Maryland Town Manager Circuit Rider Program

​The Maryland Town Manager Circuit Rider Program assists small town and city governments with building their administrative capacity.  The program provides grants to hire professional staff to work as a “circuit rider” to multiple towns assisting with specific municipal functions and activities.​

Eligible Participants

Small municipalities with populations of 5,000 or less are eligible.

Eligible Circuit Sponsors

Municipal governments, county governments, regional governmental organizations or private organizations are eligible to sponsor a circuit which will consist of two or more municipalities. The municipalities must be within reasonable proximity to each other.

Use of Funds

The annual funding allocation is determined by an appropriation of the General Assembly each year. Grant funds can only be used to pay for salary and fringe benefits for circuit rider staff over a two year period.

Application Process

Funding is provided through a competitive process each year. Eligible governments are notified at the opening of the competition and when applications are due. Applications are evaluated based on the following factors:

  1. Need;
  2. Proposed Accomplishments; and
  3. Financial Commitment and Support.

Existing circuits will also be evaluated on past performance.

Technical Assistance is available for interested governments and sponsors.

More Information

CONTACT: Cindy Stone
​Director, Community Development Programs
Division of Neighborhood Revitalization
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
7800 Harkins Road
Lanham, MD 20706
E: cindy.stone@maryland.gov
P: 301-429-7519
Toll-Free: 1-800-543-4505​​​​
 
CONTACT: Anne Stringer
Assistant Director, Community Development Programs
Division of Neighborhood Revitalization
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
7800 Harkins Road
Lanham, MD 20706
E: anne.stringer@maryland.gov​
P: 301-429-7520​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Toll-Free: 1-800-543-4505​