Maryland's Funding Landscape in 2026
Maryland punches above its weight on federal funding. It ranks in the top 5 states for federal R&D spending, driven by Fort Meade (NSA, CYBERCOM), NIH in Bethesda, FDA, NIST, NASA Goddard, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and Johns Hopkins University -- one of the country's largest federal research grant recipients. The state's innovation infrastructure is built around TEDCO (the Maryland Technology Development Corporation), the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), and the Department of Commerce. Together they run 35+ active grant and incentive programs covering cybersecurity, biotech, clean energy, manufacturing, rural business, and workforce development. FundingLandscape currently tracks 35+ active Maryland-specific funding opportunities, with programs ranging from seed-stage startup grants to $1.5M cybersecurity company awards.
TEDCO: Maryland's Innovation Engine
TEDCO (tedcomd.com) is Maryland's primary state technology and business development agency. It runs some of the most accessible non-dilutive innovation grants in the Mid-Atlantic region. Cyber Maryland Program -- Up to $1,500,000 for Maryland-based cybersecurity companies. Focuses on product development, commercialization, and scaling. Maryland is home to NSA, CYBERCOM, and one of the largest concentrations of cleared cyber workers in the country. This grant is specifically designed for that ecosystem. Equitech Growth Fund -- Up to $1,000,000. Targets underrepresented founders (women, minorities, veterans) building tech companies in Maryland. Requires revenue traction and a credible path to scaling. Rural Business Innovation Initiative -- Up to $1,000,000 for technology companies locating or expanding in rural Maryland counties. Addresses the concentration of investment in the DC/Baltimore corridor by pulling capital into Western Maryland, the Eastern Shore, and Southern Maryland. Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII) -- Up to $430,000 for university-industry partnerships commercializing lab research. Works with UMD, Johns Hopkins, UMBC, Morgan State, and other Maryland institutions. Requires a corporate partner. SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab -- Up to $305,000 in matching grants for Maryland companies that win federal SBIR/STTR awards. The state matches federal dollars, effectively doubling the value of a Phase I or Phase II win. SBIR/STTR Technical Assistance -- Free proposal writing support and review for Maryland companies applying to federal SBIR/STTR programs. Available before you apply. Baltimore Innovation Initiative (BII) -- Up to $50,000 for Baltimore-based technology startups at the seed stage. Lower bar than Cyber Maryland or Equitech -- more accessible for early-stage companies. Ag and Rural Rebuild (ARR) Challenge -- Up to $200,000 for agtech and rural economy innovations. Targeting food processing, precision agriculture, and rural supply chain technology. Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund -- Non-dilutive grants for stem cell research. Maryland's biotech cluster (Germantown, Rockville, Gaithersburg) makes this one of the most competitive programs. Cultivate Maryland and Equal Access Initiative -- Business development and equity-focused programs with amounts set per cohort. Targets historically underserved businesses.
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Maryland Energy Administration: 12+ Active Programs
The Maryland Energy Administration (energy.maryland.gov) runs one of the most active clean energy grant stacks in the Northeast. Residential and Commercial Energy Storage Grant Program -- Up to $2,000,000 for large battery storage installations. Lower grants available for smaller commercial and residential systems. Paired solar+storage projects are prioritized. Commercial and Industrial Grant Program -- Grants for energy efficiency upgrades in commercial and industrial buildings. Covers HVAC, lighting, insulation, and process improvements. Awards are tied to projected energy savings. Local Government Energy Modernization (L-GEM) -- Funding for Maryland local governments to upgrade public facilities. Covers energy audits, retrofits, and on-site generation. Priority to smaller jurisdictions with limited energy management capacity. Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Rebate Program -- Rebates for EV charging infrastructure installation at workplaces, multi-family housing, and public locations. Stacks with federal IRA tax credits. Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebate Programs -- Maryland distributes federal IRA HOMES and HEEHRA rebates: - Home Efficiency Rebates: Up to $8,000 for whole-home efficiency upgrades (income-scaled) - Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates: Up to $14,000 for heat pumps, EV chargers, electrical panel upgrades BEPS Technical Assistance Program -- Free technical assistance for buildings subject to Maryland's Building Energy Performance Standards. Required for buildings over 35,000 sq ft. Commercial and Canopy Solar Program -- Grants and incentives for commercial solar installations, including parking canopy solar. Community Solar Low-to-Moderate Income Program -- Power Purchase Agreement grants for community solar projects serving low-to-moderate income customers. Jane E. Lawton Conservation Loan Program -- Low-interest loans for energy efficiency in nonprofits and local government. Named after a former energy secretary. Maryland Ground Source Heat Pump Advantage Pilot Program -- Grants for ground source heat pump installation in residential and light commercial buildings. Maryland Solar Access Program -- Income-qualified solar installation assistance program. Free or reduced-cost solar for qualifying households.
Commerce Maryland and Workforce Incentives
Maryland MADE (Manufacturing Assets for Development and Entrepreneurship) -- Up to $15,000 for small manufacturers in Maryland. Focus on equipment and capability investment for companies with under $10M revenue. Workforce Training Grants (Maryland Business Express) -- State-funded training grants for Maryland employers to upskill workers. Available through the Governor's Workforce Development Board. Awards tied to number of workers trained and wage outcomes. Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority -- Loan guarantees, surety bond assistance, and direct loans for small businesses that can't access conventional financing. Not a grant, but bridges funding gaps. Maryland DBED Film Production Tax Credit -- 25-27% tax credit for film and TV production in Maryland. Significant refundable credit for qualifying productions. Enterprise Zone Tax Credit -- Real property and income tax credits for businesses that locate or expand in designated Maryland Enterprise Zones. Available across Baltimore City and designated county zones.
County-Level Programs: Baltimore, Montgomery, PG, Calvert
Beyond state agencies, Maryland's largest counties run independent funding programs. Baltimore County Housing and Community Development Grants -- Up to $2,600,000 for affordable housing and community development projects in Baltimore County. Federal CDBG and HOME funds flow through this program. Montgomery County Business Funding and Incentives -- Montgomery County Economic Development manages multiple grant and loan programs for businesses in the county. Programs include technology company support, job creation incentives, and minority business assistance. Prince George's County Solar Energy Grants -- County-level solar incentives stacking with state MEA and federal IRA programs. Calvert County Agricultural Financing and Grants -- Multiple state and federal agricultural loan and grant programs coordinated through Calvert County. Includes USDA FSA loans, Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) programs, and local agricultural preservation tools.
Federal Funding in Maryland: NIH, NSF, DoD, and More
Maryland's federal funding concentration is extraordinary. Key programs accessible to Maryland organizations: NIH (National Institutes of Health) -- NIH headquarters is in Bethesda. Maryland institutions are among the top NIH grant recipients nationally. R01, R21, SBIR Phase I/II, and training grants are the most common entry points. Johns Hopkins alone receives $700M+ in NIH grants annually. NSF -- National Science Foundation awards are competitive across all Maryland universities. NSF SBIR is the primary non-dilutive tech startup path for non-health companies. Department of Defense SBIR/STTR -- Fort Meade, Aberdeen, and Patuxent River NAS all have active R&D procurement programs. Maryland-based defense contractors and startups have strong positioning for DoD SBIR. DHS and Intelligence Community -- Cyber-focused companies in the Fort Meade corridor can access DHS SBIR and In-Q-Tel (CIA's investment arm) for innovative technology. NASA SBIR -- Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt) is one of the most active NASA SBIR sites. Earth observation, satellite communications, and space systems companies have strong access. NIST Programs -- NIST (Gaithersburg) runs competitive grant programs and cooperative research agreements. Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) serves Maryland manufacturers through NIST funding.