Baltimore City Wire

The University of Maryland Baltimore has partnered with the University of Maryland's Smith School of Business to help businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative has helped businesses that were struggling to operate.

We were literally at the point where we thought we would have to close,” said Chanel Fleurimond, co-owner of Sobeachy Haitian Cuisine in the Cross Street Market, WBALTV reports.

Fleurimond, another small business owner said as a result of getting coronavirus, her business has experienced an extreme drop in sales. She was revived by University of Maryland Baltimore Small Business Volunteer Initiative program.

“We paired them with one of our MBA students and he helped them navigate grant and loan programs. He was able to get them a pretty significant grant by helping them fill out the applications and guide them through the process of how to apply for a grant,” said Madison Hass, owner of the small business initiative, WBALTV reports.

Fleurimond received a $21,000 grant to keep her business afloat. The business initiative program targets minority, women or immigrant-owned small businesses in Baltimore City.