​​The Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative (BVRI) provides capital to Baltimore City, Maryland Stadium Authority, and Baltimore City's community-based development organizations (CDOs) to successfully redevelop vacant properties.

With this FY27 BVRI funding round, DHCD is again asking Baltimore City's CDOs to describe their strategy for eliminating vacant property and strengthening neighborhoods within a defined target area.

While this FY27 BVRI round will focus on scaling the renovation of vacant buildings on clusters of contiguous blocks, funds may also support the redevelopment of vacant lots for housing, mixed-use projects and green space to complement those efforts. The strategy should build from community strengths and assets to achieve whole block outcomes. Whole block outcomes occur when every property on a block has a productive use.

Awarded organizations will need to be nimble, efficient, and fast. The Department and its partners have a strong sense of urgency to replace vacant properties with catalytic investments that propel the health of Baltimore City neighborhoods.

Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative is part of Reinvest Baltimore, which is guided by the Baltimore Vacants​ Reinvestment Council. BVRI investments will align with values agreed upon by the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Council (BVRC)

Eligible Activities

Grants and loans to finance:

• Acquisition, stabilization, and renovation of vacant buildings.
• Acquisition and aggregation of vacant lots for the purpose of new infill housing construction mixed-use projects, and community-managed open space.
• Urgent demolition of properties, or the demolition of vacant buildings for near term redevelopment projects.
• Other predevelopment activities for renovation and new construction projects.

All projects should be located in a cluster of contiguous blocks where the applicant can demonstrate the capacity and a plan to address all vacant property over time. Awarded funds will primarily support activities that accelerate the remediation of vacant buildings with city-issued Vacant Building Notices.

Eligible Applicants

• Community development organizations (CDOs), nonprofit organizations that operate for the purpose of improving the physical, economic, or social environment of its geographic areas of operation.
• If funded, CDOs may be required to provide:
• a government resolution,
  
• corporate board resolution, and
• charitable registration.

Eligible Project Locations

Activities must be located in Sustainable Community Areas​ in Baltimore City. Special consideration will be given to projects in the Baltimore City Vacancy Reduction Priority Geography.

Application

Application Status: Open

Application Opens: February 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM

Application Closes: April 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM

The application submission will be through Survey123. We will not accept paper applications and the application is not available in DHCD's IGX Project Portal.

We will not accept applications that are missing required documents.

Application Training

Watch the recorded training for information on how to complete the FY27 BVRI application.

• FY27 BVRI Application Training Recording
• Application Training Presentation Slides​

Resources

• FY27 BVRI Application Guide​
• FY27 BVRI Application Template
• FY27 Property Pipeline for Current BVRI Orgs
• FY27 BVRI Property Pipeline
• Whole Block Principles
• Public Disclosure Authorization
• Residential Infill New Construction & Commercial Mixed Use Sample Budget Template
• Open Space/Placemaking Sample Budget Template
• Live Baltimore's 2026 Residential Market Potential Report​
• Reinvest Baltimore FY26 Action Plan​

Contact Information

Program Contact: David Birkenthal
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 443-462-7445

Schedule a meeting to discuss BVRI​

Address:
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Division of Neighborhood Revitalization
2 North Charles Street, Suite 450
Baltimore, MD 21201