2 Bel Air Businesses Awarded Project Restore Grants From State

BEL AIR, MD — Several Bel Air businesses are receiving grants from the state of Maryland to revitalize vacant commercial and retail spaces.

Gov. Larry Hogan introduced Project Restore last summer to transform vacant spaces in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

About 209 businesses statewide will receive more than $14 million in subsidies, Hogan announced Tuesday, including six in Harford County:

• B and M Cabinetry Plus in Fallston; retail space
• Boatman's Hauling LLC in Havre de Grace; retail space
• Lib's Grill in Bel Air; retail space
• MSI Integrative Healthcare in Bel Air; office space
• The Paragon Cottage DDA Facility Inc. in Edgewood; retail space
• Stratus Technology Solutions in Abingdon; office space

Through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the state rolled out Project Restore last summer, opening $25 million in grants to offset rental and operational costs of starting up businesses in locations that had not generated sales receipts in the last six months.

In December, the program awarded nearly $11 million i to 144 businesses, including eight in Harford County.

• Battery Island Brewing Company in Havre de Grace; office space
• Harford Economy Service Center; warehouse space
• KB's Cookie Cafe in Aberdeen; retail space
• Mission Pet Supplies in Whiteford; retail space
• Noah's Ark Academic Tutoring, Inc. in Jarrettsville; office space
• Pairings Bistro in Bel Air; retail space
• Sirona Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork LLC in Bel Air; office space
• Yeatman Enterprise LLC, DBA Les Petits Bisous in Havre de Grace; retail space

“Project Restore has already proven to be one of our most successful COVID-19 recovery initiatives,” Hogan said in a statement Tuesday.

“As we continue to award grants to businesses in nearly every jurisdiction and work to make this program permanent, we are effectively driving more jobs and more investment to our small towns and main streets for years to come," Hogan said.

The governor has proposed making the Project Restore program permanent. A hearing on the proposal was slated for 1 p.m. on Tuesday in the Maryland Senate.