ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today announced $50 million in grant awards to support vacant property reduction efforts in Baltimore City through the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative. The governor also announced a new Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative Support Fund, toward which philanthropic partners have contributed more than $1 million for technical assistance to support awardees. Today’s announcements marks an acceleration of the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to addressing the challenge of vacant properties in Baltimore City neighborhoods announced last year through the creation of Reinvest Baltimore. “For this to be Maryland’s decade, it has to be Baltimore’s time,” said Gov. Moore. “We know that if we want to drive investment and growth in Baltimore City, we need to address its vacant housing crisis. And the future of these properties will be written in coordination with local leaders – because those closest to the problem are closest to the solution. Together, we will build a more vibrant, prosperous, and growing Baltimore for all.” The State awarded a total of $50 million to help redevelop neighborhoods with a high number of vacant properties. These communities have been prioritized due to their impressive redevelopment potential. The funding has been targeted toward specific recipients with a record of success: $15 million will go to Baltimore City and the Maryland Stadium Authority to demolish, stabilize, and acquire vacant properties for redevelopment; $30 million will go toward 16 community development organizations; and $5 million that will go toward large, mixed-use projects from Fiscal Year 2025 to help carry them into their next phase. For the full list of awardees, visit the Department of Housing and Community Development’s website. “Our collective work to end vacants in Baltimore is built on a shared vision of investing in communities that have long been intentionally disinvested in,” said Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Today’s announcement of the latest round of BVRI grants will accelerate our work to deliver on that vision and will propel our efforts to the next level. All of us — the community, the city, our institutional partners in BUILD and GBC, and the state under Governor Moore — have joined together in an unprecedented partnership, which is showing what is possible when we lead with collaboration and commitment to the same shared vision. Baltimore thrives when it receives the investment it deserves, and together we’ll ensure that our neighborhoods see the difference between the history of intentional disinvestment they’ve endured and the vision of the future we’ve laid out through this partnership.” The governor also announced a new Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative Support Fund, a partnership to provide additional assistance to community development organizations as they deploy capital funds. Through a partnership with the Maryland Community Investment Corporation, more than $1 million in grants from philanthropic partners have already been approved for the fund. Organizations including the Goldseker Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Abell Foundation, the Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund, the Middendorf Foundation, and the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation are supporting the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative Support Fund. “Philanthropic partners recognize that…

Featured Videos

You may have missed

Advertisement

40th District Legislative Update

Dear Residents of District 40, I hope this letter finds you well. As always, I am committed to keeping you informed about the latest developments in our community. Here’s what’s happening in Annapolis  this week: I’m thrilled to share with you an exciting endorsement announcement. After careful consideration and evaluation, I am pleased to announce our endorsement of Angela Alsobrooks for the U.S. Senate. Angela’s dedication to public service and deep commitment to our community make her the best candidate to represent us in the Senate. I urge you to join me in supporting her campaign as we work together…

Digitize Black Women’s Records Day MARCH 26, 2024 • 12-3 p.m. ET

Join us as we celebrate innovative ways to engage Black women’s activist archives with Meta DuEwa Jones, DaMaris B. Hill, Sharia Benn, Janel Moore-Almond, and Jennifer Morris. Coordinated by the Black Women’s Organize Archive (BWOA). LEARN MORE March 26, 2024 Digitize Black Women’s Records Day Freeman Auditorium, HUB, Penn State, University Park and Streaming to YouTube Noon–12:15 p.m.Welcome 12:15–1:00 p.m. Opening Keynote 1:00–1:10 p.m. Break 1:10–2:30 p.m. Artist, Scholar, Teacher, and Archivist Roundtable Discussion 2:30–3:10 p.m. Poetry Reading 3:10–3:15 p.m. Closing Remarks

2024 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament is Weeks Away!

(BALTIMORE – February 17, 2024) – The CIAA, the nation’s oldest historically Black athletic conference, in partnership with Visit Baltimore, is hosting its Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday, February 24 – Saturday, March 2, 2024, at CFG Bank Arena and the Baltimore Convention Center. Athletes from 13 East Coast colleges will return to Baltimore to compete in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament, but the week is about more than basketball. Beyond basketball, this community event consists of live performances, family reunions, and youth workshops, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy during…

THE BOSS NETWORK TO AWARD 0,000 IN GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO BENEFIT DIVINE NINE SORORITIES AND THE CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE

(CHICAGO – February 16, 2024) – The BOSS Network, an online community of professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other through digital content, programs and event-based networking, has announced awarding $50,000 each in grants and scholarships in partnership with Sage ($250,000 in total) to the Divine Nine sororities—including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated—the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated, and the Chicago Urban League. Led by CEO Dr. Cameka Smith, this investment is a part of The BOSS Network’s yearlong celebration highlighting its 15th anniversary milestone year. Four women from each organization…

The Glover Report: Why Dr. Taborn’s Vision for BEYA.org to Close Digital Divide is so necessary

By Doni Glover, Publisher (BALTIMORE – February 16, 2023) – Congratulations to Dr. Tyrone Taborn, Jean Hamilton (his phenomenal wife), and the entire Career Communications Group family for bringing BEYA.org back to Baltimore. A warm word of thanks also to Mayor Brandon Scott, Visit Baltimore’s Al Hutchinson, and the rest of the team who helped make this return a treasured success. As BEYA wins, the City of Baltimore wins – and in multiple ways. When millions of tourist dollars come into our beloved city because of the work of those mentioned above as well as the sponsors, it is a…

Have Vultures Circled Your Estate Plan? by Ken Ward

By Ken Ward (BALTIMORE – February 16, 2024) – Imagine this: The gavel falls, silencing your life’s chapter, but the story of your legacy continues. Are you confident it unfolds as intended, shielded from the “vultures” circling probate court? Business owners, attorneys, dentists, and medical professionals like you dedicate years to building something valuable. Don’t let unforeseen financial burdens unravel it after you’re gone. The reality is, that even the most meticulously crafted estate plan can face cash flow challenges at death. Unpaid debts, unexpected taxes, and legal fees can quickly deplete assets, forcing your loved ones to make difficult choices…