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Department of Housing and Community Development

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Announces $445,300 in Grants to Support Safer Neighborhoods and Lovable Places in Western Maryland

New Carrollton, MD. (July 25, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development today announced it has awarded $445,300 in grants to improve health and safety of neighborhoods across three Western Maryland counties through the department’s Community Health and Safety Works (CHSW) program. 

Local governments and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible for CHSW grant funding to implement crime prevention strategies through physical design improvements, operational activities and other community-driven strategies. CHSW projects are required to be located in Baltimore City or an area designated as a Maryland Sustainable Community elsewhere in the state.

“One of DHCD’s key missions is creating lovable places in Maryland where pride-in-place is strong but reinvestment is needed,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “The projects funded through the Community Health and Safety Works program will not only make Maryland neighborhoods safer, cleaner and more lovable, but will support community-driven efforts that will have an impact on generations to come.”

CHSW awards fall into one of four competitive categories: 

  1. Community Placemaking: Community-led collaborations that engage artists and designers to create lovable and safer spaces for community use. 
  2. Environmental Health and Justice: Elimination of predatory and unhealthy practices such as illegal dumping, litter and traffic hazards and address urban heat islands and other conditions related to climate change. 
  3. Cameras, Lighting, and Related Safety Services: Increased surveillance of illegal and dangerous activities in communities through lighting, camera strategies and related community safety services and technology. 
  4. Technical Assistance for CHSW Initiatives: Nonprofit providers that will provide project design and implementation support to the awardees of CHSW project funding. Grant amounts are determined by the scope of services provided.

A total of 108 awards worth $9,750,000 were provided in the Fiscal Year 2024 round of funding across 20 Maryland counties and Baltimore City. 

In Western Maryland, Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties received a combined $445,300 to support five projects.

Some awardees include:

  • The Garrett County Arts Council in Garrett County will use $100,000 to implement placemaking upgrades to a community space in the heart of Historic Oakland, including improvements to the community arts and performance space featuring artist-designed murals, entry gates and arches, hardscaping and plantings. 
  • The Cumberland Economic Development Corporation in Allegany County will use $90,300 to implement a surveillance system in key areas of our central business district and other areas of concern throughout the city. 
  • Horizon Goodwill Industries in Washington County will use $65,000 to install lighting and cameras at the Community Health Hub.

Here’s what local leaders are saying about the announcement: 

“The Garrett County Arts Council (GCAC) is thrilled to learn we have received a FY25 DHCD Community Health and Safety Works grant for our creative arts community placemaking project at 215-221 Green Street!” said Kathy Beachler, Executive Director of the Garrett County Arts Council. “Between two main retail streets in the heart of the Oakland Arts & Entertainment District, visualize walking through artist-designed entry arches accessing a vibrant community space: parking lot by day and community event space showcasing music, dance and theatre on evenings and weekends. Designed with community input, this creative, safe space will include colorful murals, community maintained eco-friendly planters, inclusive ADA-accessible seating, overhead lighting, way-finding signage, with traffic controlled by one way access. 

GCAC understands engaging in creative arts community placemaking fosters a sense of belonging and ownership among residents, enhances social interaction, contributing to increased community health and safety through proactive collaboration and mutual support.”

“The Cumberland Economic Development Corporation is very excited to continue its work toward creating a safe environment throughout Cumberland’s Downtown District for its residents, businesses and visitors,” said Matt Miller, executive director of Cumberland Economic Development Corporation. “These funds have proven to be incredibly integral as it relates to the implementation of our comprehensive surveillance upgrade plan.  This allocation will help fund our 3rd and final phase of the plan – which includes:  a.) providing surveillance coverage in pedestrian underpass; b.) the purchase of a mobile surveillance trailer and; c.) the purchase of new equipment within the Police Department’s Central Command Center where the cameras are monitored and reviewed.”

“The DHCD Community Health and Safety Works grant will allow Horizon Goodwill Industries to add additional lighting and security cameras to our Community Health Hub,” said David Shuster, CEO of Horizon Goodwill Industries. “The Community Health Hub’s proven model of co-locating services and basic needs allows HGI staff to meet program participants where they are and helps them to get where they want to be. These enhancements to the Community Health Hub will ensure that this location is safe for program participants and Horizon Market grocery store shoppers, aligning with HGI’s commitment to strengthen the community through the provision of low barrier services in a safe, welcoming environment.”

More information on the Community Health and Safety Works program and how to apply can be found here.

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