1. Latest Research & Reports
2. Licensing & Permits
3. Financing
Research and Reports
The International Corridor: Portrait of a Threatened Small Business Community
Excerpt:
“Significant changes are coming to the dense cluster of communities commonly known as the International
Corridor. The anticipated construction of the Purple Line Transit System – a 16 miles strrt surface electric tram, to operate between Bethesday in Montgomery County, Maryland and New Carrollton in Prince George’s County, Maryland – and the surrounding plannin processes reflected in the Takoma Langley Crossroads and Long Branch Sector Plans will recreate significant swaths of a sprawling neighborhood popularly known for it’s multiple
challenges yet also representing significant strengths.”
Click here for more information.
International Corridor Business Resources Directory
The International Corridor Business Resource Directory compiles the many resources that act on the businesses in the International Corridor. The diversity of resources is broken down into four (4) categories. These categories are grassroots membership based leagues, Advocacy organizations such as the Chambers of Commerce, Business Development Centers, and Legal Resources. Read more here.
Licenses and Permits
State of Maryland
MD Business License Information System to search for the permits and licenses your business may need.
MD Department of Assessment and Taxation has all of the forms in PDF for different legal entities (LLCs, LLPs, PCs, etc)
Establish tax accounts – obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number and register your business’ tax accounts with the state.
Guide to Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Maryland authored by the Maryland Attorney General and Department of Business and Economic Development.
Business Resources: Laws and Compliance MD Department of Business and Economic Development.
Required Occupational and Professional Licenses Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
Environmental Licenses required by the Maryland Department of Environment for air, water, radiation, health, oil, solid waste, hazardous waste, solid waste, etc.
Montgomery County
Retail, Wholesale or Chains Trader’s License issued by the County Clerk’s Office to Retail Stores, Wholesale Car Dealers, and Chain Stores, Construction (New Homes and Commercial Buildings), Garages, Junk Dealers, Laundry/Dry Cleaners, Plumbers and Gas Fitters, Storage Warehouses, Trade Shows (3 or more), Vending Machines, Video, Pinball Games, and Music Boxes, Cigarettes, Other Tobacco Products,Tobacconist, and Coin Operated Billiard Tables.
Liquor Sales license for on- and off-sales from the Department of Liquor Control.
Health Department license for restaurants, mobile food vendors, video games, private school, health care.
Consumer Goods and Services license for motor vehicle repair, secondhand goods, appliance sales and service, new home builders, from the Office of Consumer Protection.
Use and Occupancy, Construction, Electrician, Plumber, Sign Installer, Construction-related license from the Department of Permitting Services.
Vendor’s License to sell goods and services from a specific location, from the Department of Permitting Services. Food sales require a Health Department license as well. Selling from the public right-of-way requires that a business be a Certified Agriculture Producer.
Prince George’s County
Trader’s License for wholesale, retail and opening a chain store, from the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Health Department issues permits for Food Service facilities including restaurants, fast food, farmer’s markets, special events, and warehouses. The type of license is determined by the type of food served or sold in the facility and how the food is handled before, during, and after the day it is served.
Residential Construction and Trade licenses and permits for structural, mechanical, electrical, fire, and life safety-related are issued by the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Other business license information can be found at choosemaryland.gov, the Business License Information System website of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.
Financing
State of Maryland
Neighborhood Business Works for low-interest, gap financing to new or expanding businesses or nonprofits.
Energy Efficiency Improvements in the form of low-interest loans for renovation, new construction, and leasehold improvements to businesses in order to realize substantial, immediate, and ongoing cost savings.
Credit Enhancement Program for Small Business through the Maryland Capital Access Program in partnership with BBT and PNC banks.
Minority Linked Deposit Program reduces interest rates for Minority Business Enterprises on bank loans.
Small Business & Technology Development Center offers a variety of loans, technical assistance and training.
Montgomery County
- Division of Business Empowerment for Small and Minority Businesses has a revolving loan fund for expansion or development.
- Financing and Tax Incentives
- Latino Economic Development Fund Community Asset Fund for Entrepreneurs for loans from $5,000-$50,000.
- Enterprise Development Group loans up to $50,000 to start, sustain, or expand a business.
Other
US Small Business Administration loans.
Enterprise Development Group is part of the Ethiopian Community Development Corporation. EDG makes small business micro-loans of up to $50,000 in the Washington, DC metro area, and offers training to develop business skills.
FSC loans to minority and small businesses in Prince George’s County.
Small Business Loan Calculator
REVITALIZATION GRANTS & CREDITS
Long Branch/Takoma Park Enterprise Zone Tax Credits
Property owners: 80% credit on taxes due for any expansion/renovation of a commercial property. The credit lasts for 5 years at 80% and then decreases 10% annually for another 5 years.
Businesses: $1000 employment tax credit per new full-time employee and up to $6,000 over a three-year period on an economically disadvantaged new fulltime employee.
Contact the Enterprise Zone Administrator for more information, peter.mcginnity@montgomerycountymd.gov.