These are the first 20 Maryland Makerspace Initiative Program awardees

With a vision to establish a state-wide community of makerspaces, the TEDCO-led Maryland Makerspace Initiative Program to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with access to essential tools, technologies and knowledge to nurture their growth and development. 20 projects and centers, spread across 11 Maryland counties and Baltimore City, comprise the program’s inaugural cohort of grantees.

These awardees of the Makerspace Initiative Program, or “Makerspace Program,” are eligible to receive up to $100,000 each in grants. The Makerspace Program plans to support these grantees as a means of expanding workforce training opportunities that might prepare individuals for the challenges of an ever-evolving job market, as well as potentially enabling critical community change.

TEDCO was founded by Maryland’s state government to support local early-stage tech and life sciences companies; according to the Baltimore Business Journal, the Makerspace Program was earmarked at least $1 million from next year through 2028 as part of the Maryland General Assembly’s Senate Bill 453.

One of the program’s first beneficiaries is the Station North Tool Library. According to Jessa Wais, the organization’s director of library services, this program will allow for improved sharing and distribution of services — not just with prospective constituents, but also with other makerspaces.

“Being a part of a state-wide community of maker spaces is a great chance to do what we do best here at the Tool Library: Share resources with one another,” Wais told Technical.ly, adding: “Being a part of this program will allow us to make necessary investments in our tools and class infrastructure. Specifically, we plan to upgrade some of our most commonly used tools, like the jointer in the wood shop, and expand demonstration walls for our repair classes.”

Below are the recipients of the 2023 Makerspace Program’s grant awards:

• Allegany College of Maryland
• Baltimore Jewelry Center
• Baltimore Underground Science Space
• Carroll County Public Library
• Chesapeake Arts Center
• College of Southern Maryland Foundation
• DMV Petri Dish
• Fashion Heritage Needle Trades Foundation
• Frederick County Office of Economic Development
• Howard County Library System
• Makerspace of Annapolis
• Melwood Horticultural Training Center, Inc.
• Mid-Atlantic Gigabit Innovation Collaboratory (MAGIC)
• Morgan State University
• PaxSpace, Inc. (won twice for different Makerspace projects)
• Rockville Science Center
• Salisbury University
• Station North Tool Library, Inc.
• Washington College

Qualified entities include government agencies, government-supported entities or other nonprofits. The next application process opens in spring 2024.