Economic Growth Key Topic of DHCD Day Trips Visit to Harford County
Secretary Day makes stops in Edgewood, Aberdeen, Havre de Grace and Bel Air to learn about community priorities throughout the county
BEL AIR, MD – Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day heard from leaders and residents of Harford County and visited several towns Tuesday as part of the department’s ongoing Day Trips state tour.
Secretary Day and senior DHCD staff were joined by county and municipal officials, along with non-profit leaders, as they stopped in Edgewood, Aberdeen, Havre de Grace and Bel Air. The Day Trips provide DHCD officials an opportunity to see the impact the department has on Maryland’s communities up close and learn about their priorities.
From Fiscal Year 2020 to 2024, DHCD has provided more than $205 million in financial support for affordable housing, improvements for broadband infrastructure and neighborhood revitalization in Harford County.
“The only way we can truly learn from and support the people of Maryland is going to the places they work and raise their families,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “The Moore-Miller administration has pledged to make Maryland safer, more affordable and competitive and DHCD will continue to partner with Harford County and its municipalities to reach that goal.”
“We were honored to welcome Secretary Day and his team to Harford County and highlight how funding from the state is helping to improve lives, especially in our southern communities,” Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly said. “Visits like this strengthen our partnership and we look forward to continuing our vital work together on behalf of the citizens we serve.”
Tuesday’s tour started in Edgewood, where DHCD and Harford County staff toured The EPICENTER, a community center designed to be a hub of activity for kids and adults.
The group also visited the Merion Village Apartments complex in Edgewood. Merion Village received financial support from DHCD in its construction phase.
DHCD officials then stopped in Aberdeen at the North Deen Skatepark, which underwent significant upgrades through a Community Development Block Grant. Funded federally and administered in Maryland by DHCD, CDBG helps strengthen communities by expanding affordable housing opportunities, creating jobs, stabilizing neighborhoods and improving the overall quality of life.
In Havre de Grace, Secretary Day met with the Southern County Task Force on ways DHCD can help residents in that part of Harford County. Afterward, DHCD and county staff visited the city’s Main Street.
Havre de Grace is part of DHCD’s Main Street Maryland Program, which strengthens the economic potential of Maryland’s traditional main streets and neighborhoods through support for economic planning, marketing and promotion, training and education.
The day concluded with a community stakeholders meeting and ceremonial check presentation to several Harford County local economic development groups for recently awarded Main Street Improvement Program and Project Restore grants from DHCD. The $475,000 in total will be used to help revitalize business communities in Aberdeen, Bel Air and Havre de Grace.
Tuesday’s Day Trip to Harford County was the 12th on DHCD’s tour of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City. A visit to St. Mary’s County is scheduled for July.
###