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Governor Hogan Announces $7 Million in Emergency Relief Awards for Main Street Communities

February 23, 2021 by Andy DeVilbiss

Governor Hogan Announces $7 Million in Emergency Relief Awards for Main Street Communities
All Designated Main Street Maryland and Baltimore City Main Street Communities Receive Funding to Support Local Businesses

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 23, 2021) — Governor Larry Hogan today announced $7 million in awards for 41 Main Street programs across the state. The funding will support small businesses and other economic recovery efforts in both the state- and Baltimore City-designated Main Street communities. Through this relief, more than 5,000 businesses will be eligible for support from their local Main Street program.

“Maryland communities would not be the same without our vibrant, historic Main Streets,” said Governor Hogan. “We are proud to support local small businesses and help them recover from the economic toll brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

These awards mark the third phase of the Maryland Strong: Economic Recovery Initiative administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Governor Hogan previously announced more than $8 million in awards for tourism-related institutions and $30 million in awards for entertainment venues, promoters and independently-owned movie theaters through this initiative.

All of the state’s 33 designated Main Street Maryland communities and Baltimore City’s eight designated Main Street neighborhoods applied for and received awards to support their operating and capital grants to businesses in their districts. A full list of awardees is available here.

“The pandemic has hit our small businesses particularly hard,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Kenneth C. Holt. “The state and Baltimore City Main Street programs have a crucial role to play in supporting those businesses, and this funding will allow them to provide grants to their local businesses that will ultimately restore the vitality of their commercial districts and impact Maryland’s economic recovery.”

Last year, the impact of the local efforts of the state’s 33 designated Main Street Maryland communities resulted in 180 businesses expanding or opening, 665 new jobs, and 130 private and public investments totaling over $80 million. Since 1998, the total impact of these efforts has resulted in nearly 3,300 businesses expanding or opening, over 12,000 new jobs, and more than 6,000 private and public investments totaling over $740 million.

Last week, the governor signed the bipartisan RELIEF Act of 2021 into law, delivering more than $1 billion in tax relief and economic stimulus for struggling families and small businesses who are suffering as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information about the state’s Main Street Maryland program, visit mainstreetmaryland.org. To learn about Baltimore’s Main Street neighborhoods, visit mwbd.baltimorecity.gov/baltimore-main-streets.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Sara Luell, Director of Communications
sara.luell@maryland.gov

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Governor Hogan Announces Drop in Homelessness Rate in Maryland

February 9, 2021 by Sara Luell

Governor Hogan Announces Drop in Homelessness Rate in Maryland
Point-in-Time Count Reveals 24% Decrease in Homelessness Since 2015

New Carrollton, Md. (February 9, 2021) — Governor Larry Hogan today announced that overall homelessness in Maryland dropped by 24% from January of 2015 through January 2020, based on data from the annual Point-in-Time Counts. The number of chronically homeless individuals dropped by 25% and veterans experiencing homelessness declined by 35%. The state’s 16 designated Continuums of Care, supported by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, conduct the Point-in-Time Count which is a survey of homeless persons on a single night in January of each year. The count serves as a snapshot of homelessness in Maryland’s communities and is required as a condition of funding by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“This Point-in-Time Count shows some of the significant progress we have made in Maryland in preventing homelessness over the course of our administration,” said Governor Hogan. “We know that COVID-19 will also have an impact, and that’s why we have focused so much of our efforts during the pandemic response to assist local housing providers and quickly deploy federal funding.”

The 2020 Point-in-Time Count was held prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, as the pandemic began impacting Maryland communities, the department quickly deployed CARES Act resources and made existing awards more flexible so that service providers could use funding for hotel/motel vouchers, basic supplies, health and hygiene products, and Personal Protective Equipment as warranted by local need. The department also rapidly administered more than $27 million in federal grant funding to local governments and Community Action Agencies to support continuation of homeless prevention and rental assistance programs.

To further accelerate decreases in homelessness and enhance the services available in rural and suburban counties, Maryland launched a new Balance of State Continuum of Care partnership in 2020. This initiative consolidates the former Allegany, Garrett, Washington, Cecil, and Southern Maryland Continuums of Care in a joint mission to reduce homelessness. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is the lead entity coordinating the 7-county, multi-regional partnership and is providing dedicated policy and planning staff to support homeless services in those communities.

“Our flexible and innovative approach to addressing homelessness, both prior to and during the pandemic, has made a real impact,” said Housing Secretary Kenneth C. Holt. “Our Homelessness Solutions Program will continue to strategically deploy resources as we work toward our shared goal of ending homelessness for Maryland families, veterans, domestic violence survivors and others experiencing homelessness.”

For more information about the Homelessness Solutions Program, visit: https://dhcd.maryland.gov/HomelessServices. To read the Maryland Homelessness, Five Years of Progress – 2015 to 2020 report, visit https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Documents/5-YearPITSummary.pdf.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Sara Luell, Director of Communications
sara.luell@maryland.gov

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Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Survey

February 5, 2021 by Sara Luell

The State of Maryland, as a recipient of federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is conducting a survey to examine impediments to fair housing choice in the state. The survey is being provided by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to a diverse group of persons and organizations involved in housing efforts across the state. The information received will enhance our understanding of community concerns and issues, and to define what barriers may still exist.

More specifically, the information will be used for the preparation of the Department’s “Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice.” This in-depth analysis is developed every five years as part of the Consolidated Planning process required by HUD. The final document will assist the state in developing or improving fair housing strategies and efforts to overcome impediments that prevent or restrict Marylanders from housing opportunities and choices.

This survey is meant for people who work in the fields of housing and community development.

Your participation is voluntary but very important to the continued management of the HUD funding the Department receives. All responses are confidential, and will only be reported in combination with those of other participants. We encourage you to participate in the survey, and please invite others in your field to participate as well.

To fill out the survey, go to: http://bit.ly/AFFHSurvey.

Please complete this survey by Friday, February 19, 2021.

If you have any questions, please contact Bernice Mensah, Director of the Housing Economic Research Office, at bernice.mensah@maryland.gov.

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Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Releases Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Report

February 2, 2021 by Sara Luell

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Releases Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Report

Report also highlights COVID-19 response and recovery activities

NEW CARROLLTON, Md. (February 2, 2021) – The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development today released its Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Report. The department generated an economic impact of nearly $4 billion for the state, including $63 million in state and local taxes. Approximately 15,200 full-time equivalent jobs with $769 million in wages and salaries were created by Housing and Community Development’s projects and activities.

Both the department’s single family and multifamily housing achieved record-breaking years. More than $1 billion in loan reservations were made through the Maryland Mortgage Program in Fiscal Year 2020. In its competitive application round for federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits and state Rental Housing Funds, the department awarded more than $44 million to 15 projects that will produce 1,837 affordable units, the largest number of units financed in a single application round at that time. The department’s Neighborhood Revitalization programs provided $83.7 million to 816 businesses, local governments and community organizations.

The Annual Report also presents information about the department’s role in Governor Larry Hogan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic during calendar year 2020, including: eviction prevention and rental assistance; community and homelessness services; support for broadband access,and; economic recovery funds to support nonprofits, tourism and entertainment industries, and designated Main Street Maryland communities. 

Read the full report here: https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Documents/PressReleases/AnnualReport_2020.pdf.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Sara Luell, Director of Communications

sara.luell@maryland.gov

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Hogan Administration Announces Affordable Rental Housing Awards

January 27, 2021 by Sara Luell

Hogan Administration Announces Affordable Rental Housing Awards

More than 2,100 affordable units to be created or preserved, a new record for a single application round

NEW CARROLLTON, MD (January 27, 2021) – The Hogan administration today announced the results of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s 2020 application round for federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits and state Rental Housing Funds. Nearly $40 million in state funds and federal tax credits have been awarded to 18 projects, which will result in the creation or preservation of 2,144 high quality, energy-efficient, affordable rental units. This is the largest number of units financed through one application round in the history of the program in Maryland, surpassing the previous record of 1,837 units financed in 2019.

“During our administration, the State of Maryland has provided financing and tax credits to create or preserve more than 20,000 affordable rental units across the state – an unprecedented level of production,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “The worthy projects selected in this year’s record-breaking application round will further expand affordable housing opportunities for Maryland’s working families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.”

Awards are determined through competitive application rounds held annually by the department. The department received 51 applications, the largest number of applications in a single round. These applications requested approximately $40 million in state Rental Housing Funds and $72.5 million in federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The department will administer tax credits valued at $26,671,000 and $12,533,000 in state Rental Housing Funds to 18 projects with a total estimated cost of more than $1 billion. The 18 awarded projects are distributed between 8 counties and Baltimore City. 

This was the first competitive application round managed by the department using the new version of the Qualified Allocation Plan for low income housing tax credits and Multifamily Rental Financing Program Guide, which were revised in 2019 and signed by Governor Hogan in early 2020. Department staff worked closely with multifamily housing developers and advocates on these revisions which significantly contributed to the record-breaking amount of applications received and units financed.

For the second year, some projects used a unique “twinning” financial structure, combining the competitive 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits with noncompetitive 4% tax credits issued by the department. Twelve of the 18 awarded projects used this model.

“With every dollar the State of Maryland spends on these projects, we see it returned several times over in positive economic impact in our state,” said Secretary Kenneth C. Holt. “In addition to providing housing opportunities to Marylanders, affordable rental housing development also creates construction, financing, engineering, and design jobs, and it will be a key contributor to Governor Hogan’s economic recovery plan.”

For a list of awardees, see http://bit.ly/2020LIHTC.

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Governor Hogan Announces $258 Million In Additional Rental Relief Funding

January 27, 2021 by Sara Luell

Governor Hogan Announces $258 Million In Additional Rental Relief Funding

Over $400 Million In Total Federal Funding Includes $143 Million Distributed Directly To Counties
Administration Will Form Bipartisan Advisory Group With Legislative Leaders

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that a total of $402 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding has been distributed to Maryland to provide assistance for individuals and families struggling to pay their rent due to the pandemic. Read more: https://governor.maryland.gov/2021/01/27/governor-hogan-announces-258-million-in-additional-rental-relief-funding/

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Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Announces Fiscal Year 2021 Application Round for State Revitalization Programs

January 27, 2021 by Andy DeVilbiss

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Announces Fiscal Year 2021 Application Round for State Revitalization Programs
Funding Available from National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund and Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Fund

NEW CARROLLTON, MD (January 27, 2021) – The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is announcing a second Fiscal Year 2021 application round for two additional State Revitalization Programs – the National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund and the Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Fund.

The National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund (“NED”) is a program for the greater National Capital Region of Maryland that provides competitive funding for strategic investment in local housing and businesses to encourage healthy, sustainable communities with a growing tax base and enhanced quality of life. The program focuses on areas within Prince George’s and Montgomery counties where modest investment and coordinated strategies will have an appreciable neighborhood revitalization impact.

The Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Program (SEED) provides matching financial assistance through grants and loans to anchor institutions (e.g., hospitals and institutions of higher education in the State of Maryland) to support local community development projects with a focus of eliminating blight in targeted areas to make way for new green space, new affordable housing, mixed-use development, and expanded opportunities for businesses.

If this is your first time applying to one of the aforementioned State Revitalization Programs, contact a regional project manager for more information and to determine your eligibility. For a map of regions and additional contact information, visit https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Communities/Documents/SRP/PM-Map-ContactInfo.pdf.

Applications will be due on Thursday, March 4,2021, at 3:00 p.m. The application portal will be open Thursday, February 4.

National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund projects must be located in an area designated as a Sustainable Community inside the I-495 beltway or a Sustainable Community in Opportunity Zones and Enterprise Zones in the balance of Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties outside the I-495 beltway. 

Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Program projects must be located in an area of blight and support the improvement of a neighborhood that surrounds an anchor institution. Projects DO NOT need to be located inside of a Sustainable Community, but if located inside a Sustainable Community, will be given priority consideration for funding.

To see your jurisdiction’s Sustainable Community or Opportunity Zone boundaries, please use the online revitalization mapping tool found at this website: https://www.dhcd.state.md.us/GIS/revitalize/index.html.

Projects should help achieve the strategies outlined in a local government’s Sustainable Communities plan. All Sustainable Community plans can be found online by visiting https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Communities/Pages/dn/communities.aspx.

Application training for the Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Fund will be hosted online at 12:30-2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. To register for the application training, visit http://bit.ly/MDSEEDTraining. 

Application training for the National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund will be hosted online at 2:30-4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. To register for the application training, visit http://bit.ly/MDNEDTraining.

For additional program and application information, visit https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Communities/Pages/StateRevitalizationPrograms/default.aspx.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Sara Luell, Director of Communications
sara.luell@maryland.gov

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Governor Hogan Announces Additional $34 Million for Higher Education and Economic Development Projects

January 20, 2021 by Sara Luell

Governor Hogan Announces Additional $34 Million for Higher Education and Economic Development Projects

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 18, 2021)—Governor Larry Hogan today announced an additional $34 million for critical capital projects in the State of Maryland to improve infrastructure at colleges and universities and to support economic development across the state.

Read more: https://governor.maryland.gov/2021/01/18/governor-hogan-announces-additional-34-million-for-higher-education-and-economic-development-projects/

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Governor Hogan Announces $30 Million in Emergency Relief for Music and Entertainment Venues

January 15, 2021 by Andy DeVilbiss

Governor Hogan Announces $30 Million in Emergency Relief for Music and Entertainment Venues
Awards Will Directly Help Preserve More Than 800 Jobs
State Has Provided More Than $700 Million in Emergency Economic Relief
Governor’s RELIEF Act Provides Stimulus and Tax Relief for Small Businesses

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced $30 million in awards for more than 90 live music and performance venues, live entertainment promoters, and independently-owned local movie theaters whose operations have been impacted by COVID-19. This is part of the more than $700 million in emergency economic relief provided by the State of Maryland.

“These awards will save hundreds of jobs and help many of Maryland’s entertainment venues sustain their operations until they can safely and fully reopen,” said Governor Hogan. “While safe and effective vaccines will help bring a return to normalcy and end the damage to our economy, we need to continue to do everything we can to support our small business community.”

Earlier this week, Governor Hogan introduced the RELIEF Act of 2021, which will provide more than $1 billion in stimulus and tax relief for families and small businesses.

These awards were made to 49 for-profit or nonprofit live entertainment venues in 12 counties and Baltimore City, including nightclubs, theaters, and arenas; 27 independently-owned movie theaters in 11 counties and Baltimore City; and 16 live entertainment promoters. Funds will support operating and capital costs and will directly help preserve more than 800 jobs at venues like the Maryland Renaissance Festival, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Rams Head Live, Royal Farms Arena, Strathmore, the Senator Theatre, and the Maryland Theatre. A full list of awardees is available here.

This is the second of three phases of economic relief awards administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Governor Hogan recently announced more than $8 million in awards for tourism-related institutions through this initiative. Awards will soon be finalized for the initiative’s third phase, which will provide additional support to small businesses and other economic recovery efforts in both the state- and Baltimore City-designated Main Street communities.

“These initiatives are based on the proven revitalization strategies and programs we have successfully employed to improve our state’s cities, towns, and neighborhoods,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Kenneth C. Holt. “Our experience, expertise, and strong partnerships with local stakeholders enables us to deploy these critical resources rapidly and responsively as part of Maryland’s pandemic recovery efforts.”

Learn more about the Maryland Strong Economic Recovery Initiative here.

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Governor Hogan Announces Maryland To Receive $402 Million Through Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program

January 14, 2021 by Andy DeVilbiss

Governor Hogan Announces Maryland To Receive $402 Million Through Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Funding Will Expand Existing Rental Programs For Those Impacted by COVID-19
Can Be Used For Rent, Utilities, Home Energy Costs, and Other Housing Expenses

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 14, 2021) — Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the State of Maryland is eligible for an estimated $402,439,000 in federal rental assistance made available through the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The state officially filed its application to the U.S. Treasury Department on January 8, ahead of the January 12 deadline. The majority of the funding will be administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, with local jurisdictions managing the remainder.

“COVID-19 has caused incredible hardships for the people of our state,” said Governor Hogan. “With the addition of this expected funding, more than half a billion dollars in support will be dedicated to keeping Maryland renters safe in their homes during this deadly pandemic.”

Earlier this week, Governor Hogan introduced the RELIEF Act of 2021, an emergency stimulus and tax relief package that will provide more than $1 billion for Maryland working families, small businesses, and those who have lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding can be used for rent, utilities, home energy costs, arrears, and other housing expenses resulting from the pandemic. The state must wait for the issuance of regulatory language from the federal government to deploy funding. Marylanders should monitor local and state government housing agency websites for updates.

“As soon as we receive this important funding from the federal government, we will use all methods at our disposal to quickly deploy it to Marylanders who need it most,” said Secretary Kenneth C. Holt. “This means we will continue our successful strategy of distributing funding through a multipronged approach — directly to local jurisdictions, nonprofit partners, and property management.”

More than $100 million of state, local, and federal funds have already been allocated for rental assistance and eviction prevention, providing relief to thousands of Maryland households. This includes more than $41 million for pandemic relief programs administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development. The department has administered funds through the Maryland Eviction Prevention Partnership, which supports local rental assistance programs, and the Assisted Housing Relief Program, which serves rental units in multifamily projects financed by DHCD’s Community Development Administration using state funds or federal resources. The department will update its website as information on programs, eligibility, and timing becomes available.

Moratorium on Evictions During State of Emergency. On March 16, Governor Hogan issued an emergency order that prohibits Maryland courts from ordering the eviction of any tenant who can demonstrate that their inability to pay rent was the result of COVID-19—for example, because of lost or reduced employment, needing to care for a school-aged child, because they are diagnosed with or under investigation for COVID-19. The order remains in effect during the state of emergency.

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