ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore this week announced a new grant program designed to help justice-involved Marylanders pursue business ownership.
The state is awarding $100,000 in grants to five organizations through the New Start Grant Program, with each receiving $20,000 to provide entrepreneurship training and reentry services.
“We need to end the myth that every sentence becomes a life sentence,” Moore said in a press release. “Returning citizens deserve a real second chance. And building pathways to an honest fresh start doesn’t just move us closer to a more just Maryland, it also helps us create a more vibrant economy where everyone has a shot at turning an idea into a job-creator.”
The grants will fund programs that offer entrepreneurship training, mentoring from business professionals, and business plan competitions for current and formerly incarcerated Marylanders. The programs will also include supportive services such as financial literacy and mental health resources.
Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu said entrepreneurship is a “powerful path to financial independence and community leadership.”
The grant recipients are:
- Building Blocks Services, LLC (Baltimore City)
- Perspectives Partnership, Inc. (Montgomery County)
- Pathways to Excellence, Inc. (Prince George’s County)
- Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland (Charles County)
- X is Possible, LLC (Prince George’s County)
The New Start Grant Program aims to reduce recidivism and foster economic growth by helping returning citizens overcome barriers to self-sufficiency.
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