Affordable Housing, Economic Development the Focus of Queen Anne’s County Day Trip
Secretary Day and staff visit DHCD sponsored projects in Sudlersville, Queenstown
CENTERVILLE, MD. – Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day recently traveled throughout Queen Anne’s County as part of the department’s Day Trips tour.
Secretary Day’s stop at the county “Where Shore Living Begins” on March 26 was the latest in a series of visits across the state to hear directly from the community and see a few of the projects DHCD has invested in over the years.
“I’m always excited to see our successful community projects in each county and meet the people who work hard to make where they live and work better,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “Queen Anne’s County is a good example of how local leadership can work side by side with the Moore-Miller Administration to ensure that no Marylander is left behind when it comes to housing and community revitalization.”
“We were thrilled to welcome Secretary Jake Day to Queen Anne’s County. His visit underscores the importance of collaboration between state, local and private entities in addressing critical housing needs in our county,” said Queen Anne’s County Commission President Jim Moran. “We look forward to future opportunities to partner and enhance the quality of life for all our residents.”
From Fiscal Year 2020-24, DHCD provided Queen Anne’s County with more than $46 million in funding to create affordable housing, improve broadband service and revitalize neighborhoods.
Tuesday’s tour featured several places in the country that have been supported by DHCD grants and programs.
In the morning, Secretary Day visited the old Sudlersville Middle School. The site received a Community Development Block Grant and Community Legacy Grant to help convert the building for adaptive re-use and redevelopment, including a community laundromat.
Secretary Day and DHCD’s leadership team also toured businesses in Centreville, one of DHCD’s Main Street Maryland communities.The Main Street Maryland Program works with towns such as Centreville to strengthen its downtown business district.
Later in the day, the tour stopped at Onyx Beauty Supply in Queenstown, a barbershop and salon, which benefited from the department’s Project Restore program. Project Restore helps turn vacant storefronts into viable business space.
The day in Queen Anne’s County ended in Kent Island, where DHCD officials sat down with county and community leaders to help find solutions to the area’s challenges on housing.
The department’s Day Trips tour across Maryland continues in April in Anne Arundel County.