Operating Assistance Grants include funding for Main Street Improvements and
Technical Assistance Grant.
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) provides funding to assist Maryland’s designated and affiliate Main Street Maryland communities and Baltimore City’s designated Main Street neighborhoods in building capacity to achieve their community revitalization and economic development goals in designated
Sustainable Community areas throughout the state.
Eligible Applicants
Only the 34 designated and 9 affiliate Main Street Maryland communities, as well as the 9 Baltimore City’s designated Main Street neighborhoods, are eligible to request Main Street Improvement Program funds.
Main Street Improvement Program (MIP) Grant awards are allocated funds distributed to eligible grantees as follows:
- Designed Main Street Maryland Communities: expected to be $25,000 each.
- Main Street Maryland Affiliates: expected to be $10,000 each.
- Baltimore City Main Street Neighborhoods: expected to be $8,000 each.
Eligible Activities
Grants can be used for
operating expenses only. Operating costs can include salary, professional services contracts, technology costs, or other costs related to administering the Main Street program.
Capital project costs are not supported through MIP; however, other DHCD programs do support capital costs, such as
State Revitalization Programs.
The requested funds should support projects and/or activities that align with the goals and outcomes of the applicant’s annual work plan and contribute to the transformation strategy of the community. All projects and/or activities should be completed within one year; a funding match is not required.
Additional consideration will be given to initiatives that address the overarching priorities of the Moore-Miller Administration, including ensuring that all those who want to live in Maryland can do so. In addition, priority consideration will be given to those projects and places that reflect the core objectives of MD DHCD (listed below), including to create great, lovable places and to right the wrongs of the past. Great places – lovable places– result from consistent targeted investment in locally-driven and inclusive community reinvestment plans.
- Investments in designated
Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments and Households (ENOUGH) areas, addressing the community conditions surrounding children in poverty, enriching community assets and services for youth.
- Investments in designated
Just Communities, transforming neighborhoods into thriving communities where all Marylanders, regardless of background, have access to fair housing, and economic stability and opportunity, righting the wrongs of the past.
- Increased housing production, including mixed-income, middle market and affordable housing.
- Increased household and generational wealth building, such as through homeownership, legacy homeowner renovations, and small business development.
- Accelerated elimination of vacant properties, particularly in Baltimore City.
Resources
Application
To access the application and apply you must be registered in the Application Portal. Select “New User?” and complete the registration request form. Requests for registration may take up to 72 hours to be approved.
Application Status: Open
Application Period Opens: Monday, April 14, 2025 at 8:00 AM(EDT)
Application Period Closes: Friday, May 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM (EDT)
Ensure that you have uploaded all the necessary organizational documents in the organization’s profile. Failure to provide the required documentation at the time of application submission could disqualify the application.
Kristin Dawson, Project Manager
Email:
kristin.dawsonn@maryland.gov
Phone: 410-209-5847
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Division of Neighborhood Revitalization
2 North Charles Street, Suite 450
Baltimore, MD 21201
