Shop owners in historic Ellicott City will have the opportunity to spruce up their storefronts, thanks to a $100,000 state grant awarded to Howard County.

The historic town is home to 80 small businesses along Main Street, and the grant is intended to enhance the attractiveness of these businesses to attract customers.

The county has partnered with the Ellicott City Partnership to launch the Façade Improvement Grant Program for commercial property owners and business owners. Money distributed from the $100,000 grant, awarded by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, must be used for exterior building improvements only.

Businesses can apply for grants of $500 to $10,000 each. Improvements must be visible to the public, and can include outdoor signage repair, exterior painting, storefront reconstruction and window and door upgrades.

Applications are open through Aug. 31. The Ellicott City Partnership will announce awardees by Sept. 30.

“Ellicott City businesses continue to rebound, with Main Street welcoming seven new businesses during the last year and achieving the lowest commercial vacancy rate in three decades,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball stated in a July 26 news release. “This grant program, closely following the launch of two other initiatives in support of the area, Old Ellicott City Summer Bucks and Local HoCo, will further support and revitalize businesses in the Historic District.”

The Old Ellicott City Summer Bucks program offers $10 vouchers to shoppers for free, on a first-come, first-served basis. The vouchers can be used to buy items at participating shops in Ellicott City. The Ellicott City Partnership planned to distribute 2,000 Summer Bucks vouchers this summer through Labor Day. Vouchers can be picked up at the Howard County Welcome Center, 8267 Main St., Ellicott City.

Local HoCo is a campaign to raise awareness and increase exposure for the county’s small businesses. This includes a business directory and branding support that a business can use to market what they offer to the public. The campaign is a partnership among the county government, Visit Howard County, the Howard County Economic Development Authority and the Howard County Chamber of Commerce.

These initiatives have been started in part to help the area recover from major floods in 2011, 2016 and 2018. The Ellicott City Partnership is a nonprofit organization that has worked to preserve the vitality and enhance the economic growth of Historic Ellicott since the devastating flooding.

All enhancement projects must be reviewed and approved by the Ellicott City Partnership, the Historic Preservation Commission, the county and the state before work begins. All approved work must be completed, and expenditures submitted by June 30, 2025, to be eligible for reimbursement.

“The Façade Improvement Grant will contribute to the rejuvenation of Old Ellicott City,” Lynda Eisenberg, director of the county’s Department of Planning and Zoning, stated in the news release. “After the devastating floods of 2016 and 2018, this initiative will compliment numerous efforts that are breathing new life into the area, restoring its charming buildings and preserving its unique character.

“It’s heartening to see this community come together and continue to write its successful revitalization story,” she said.

For more information, and to apply, go to https://form.jotform.com/240396456935164.