David W. Fletcher Incubator + Labs

HCC incubator tenants receive state awards

Three tenants in the Incubator + Labs at Hagerstown Community College have been named to receive awards through Project Restore, an initiative launched by Governor Larry Hogan last year, and administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

Breyon Hopkins, owner of NeverBored Games; Nahtasha Poindexter, owner of South In Ur Mouth Catering and Baked Goods; and Natoscha McKinnon, owner of Les Cookies Delight were named among the winners. Through this award, they will open three unique retail stores in downtown Hagerstown, offering a gaming lounge for enthusiasts to connect and compete, southern cuisine, and allergy-free baked goods.

A total of 376 businesses in all 23 counties and Baltimore City will receive $24.5 million through the initiative—including $8.8 million in property assistance grants and $15.7 million in business operations grants.

Through Project Restore, the department offers property assistance and operational grants to support startup and expansion costs and incentivize private investment in vacant spaces. In total, more than 725 businesses have now been awarded grants through Project Restore.

The latest application round received almost 800 applications. Approximately 2,520 jobs will be created by the businesses awarded funding. Of those awarded grants this round, 301 are minority-owned businesses and 206 of those are women-owned businesses. An additional 20 businesses are veteran-owned businesses.

For more information on the Incubator at HCC, visit https://incubatorhcc.com.

(January 17, 2023)