TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County’s Department of Planning this week announced its new Community Improvement Grants program, which will assist neighborhood and community-based organizations implement capital projects in communities, neighborhoods and business districts.

Funds are available for capital projects in areas throughout Baltimore County that are designed to benefit the community, and could include but are not limited to:

• Commercial district directory kiosks, building improvements, benches, security cameras, bike racks, signage or planters
• Community gardens
• Electric vehicle charging stations accessible to all community users
• Improvements to community-owned property and buildings
• Murals and other public art
• Neighborhood gateway and wayfinding signage
• Pedestrian or bicycle trail creation or enhancements
• Playground, pocket-park or park enhancements

Community organizations, non-profit organizations, and local Chambers of Commerce based in Baltimore County, including those organizations managing proposed projects in Baltimore County are eligible – and encouraged – to apply.

Proposed projects should have a durability of 15 years or more and be not portable in nature. All projects should benefit the overall community and be completed within two years of grant award.

The program features a two-tiered structure to allow opportunities for smaller and larger projects:

• $200,000 is available for grants from $3,000 to $15,000.
  • Requests for these grants will be accepted on a semi-annual basis and must be submitted no later than:
    • Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 3 p.m.
    • Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 3 p.m.
• $1 million is available for larger grants from $15,001 to $100,000
  • Requests for these grants can be submitted at any time
• Requests for funding above $100,000 will require approval by representatives of the County Executive.

Applicants must have a 501(c)(3), (c)(4), (c)(6), or (c)(7) designation and be in good standing with the State of Maryland.

Full information about the Community Improvement Grant program can be found here.
Questions should be directed to the Department of Planning’s Amy Menzer at [email protected] or 410 887-7955.

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