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Department of Housing and Community Development

Secretary Jake Day And DHCD Leadership Connect With Local Leaders, Tour Elkton During Day Trip to Cecil County

ELKTON, Md. (November 12, 2025) – Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day toured parts of Elkton and Chesapeake City that have benefited directly from department programs during the Department’s 23rd Day Trip to Cecil County.

Wednesday’s stop in Cecil County meant the department has visited all Maryland counties during this tour, which began in Frederick County in September 2023. Over the last two years Secretary Day and Department staff have met with hundreds of public officials and residents about their current needs while visiting businesses, affordable housing projects and lovable places helped by the department.

From Fiscal Year 2020 to 2025, DHCD has provided Cecil County with more than $91 million in support for broadband, neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing and homelessness solutions projects.

“The best way to connect with Maryland’s communities isn’t through email or phone calls – it’s in person. Our county tours have given us that opportunity over the last two years to visit towns and cities of our great state and learn from the people what their priorities are and how we can help,” said Secretary Day. “Today’s visit to North East, Elkton and Chesapeake City, along with our discussions with county and municipal leaders, have been valuable and together, we will lead Cecil County to a place that is sheltered, affordable, lovable, just and connected.”

“Partnership with state agencies is vital to our shared success. We appreciate Secretary Day and his staff for their visit and their continued commitment to collaborate in ways that benefit both Maryland and Cecil County,” said Cecil County Executive Adam Streight.

Secretary Day began the morning with a pair of roundtable discussions in North East featuring a mix of municipal officials, business leaders and other stakeholders active in the Cecil County community.

Secretary Day also presented a $2.9 million award to Cecil County through the Department’s Home Stretch for Difficult to Serve Properties program. The award positions Cecil County to become the second county in Maryland to reach 100 percent of funding awarded to provide county-wide broadband service, not including Baltimore City.

Afterwards, the Secretary and Department staff traveled to Elkton and visited several sites that have benefited from department programs including:

  • Villas at Whitehall. The senior apartment complex was supported by federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits administered by DHCD.
  • The Child Advocacy Center. The center allows law enforcement, child protective services, the Cecil County State’s Attorney’s Office, Union Hospital, and mental health providers to be housed together to function as a multidisciplinary team. The site was a recipient of a federal Community Development Block Grant, which is also distributed locally through DHCD.
  • Habitat for Humanity Habi-Tech properties. These sites on Booth Street in Elkton received State Revitalization Program funding.
  • Elkton Music Hall. Known as “The premier music venue of Cecil County,” the site was assisted by DHCD through its ​​​​​Neighborhood BusinessWorks (NBW)​ loan program and was a previous Project Restore and State Revitalization Program awardee. Project Restore activates vacant buildings, supports small businesses, creates jobs, improves commercial corridors, and increases local economic activity.
  • Elk River Brewing Company. Neighborhood Business Works loans helped redevelop its East Main Street site to become the first craft brewery in Cecil County and expand its distribution efforts.

The tour ended in Chesapeake City as staff met with officials about upcoming projects while exploring the only town currently in Maryland that is situated on a working commercial canal.

To learn more about the Department’s Day Trips and how Maryland counties have benefitted from support from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, visit dhcd.maryland.gov. More photos from the Cecil County tour can be found on the agency’s Flickr page.