TEDCO Announces Second Year of Maryland Makerspace Initiative Program Awardees

MARYLAND News (6/27/2024) – TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, has announced the 2024 Maryland Makerspace Initiative Program (“Makerspace Program”) awardees. This year, 18 projects across nine counties and Baltimore City will receive funding.

“TEDCO is committed to supporting the continued growth of innovation in Maryland. The Makerspace Program is just one tool that TEDCO has to promote this expansion,” said Terry Rauh, chief finance and operations officer at TEDCO. “After witnessing the success and growth of last year’s awardees, we are hopeful that these awardees will continue the trend.”

What is the Makerspace Program?

The Makerspace Program was created through legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly. It provides grants of up to $100,000 and technical assistance for qualified entities looking to establish a new Makerspace, expand an existing Makerspace, or develop Makerspace programming. The goal is to grow a state-wide community of Makerspaces that provides entrepreneurs with access to tools, technologies, and knowledge to support their growth and development, as well as expand workforce training.

“We are excited to announce the awardees for the 2024 Makerspace Program,” said Justin Ferguson, program manager for TEDCO’s Entrepreneur & Ecosystem Empowerment (E3). “While we could only select 18 awardees, we want to thank everyone who applied. With more than 40 applicants for the 2024 awards, the competition was fierce, showcasing the innovative and entrepreneurial spirits spread across Maryland. We look forward to witnessing the growth and success these hubs of innovation will bring to Maryland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

The 18 awardees for the 2024 Makerspace Program include:

• Allegany College of Maryland
• Baltimore Jewelry Center
• Baltimore Underground Science Space
• Dent Education
• Digital Harbor Foundation
• Hagerstown Community College
• Howard County Library System
• Inncuvate Community Development Partners
• KID Museum
• Melwood Horticultural Training Center, Inc.
• MidAtlantic Gigabit Innovation Collaboratory
• Paxspace
• Players Philanthropy Fund
• Rockville Science Center, Inc.
• Salisbury University, Perdue School of Business
• Station North Tool Library
• Training Grounds, Inc.
• Washington College

Last year, 20 projects received funding from TEDCO for the creation or expansion of Makerspaces throughout Maryland. One of these awardees was Stacy Stube, founder of the Fashion Heritage Needle Trades Foundation, who took advantage of the inaugural grant opportunity. Through receiving the award, she was able to support her vision of developing a Fashion Innovation Hub that allows founders to prototype and small batch produce pre-sold marketing fashion samples and needle trades products.

For more information about TEDCO’s Makerspace Program, visit https://www.tedcomd.com/makerspace.

About TEDCO

TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at www.tedcomd.com.

Story by multiple RFHC contributors