Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation Announces Partnership with Baltimore Community Foundation to Support Key Bridge Collapse Recovery and Glen Burnie Placemaking

February 27, 2025

Annapolis, Maryland (February 27, 2025) – Today Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) President and CEO Amy Gowan announce that the organization has partnered with the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) to deploy over $1.5M in grant funding to support businesses severely impacted by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and carry out placemaking initiatives in Glen Burnie, Maryland.

“I will always remember the lives lost and offer continued support to everyone impacted by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse,” said County Executive Pittman. “It has been nearly a year since that tragedy, and our community has shown incredible resilience, emerging even stronger and more united. Today, I extend my deepest gratitude to Governor Wes Moore, Mayor Brandon Scott, and then-County Executive Johnny Olszewski for their leadership, and I acknowledge AAEDC and the Baltimore Community Foundation for providing grants to help rebuild our local businesses.”

“AAEDC is proud to partner with the Baltimore Community Foundation to support businesses in their long-term recovery from the Key Bridge collapse,” said Gowan. “This funding will help impacted businesses regain stability and build a resilient future, as well as help us amplify our place-based investment in the Glen Burnie Town Center.”

Launched by BCF on February 18, 2025, the Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant Program offers $10,000 to $50,000 grants to small businesses that have been severely impacted by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. AAEDC has received over a dozen applications since the initiative was announced, and is inviting businesses in Northern Anne Arundel County to complete and submit the Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant online application by the deadline of March 20, 2025.

An additional $537,000 grant from BCF will support two programs, the Glen Burnie Place Based Investment Program and the Bridges to Business Program.

The Glen Burnie Place Based Investment Program seeks to revitalize the Glen Burnie Town Center (GBTC) through community-focused placemaking and beautification initiatives. Specifically, AAEDC’s efforts will include the installation of a public art mural, the development and installation of high-visibility signage, and a weekly Glen Burnie Farmers Market, which will take place on Thursdays from June 12 through September 11 (excluding holidays) from 4:00-7:00PM.

Through the Bridges to Business Program, AAEDC will host an annual Business Leadership & Networking Expo for Anne Arundel County business owners, as well as expanding no-cost business counseling provided through the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

To learn more about the Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant Program, please read BCF’s announcement or visit AAEDC’s Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant Program page.

To learn more about AAEDC’s work in the GBTC area, please visit the Glen Burnie Town Center Mural page or read AAEDC’s announcement of “The Glen Burnie Better Plaza,” a placemaking project that will temporarily transform GBTC into a refreshed gathering space for the community in the summer of 2025.

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About the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation

Founded in 1993, the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Annapolis, Maryland. AAEDC’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for business growth in Anne Arundel County, thereby increasing job opportunities, expanding the tax base, and improving citizens’ quality of life. To do so, it provides the public with services including financing, site selection assistance, regulatory guidance, workforce training grants, market research, and small business resources. More broadly, AAEDC plays a vital role in enhancing commercial districts, improving infrastructure, and growing high-value business sectors such as technology and cybersecurity. To learn more, visit www.aaedc.org.

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