Program Overview

Downtown Frederick Partnership’s Expert Edge Grant provides small businesses with direct access to professional services — including accounting, marketing, branding, business coaching, or other specialized expertise — to build capacity, strengthen operations, and support long-term success in Downtown Frederick.

Grant Details

• Two 2026 Application Rounds: Round 1: Jan 7 – Feb 11 & Round 2: April 1- May 6
• Application Decision Notification: Round 1: by March 2; Round 2: by May 25
• Total Funds Available Per Round: $12,500
• Maximum Award Per Business: $1,500
• Deadline to Spend Funds: Round 1: July 31, 2026; Round 2: Nov 30, 2026
• Payment Method: Grant funds will be paid directly to the consultant identified by the business
• Selection Process: Competitive; Applications will be scored on their support for business growth, the clarity of the challenge or opportunity to be addressed, the project’s feasibility, and the expected impact

Eligibility

Expert Edge Grant Application

Applications are due by February 11, 2026.

Please Note: You cannot save an application in progress. We recommend collecting all necessary files ahead of time and preparing your answers in a separate document that you can save. Once submitted, you will receive a time-stamped copy of your application to the email provided.

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Business Name *

Business Address *

Address Line 1

City

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Zip Code

Contact Name *

Title *

Email *

Phone *

Business Type *— Select Choice —RetailRestaurant / Food & BeverageHair / Tattoo / Entertainment / ServiceOther

List Business Type (Other) *

service(s) accurate. that

Year Established *

Upload a signed W-9 *

Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload

Are you a first-time business owner who opened your doors in the last 12 months? *— Select Choice —YesNo

Project Description

What professional service(s) are you requesting support for? (select all that apply) *

• Marketing
• Branding or Graphic Design
• Social Media Strategy
• Accounting / Financial Management
• Business Coaching
• Customer Engagement Strategy
• Operational Efficiency / Workflow Consulting
• Other

Other (describe your requested professional service) *

Describe the challenge, need, or opportunity you are seeking to address. *

What problem are you trying to solve – or what growth opportunity are you trying to pursue?

Describe the project scope. *

What do you hope the professional will do for you? What services or deliverables do you want the professional to help you complete?

How will this support strengthen your business? *

Describe expected outcomes such as improved branding, increased visibility, better financial practices, more weekday traffic, or stronger long-term planning. Use numbers to quantify your outcome goals where feasible.

Service Provider Information

If known at the time of application.

Type of Service Provided

Estimated Hours / Proposed Cost

Have you worked with this provider before?— Select Choice —YesNo

If you have not yet selected a provider, please list the type of professional you intend to work with. *

Budget

Total Amount Requested (up to $1,500) *

Enter numbers only (no $ or punctuation)

Brief budget explanation *

Describe briefly how funds will be used and the estimated costs.

Certification

I certify that my business is located in Downtown Frederick Main Street District boundaries and that all information provided is accurate. *

• Agree

View the Downtown Frederick Main Street District boundaries here (opens in new tab or window)

I understand that funds will be disbursed directly to the service provider. *

• Agree

I agree to participate in follow-up surveys or interviews, including questions related to the business impact due to grant funding and lessons learned, to help evaluate program effectiveness. *

• Agree

I understand that an unsuccessful application will receive feedback but will not receive priority status in the second application round. *

• Agree

Signature *

By typing my name above, I acknowledge that this serves as my electronic signature. I confirm that I have read the grant terms and that the information provided in this application is true, complete, and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Date *

Submit