NEWS RELEASE

 

                                   

Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty

 

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, October 30, 2002

 

CITY OF FREDERICK RECEIVES $350,000

FROM GOVERNOR GLENDENING’S

REVITALIZATION GRANTS

 

Frederick, Md. --- The City of Frederick was among 24 communities that received funds through Governor Parris N. Glendening’s revitalization grants.  The City submitted an application for a Smart Growth Award to the Community Legacy (CL) and rendered a $350,000 award through the Community Development Administration (CDA).  CDA is an agency within the Division of Development Finance of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The dollars will be used to help fund a portion of a $1.2 million, 12-unit affordable housing project.  This is the first step in the process of achieving the HOPE VI initiative to redevelop the Hanson and Taney Public Housing Complexes in the North Market Street Neighborhood.  The affordable housing project, which is a part of the Community Legacy Neighborhood Project, by Interfaith Housing of Western Maryland, is a critical step in providing a recipient locations and affordable housing.

 

Governor Glendening awarded a total of $15.5 million in revitalization grants today.  He announced the awards at the beginning of the 5th Annual Maryland Conference on Housing in Baltimore.  Every county in the State, as well as Baltimore City, received some form of Smart Growth investment.  Continuing his commitment to direct State resources to existing neighborhoods and help communities reach their full potential,

 

"One of the most important concepts of our Smart Growth program is to give local governments and community groups the tools to revitalize neighborhoods and encourage growth in areas that already have the roads, the utilities and schools to serve new residents," said Governor Glendening. "While the national economy and its effect on Maryland's budget has limited the amount of funds available for Smart Growth projects, our Community Legacy program continues to transform our older neighborhoods into close-knit, thriving communities with good schools, open space and easy access to transit."

 

These awards will enable transitional communities across the State to carry out innovative, ambitious revitalization strategies. The programs support a wide range of activities, including assistance to homeowners to improve their homes; the purchase, demolition, and redevelopment of blighted properties; improving crumbling neighborhood streets, and funding of mixed-use projects that are becoming the hallmark of in-town investment across the nation.

 

Eight teams of employees from DHCD, which is administering the program, and other State agencies, evaluated applicants. The recommendations were then approved by the five-member Community Legacy Board, which includes five Cabinet Secretaries.

 

The City of Frederick worked in collaboration with Frederick County Department of Economic Development, The City of Frederick’s Community Development Department, and the Greater Frederick Development Corporation.

 

For additional information please contact Richard Griffin, Director of the Department of Economic Development, at 301-698-8118.  

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