Operating Assistance Grants include funding for Main Street Improvements and
Technical Assistance.
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.
Who Can Apply
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.
How to Apply
The Main Street Improvement Program application is available online via
DHCD’s Project Portal.
To access the application and apply you must be registered in the Portal system. On the
DHCD's Project Portal, select “New User?” and complete the registration request form. Requests for registration may take up to 72 hours to be approved.
- The Project Portal is expected to open to accept FY26 MIP applications on
Monday, April 14, 2025 at 8:00am EST.
- The deadline to submit FY26 MIP applications is
Friday, May 16, 2025 at 5:00pm EST.
Resources
- A virtual Application Training is scheduled for April 16, 2025 from 12pm-1pm. Eligible applicants should have received an invitation for a Google Meets session.
- Individual technical assistance sessions are available;
schedule one online via Calendly.
- 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.
For More Information
Kristin Dawson, Project Manager
E:
kristin.dawsonn@maryland.gov
P: 410-209-5847
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Division of Neighborhood Revitalization
2 North Charles Street, Suite 450
Baltimore, MD 21201
