Love Couture Bridal, a Potomac bridal boutique, was announced Tuesday as one of 25 Maryland businesses set to receive grants totaling $1.6 million to aid in the production of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The recipients, announced by Governor Larry Hogan, are part of a second round of grants being awarded by the Department of Commerce through the Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Manufacturing Fund, according to a press release. The first round of grants consisted of an additional $1.6 million and was awarded to 20 companies in May. Each business received up to $100,000.
“We are proud to provide support to the dozens of Maryland companies that stepped up during this global pandemic to produce the most critically-needed equipment,” said Hogan in the release. “Our top priority is to protect our essential and front line workers, and having a steady and reliable supply of items that are still in high demand will ensure we can continue to keep them safe.”
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Initially funded through a GoFundMe page set up by the boutique, Love Couture has been manufacturing masks for local hospitals since mandated shutdowns began, according to a post on their Instagram account. They’ve since expanded into a sister company called Masks For A Mission in order to help protect their community. For each sale, the bridal shop will donate a mask to a front line worker. Their website can be found here.
The program from which the boutique received their grant was created to help lessen the demand for much needed protective and medical items, according to the release. More than 200 applications were submitted. Love Couture is the only Montgomery County business awarded a grant in the second round—they are one of two overall.
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