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A statewide program that has provided millions of dollars in business loans throughout the years has helped a Silver Spring clothing store prepare for life in a new building — with plans to provide more than 20 jobs in the process.

Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D), Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Raymond A. Skinner and Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) all touted the Neighborhood BusinessWorks program on Monday and toured Rosta's, which has received $500,000 from the state for its building renovation project.

"We realize that small businesses are the engine that drives our economy and if we want to strengthen our economy, we must help our small businesses create jobs and preserve jobs," Skinner said in a statement. "Through programs such as Neighborhood BusinessWorks, we are finding innovative ways to ensure that those businesses have access to the capital they need to grow."

"I appreciate the money from the state and county, because otherwise we couldn't have done this," said Rosta's owner, Ali Rostai.

Rostai, who emigrated from Iran in 1978, said he has invested more than $3 million in the project, which involves converting a 10,000-square-foot former restaurant into a women's clothing store. He said the store will have all new merchandise — at a cost of about an additional $500,000 — and he expects the store to have more than 20 employees. He lost his lease on his previous store in Silver Spring three years ago.

"I wanted to stay in Silver Spring, because I'm not familiar with a lot of other places here, and I live here in Silver Spring," said Rostai, who said he was in the fabric business in Iran before coming to the U.S. "I've lived here since I came to this country. And we have loyal customers, so we like to stay here ... our customers are our friends."

Rostai said construction has taken "a little longer than we expected, but hopefully we can open later this month or early September. It will take another four or five weeks."

According to state housing department information, the Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program was created in 1995 as the Neighborhood Business Development Program. The program "stimulates investment in Maryland's older communities ... aids designated neighborhoods to develop, redevelop, or expand small businesses, invests in revitalizing small businesses, and helps local governments develop and expand small businesses."

"The Program has provided $58 million in loans to 230 [businesses] in designated neighborhoods throughout the state and created over 3,300 jobs," said Dawn Medley, director of the agency's Business Lending Programs office, in an e-mail to The Gazette.

"Small business are important to the economic vitality of our community," Leggett said in the statement, "and the investment made by Rosta's owner Ali Rostai and the state and county is an example of public and private entities working together to sustain our communities."

Montgomery County pitched in $80,000 to help Rosta's by purchasing a façade easement. The move enables the county to control the renovation of some elements of a commercial building's exterior, including its appearance, signage and maintenance, for 10 years. The store also received $100,000 from a county small-business loan fund.

"Maryland's diverse economy is driven by our strong network of small businesses and entrepreneurs, and Governor [Martin] O'Malley (D) and I share the belief that these businesses are our strongest bridge to recovery," Brown said in the statement.

"With the support of the Maryland General Assembly and our municipal and State leaders, programs and initiatives like the Neighborhood Business Works loan program will enable these vital businesses to thrive and grow for many years to come, providing quality goods and services and creating more jobs for our working families," he said.