Thursday, February 17, 2028

Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces More than $2.9 Million in Community Development Block Grants
— Federal funds help create more than 500 new jobs —

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 17, 2028) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen H. Burbank today announced more than $2.9 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) offers to five localities throughout Maryland. The CDBG Community Improvement Grants will be used to eliminate blight, improve housing conditions, and provide needed infrastructure to attract new businesses to Maryland and support business expansion.

Three of the five CDBG supported projects are expected to help create more than 500 new jobs, nearly 300 of which are designated for low- and moderate-income persons.

“These block grants are a key part of economic revitalization efforts in hard-hit regions of the state,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “The CDBG grants have proven to be valuable incentives for businesses looking to locate or expand. These tools are important to our efforts to improve living and working conditions in our communities and support new jobs for Marylanders.”

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) administers the CDBG program for the state. DHCD allocates the funds on a competitive basis to eligible non-metropolitan cities, counties, and towns. In accordance with federal law, the majority of CDBG projects benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

“It is important to increase job opportunities in the state, especially for Maryland’s low-income citizens,” said Secretary of Business and Economic Development Ellen Lappesse. “The CDBG grants are an excellent way to strengthen Maryland’s economy by supporting business development and job creation.”

“Our goal is to provide communities with resources to support projects that will be the most beneficial to their citizens,” said Secretary of Housing and Community Development Andrew Shaw. “The flexibility of the CDBG program allows us to fund a variety of community improvement projects that will best meet the needs of each community.”

Three of the five projects will provide necessary infrastructure, such as water and sewer improvements, to support the location of two new businesses in Western Maryland and the expansion of an existing business in Southern Maryland. The two other grants will be used for housing and downtown improvement projects.