If you live in Maryland, you should know that your state is one of the few that takes the time to aggregate dissimilar state funding programs that all contribute to community revitalization.
This makes it easier for local leaders to address the broad diversity of cultural, economic, environmental and structural issues that affect the local future.
As you’ll see below, they also work to integrate the programs where appropriate, such as directing redevelopment funds towards places designated as “Sustainable Communities” or “Opportunity Zones”.
An example of this aggregation and integration emerged on April 26, 2023, when the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development announced the Fiscal Year 2024 application round for seven State Revitalization Programs.
These programs offer funding to support local housing, community and economic development and other revitalization projects.
They are part of the department’s commitment to helping the state’s local governments and nonprofit agencies achieve their community revitalization and economic development goals.
Specifically, Governor Wes Moore’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget includes the following for State Revitalization programs:
- Community Legacy: $6 million capital
- Maryland Facade Improvement Program: $1.5 million capital
- Strategic Demolition Fund – Statewide: $5 million capital
- Strategic Demolition Fund – Project C.O.R.E.: $20 million capital
- Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative (BRNI): $12 million capital, $500,000 operating
- National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund: $7 million capital, $200,000 operating
- Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Program: $10 million capital
If you’re a local Maryland leader and this is your first time applying to one of the aforementioned State Revitalization Programs, contact a regional project manager for more information and to determine your eligibility.
Community Legacy and Strategic Demolition Fund-Statewide projects must be in a Sustainable Community, or in an Opportunity Zone in Allegany, Garrett, Somerset and Wicomico Counties.
Maryland Facade Improvement Program projects must be in a Sustainable Community.
In addition to being located in a Sustainable Community, BRNI projects should be located in an area targeted by an eligible BRNI applicant in their 5 year strategic BRNI plan.
National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund applicant projects should be in Sustainable Communities located:
- In Prince George’s County, at least in part, within the boundary created by interstate 495 in the State and the District of Columbia; OR
- In Montgomery County, within an Enterprise Zone or the boundary created by: a) Prince George’s County, b) Maryland Route 200, c) Interstate 270, d) Interstate 495 to the Maryland state line, and e) The District of Columbia.
Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Program projects must be located in an area of blight and support the improvement of a neighborhood.
Projects do not need to be located inside of a Sustainable Community, but projects in Sustainable Communities will be given priority consideration for funding.
To see your jurisdiction’s Sustainable Community or Opportunity Zone boundaries, use the online revitalization mapping tool found at this website: https://portal.dhcd.state.md.us/GIS/revitalize/index.html.
Projects should help achieve the strategies outlined in a local government’s Sustainable Communities plan. All Sustainable Community plans can be found at https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Communities/Pages/dn/communities.aspx.
Application training will be held via webinar on Tuesday, May 2. To register for application training and to view additional program and application information, visit https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Communities/Pages/StateRevitalizationPrograms/default.aspx.
Applications will be due on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at 3 p.m.
Photo of row houses in Baltimore via Pixabay.