): The state agency that provided DPOB with $12 million in FY2025 funding, of which $4 million was allocated to Business Development. This allocation is the most likely current funding source for Operation Storefront and related grant programs. DPOB's state funding structure explains why the program has continued post-ARPA - it's backed by recurring state capital grants rather than one-time federal emergency funds.
• Facade Improvement Program: DPOB's sister program to Operation Storefront. Covers exterior improvements: signage, awnings, lighting, exterior painting, brick and masonry repair, window and door installation, and historic restoration. Average award is approximately $35,000. Both business owners and property owners are eligible. Co-administered with the Baltimore Development Corporation. If your project includes both interior and exterior work, you may need to apply to both programs separately.
• BOOST Program (Downtown Black Owned and Operated Storefront Tenancy): A separate DPOB grant program for BIPOC-owned businesses. Operates through a competitive cohort model with six months of training, mentorship, and wraparound support in addition to grant funding. Round 4 awards up to $100,000 per business. Requires a detailed business plan and goes through a selection process. Operation Storefront and BOOST are not the same program - different eligibility, different award structures, different applications.
• Baltimore Culinary Exchange (BCX): DPOB's newest sister program launched in partnership with the Mayor's Office in 2025. Specifically for culinary concepts - restaurants, food entrepreneurs, and food businesses. Awarded over $1 million to 22 businesses in July 2025. If your business is food or beverage focused, BCX may be the more appropriate track - check current cycle status on the DPOB website.
• No-Completed-Work Rule: Operation Storefront will not fund work completed before the application was submitted or before formal approval was given. This is absolute with no exceptions. Project timeline sequence: plan the project, submit the application, wait for approval, then begin work. Any business that has already started or finished a renovation will not qualify for that specific project scope in the current cycle.
• Discretionary Award: Unlike formula-based grants where a specific amount is calculated from your budget, Operation Storefront awards are discretionary - DPOB reviews complete applications and decides both whether to fund a project and how much to award. Awards are based on complete applications including required documents and fund availability. This means the quality and framing of your application directly affects your award amount, not just whether you're approved at all.
• Referral Partner Network: An initiative launched by DPOB in 2025-2026 to build a vetted list of retail consulting firms available to Operation Storefront applicants. Services include interior design, architecture, space planning, graphic design, branding, merchandising, retail strategy, signage design and fabrication, project management, and construction. Whether Operation Storefront applicants must use a network-listed consultant for the retail consulting track has not been publicly confirmed - verify with DPOB before selecting a consultant.
• Reimbursement Model: Based on comparable DPOB programs and the no-completed-work rule, Operation Storefront likely operates on a reimbursement basis - meaning you execute approved work and then receive grant funds after submitting documentation. This means you need cash flow to cover project costs before the grant pays out. Confirm the exact disbursement process with DPOB before starting your project.
• 501(c)6 Organization: DPOB's legal entity type - a business league or trade association under the IRS code, distinct from a 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit. As a 501(c)6, DPOB can advocate politically, collect member dues from businesses, and manage the DMA district simultaneously. Its grant programs draw from both the 501(c)6 entity and a separate DPOB Foundation, which allows diversification of revenue and sustained program funding across multiple grant cycles.

More Grants for Baltimore Retail and Storefront Businesses

Operation Storefront isn't the only funding option for DMA and Maryland business owners. Several programs have overlapping eligibility or complementary use cases - an interior improvement grant from another program could stack with Operation Storefront, or serve as an alternative if your address falls outside the DMA. The grants below cover similar territory: storefront improvements, retail business development, and funding for minority and women-owned businesses in the region.

How Grantaura Helps You Win the Operation Storefront Grant

By the time you've read this far, you understand what Operation Storefront covers, whether you're likely eligible, and what documents you'll need. That part is handled. What this listing can't do is the actual application work - and that's where most grants are won or lost.

DPOB makes discretionary decisions. The same business with the same project can receive $15,000 or $45,000 depending on how the application is written. Reviewers are looking for projects that align with DPOB's stated priorities: third-space community retail, customer experience upgrades, and businesses that serve the DMA's growing residential base. If your narrative doesn't make that connection explicitly, you leave money on the table. And the Storefront Criteria - that document DPOB doesn't publicly link - is another layer most applicants miss until it becomes a problem at review.

Most unsuccessful applications don't fail because the business was ineligible. They fail because of avoidable mistakes in how the project was described, how the budget was framed, or because the applicant didn't know about the Storefront Criteria gap before submitting. Our team reviews the actual text of your application - not whether you qualify, but whether your wording gives reviewers a reason to pass.

Here's what Grantaura's expert review specifically does for Operation Storefront applicants:

About This Listing - Imran, Grantaura Founder

I built Grantaura because finding good grant information - specific, current, and honest about what's unknown - is harder than it should be. The Operation Storefront program is a good example: real money, a real donor with institutional backing, and over a decade of history, but almost no public source explains how the current program differs from the ARPA-era version, what DPOB's strategic preferences actually are, or how to handle the Storefront Criteria gap before applying. That's what this listing tries to fix. If you're running a ground-floor business in downtown Baltimore and you're serious about this application, I'd rather you go in informed about both what the grant covers and what it takes to win it - not just what it says on the donor's page.

About Imran
Book a Free Consultation

[
  {
    "url": "https://grantaura.com/grant/amex-shop-small-grants/",
    "custom_description": "Similar award range (~$20k) for physical retail stores. National program complements local DPOB funding for businesses seeking multiple funding sources."
  },
  {
    "url": "https://grantaura.com/grant/facade-improvement-grant/",
    "custom_description": "Complementary DPOB program for exterior work. Businesses with both interior and exterior needs may qualify for both programs with separate applications."
  },
  {
    "url": "https://grantaura.com/grant/amex-backing-small-businesses/",
    "custom_description": "Storefront-specific funding for brick-and-mortar businesses. Similar target audience with different geographic scope and award structure."
  },
  {
    "url": "https://grantaura.com/grant/north-liberty-business-grant/",
    "custom_description": "Tenant improvement and interior renovation funding with ARPA backing. Similar allowable costs structure for businesses outside Baltimore DMA."
  },
  {
    "url": "https://grantaura.com/single-category/grants-for-retail-businesses/",
    "custom_description": "Category page aggregating retail-specific grants nationwide. Useful for DMA businesses seeking additional funding beyond Operation Storefront."
  }
]