Revitalizing Communities

What does it mean to live in a revitalized community? Of course, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to live and work in prosperous and secure communities. We want to provide access to affordable housing, job opportunities, community services and transit.

Preventing sprawl, promoting economic development, and protecting our environment means that future generations of Marylanders will have an improved quality of life. By combining affordable housing, business assistance, downtown beautification, green building, and transit-oriented development initiatives, we can ensure that Maryland’s communities not only survive, but grow and thrive, ensuring a better future for our children and families.

Assisting Maryland Communities

Rowhomes in Baltimore

Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credits supports community revitalization through the rehabilitation of historic commercial and owner-occupied residential properties.
Maryland Heritage Areas Program provides funding for heritage tourism development activities that stimulate economic development and promote regional identity.
Smart Sites are site-specific capital projects that show how State and local partners can work together to coordinate and align investment in innovative ways that catalyze smart growth in appropriate areas throughout Maryland.
Community Legacy provides funding for local economic development activities that stimulate reinvestment and strengthen neighborhoods throughout Maryland.
Neighborhood BusinessWorks provides below market loans to small business that locate or expand in target revitalization areas, bringing new services, jobs and vitality to their surrounding communities.
Community Development Block Grant funds help strengthen Maryland’s communities by expanding affordable housing opportunities, creating jobs, stabilizing neighborhoods and improving overall quality of life.
Community Investment Tax Credits support 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations by awarding allocations of state tax credits to use as incentives for business contributions.
Main Street Maryland helps strengthen the economic potential of the state’s traditional downtown business districts by helping them improve the economy, appearance and image using the principles of Smart Growth and sustainability.
The Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP) supports communities in developing transportation projects that improve the quality of life in the community.
Context sensitive design is a collaborative approach that involves all stakeholders to develop a transportation facility that fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic, and environmental resources.
When Main Street is a State Highway offers communities a step-by-step, comprehensive process to identify and achieve community goals in developing transportation projects.

Local Agriculture Initiatives

Buying locally-grown products at farmers’ markets, restaurants, directly from farms, and at grocery stores strengthens local economies and the health of our environment and our families, keeps land open and productive and improves quality of life.
The Maryland Farm to School program works to bring more Maryland-grown products to school lunches and help educate students about where their food comes, how it is produced, and the benefits of a healthy diet.
MARBIDCO assists Maryland’s farm, forestry, seafood and recreation-based businesses to achieve profitability and sustainability by providing targeted services that help retain existing production and commerce, promote rural entrepreneurship and jobs, and nurture emerging industries.

Assisting Our Citizens

Help with improvements to homes, businesses and multifamily buildingsThe Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's Be SMART program, funded through the US Department of Energy's Better Buildings program, provides increased comfort, safety and affordability to commercial, residential and multifamily buildings in Maryland. Through energy efficiency improvements including ENERGY STAR qualified HVAC systems, insulation, windows, draft stopping and duct sealing, appliances and fixtures, and water heating equipment.
The Maryland Mortgage Program helps first-time homebuyers with low to moderate incomes obtain affordable mortgages through a statewide network of private lending institutions; and through the Downpayment and Settlement Expense Loan Program, those homebuyers can get zero-percent deferred loans for down payment and settlement costs.
The Homeownership for Individuals with Disabilities Program was designed after consultation with the disability advocacy community and provides low-interest mortgage loans for eligible disabled households.
The Accessible Homes for Seniors Program provides zero percent interest, deferred loans to senior citizens to make their homes more accessible.
The Weatherization Assistance Program helps eligible low-income households through the installation of energy conservation materials in their homes to reduce the consumption of energy and the cost of maintenance.