The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is committed to assisting Maryland’s local governments and nonprofit organizations build capacity to achieve their community revitalization and economic development goals.
Operating Assistance Grants include funding for Main Street Improvements and Technical Assistance. The funding will assist local governments, Main Street communities, and nonprofits with operating costs associated with local housing efforts and community revitalization projects and initiatives that are located in or serve designated
Sustainable Community areas.
Main Street Improvement Program (MIP): Funding is targeted to assist Maryland’s designated and affiliate Main Street Maryland communities and Baltimore City’s designated Main Street neighborhoods.
The grants can be used for staff and consultant services, general operating expenses, market and business recruitment strategies set up to improve a business district, street furniture, advertising, façade improvements and other projects that have been identified in the applicant’s work plans as key to its Main Street efforts.
Technical Assistance Grant (TAG): Funding supports nonprofit organizations, local governments, and local development corporations involved in community and economic revitalization activities.
The grants can be used for strategic consultants or services, general operating expenses and other operating costs directly associated with critical community development projects. The Department has consolidated the two operating assistance programs: Technical Assistance Grant and Main Street Improvement Program into
one Operating Assistance Grant application to request funding.
Who Can Apply
For Technical Assistance Grants: Eligible Applicants include nonprofit organizations, including local development agencies and development corporations, and local governments involved in community and economic revitalization activities.
For Main Street Improvement Grants: Only the 34 state Maryland designated and 9 affiliate Main Street Maryland communities and Baltimore City’s 8 designated Main Street districts are eligible to request Main Street Improvement Program funds via the Operating Assistance Grant application.
Eligible Activities
Projects and/or initiatives should be in alignment with local
Sustainable Community Action Plans and/or support activities related to capital projects receiving funds from other Department or state agencies.
Eligible Activities include, but are not limited to, costs associated with consultants or services, a portion of general operating expenses and other costs directly associated with community development projects. Costs associated with consulting expertise/technical assistance or training for organizational development or community assessment and goal setting resulting in the expansion of an existing program or deployment of a new initiative, such as a revenue producing social enterprise, are also eligible.
- The project and/or activities that funds are being requested for should be completed within one year.
- Maximum grant request is $50,000 with no match requirement.
How to Apply
The FY24 application round for Operating Assistance Grant Program is currently closed.
- Project Portal open to accept applications: FY25 Date TBD
- Applicant Training: Virtual Training Date TBD
- Online Applications Due: FY25 Date TBD
The Operating Assistance Grant application is available online via DHCD’s Project Portal.
In order 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 following required documents MUST be completed, signed, dated, and submitted at the time of application.
These forms are required and
MUST be uploaded in the
Application Attachments and Authorization section of the application under DHCD Program Application Supplemental Forms:
Please use the
Application Required Document Checklist to ensure that you have uploaded all the necessary documents.
Failure to provide the required documentation at the time of application submission could disqualify the application.
For More Information
Contact the appropriate Program Staff if you have any questions concerning the program or current funding opportunities.
Main Street Improvement Program (MIP) Inquiries
Christine McPherson, Program Officer
E:
christine.mcpherson@maryland.gov
P: 410-209-5802
Technical Assistant Grant (TAG) Inquiries
Alyssa Clemons, Project Manager
E:
alyssa.clemons@maryland.gov
P: 410-209-5808
Karen Forbes, Assistant Director
E:
karen.forbes@maryland.gov
P: 410-209-5809
Address
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Division of Neighborhood Revitalization
2 North Charles Street, Suite 450
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
