Photo courtesy of Royal Razor Barbershop in the 300 block of W. Baltimore St.

Baltimore – Royal Razor, an urban barbershop in the heart of downtown Baltimore that opened five months ago with the help of a microenterprise loan from DHCD, is getting its share of recognition for its contributions to a revitalizing city.

At its annual meeting in October, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore awarded the shop its Downtown Baltimore Award. In December, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake advised her Facebook followers to stop by and get “a good cut and shave to spruce up for the holidays!”

“We are by far the most diverse barbershop in the city as it pertains to the staff and clientele with regards to both ethnicity and socio-economic standing,” founder Nicholas Cassadine says.  “We are a melting pot for men that aspire to better grooming.” Visit the shop’s website.

Cassadine, a 2002 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy,  says he was inspired to open a business downtown because he lives there.

“As a resident of downtown, I find it hard to spend my money downtown.  I usually have to go outside of the city.  I hope my business can inspire other new, local, and cool businesses to pop-up around us.”

That’s one of the goals of Maryland’s Microenterprise Loan Program. The program provides entrepreneurs with flexible financing for microenterprise start-ups and expansions within designated sustainable communities throughout the state.

Visit DHCD’s website at Mdhousing. org to learn more about how DHCD helps small businesses contribute to the economic vitality of their communities by helping them get access to the capital they need to expand, innovate and grow.