Operating Assistance Grants include funding for Main Street Improvements and
Technical Assistance.
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) provides funding to assist Maryland’s designated and affiliate Main Street Maryland communities and Baltimore City’s designated Main Street neighborhoods in building capacity to achieve their community revitalization and economic development goals in designated
Sustainable Community areas throughout the state.
Who Can Apply
Only the 34 designated and 9 affiliate Main Street Maryland communities and 8 Baltimore City’s designated Main Street neighborhoods are eligible to request Main Street Improvement Program funds.
Main Street Improvement Program (MIP) Grant awards are allocated funds that are distributed in equal amounts to designated Main Street Maryland, participating Main Street Maryland Affiliates and designated Baltimore City Main Street neighborhoods as follows:
- Designed Main Street Maryland Communities: expected to be $25,000 each.
- Main Street Maryland Affiliates: expected to be $10,000 each.
- Baltimore City Main Street Neighborhoods: expected to be $8,000 each.
Eligible Activities
Grants can be used for staff and consultant services, general operating expenses, market and business recruitment strategies to improve a business district, street furniture, advertising, façade improvements and other projects that have been identified in the applicant’s work plans as key to its Main Street efforts.
The project and/or activities that funds are being requested for should support the goals and outcomes of the applicant’s annual work plan and contribute to the transformation strategy of the community. All projects and/or activities should be completed within one year; a funding match is not required.
How to Apply
The Main Street Improvement Program application is available online via
DHCD’s Project Portal.
To access the application and apply you must be registered in the Portal system. On the
DHCD's Project Portal, select “New User?” and complete the registration request form. Requests for registration may take up to 72 hours to be approved.
- The Project Portal is expected to open to accept FY25 MIP applications on April 15, 2024.
- The deadline to submit FY25 MIP applications is May 17, 2024 by 11:59 pm.
Resources
- A virtual Application Training will be scheduled for April 18th from 2pm-3pm.
- Please use the
Application Checklist to ensure that you have uploaded all the necessary documents. Failure to provide the required documentation at the time of application submission could disqualify the application.
FY25 OAG Application Training
Operating Assistance Grant: Best Practices, Request for Payment & Progress Report Training
For More Information
Christine McPherson, Assistant Director
E:
christine.mcpherson@maryland.gov
P: 410-209-5802
Address
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Division of Neighborhood Revitalization
2 North Charles Street, Suite 450
Baltimore, MD 21201
