Governor Hogan Announces $1.6 Million in Grants To Maryland Companies Producing PPE in Response to COVID-19

April 29, 2020

Governor Larry Hogan announced that Maryland has awarded more than $1.6 million in a first round of grants to 20 Maryland companies for pivoting to or expanding production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Through the Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Manufacturing Fund administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce, companies are receiving grants of up to $100,000 to manufacture everything from face shields, gowns, N-95 masks, and respirator parts to battery packs for ventilators.

“Ramping up our supply of PPE is a critical building block in our state’s recovery plan, and we are taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to secure these resources for our front line workers,” said Governor Hogan. “I want to thank and commend the local businesses who have shifted their operations and increased production to help us save lives and flatten the curve.”

The $5 million program was created in response to a growing demand for items to protect health care and front line workers, including face shields, surgical masks and gowns and gloves, as well as items for hospitals, like thermometers, respirators, and ventilators. The program received more than 200 applications, and additional grants will be made available in the coming weeks.

“We quickly created this program to address an immediate critical need, and our business community has responded in a big way,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “Many of these companies have had to rapidly ramp up production of these items, while others pivoted completely from their normal operations and came up with a creative way they could help, with some adding new jobs in the process.”


The following Maryland companies are receiving grant funding:

Grant Recipient County Typical Production  COVID-19 Production
Awesome Ninja Labs  Baltimore City Medical devices Face shields
CoastTec  Carroll Battery back-ups for computers Battery packs for Vyaire ventilators
CR Daniels Howard Textile, plastics, and metal manufacturing Face masks and gowns
DiPole Materials Baltimore City Custom nanofiber manufacturing Filters for medical masks and respirators
DVF Corporation  Washington Metal and plastic fabrications Plastic components of respirators
Fashions Unlimited Baltimore City Apparel manufacturing Surgical masks and protective gowns
Fabrication Events  Howard Special event decor Face masks, head coverings, and other PPE
Harbor Designs  Baltimore City Manufacturing design and engineering Ventilators
Hardwire, LLC Worcester Bulletproof body armor and equipment for law enforcement and the military Face shields
K&W Finishing Baltimore City Traditional die cutting, coating, and other bindery services Face shields
Key Technologies Baltimore City Medical devices Blower units for positive air pressure respirators
LAI International  Carroll Components for aerospace and defense,medical devices, and infrastructure systems Face shields
Manta BioFuels  Baltimore County Energy technology Face shields
Marty’s Bag Works Anne Arundel Canvas boating products, cushions, laser printing, and bags Surgical masks, face shields, and lightweight gowns
Nations Photo Lab  Baltimore County Full-service photo printing Face shields
NRL & Associates Queen Anne’s Ultra-precision machining, fabrication, and assembly Ventilators
Potomac Photonics  Baltimore County Biotech and medical devices PPE visors
Rankin Upholstery Montgomery Auto, marine, aircraft and custom upholstery Masks, gowns, and other PPE
Strouse  Carroll Adhesive solutions N-95 masks
X-Laser Howard Laser light show systems Face shields

“After hearing story after story of ventilator shortages, I wanted to put our resources to use to help,” said Jonathan Sevel, CEO of CoastTec. “I knew that our company is adaptable enough to focus engineering and manufacturing towards a cost-effective viable strategy to get non-working ventilators back into circulation. We estimate that we will be able to manufacture 200-300 ventilator battery packs per day, hopefully easing some of the strain on the system.”

“The Commerce Department’s rapid response to getting us assistance has given us the confidence to invest in our filter production equipment and allowed us to bring on an additional dozen employees to operate it,” said Ken Malone, chairman of DiPole Materials. “Importantly, our expansion will also allow us to rapidly grow our business post-crisis when we pivot back to being a custom manufacturer of high performance materials.”

For additional business resources available during the COVID-19 outbreak, please visit businessexpress.maryland.gov/coronavirus. For health resources, including case counts and clinician guidance, visit coronavirus.maryland.gov.