Current Central Baltimore Partnership Programs

Central Baltimore Homebuying Incentive

Abell rowhouses Ⓒ Edward Weiss for the Central Baltimore Partnership

The program is once again accepting applicants

$10,000 in Financial Assistance available for new residents of 7 Central Baltimore neighborhoods

The Central Baltimore Homebuying Incentive Program provides $10,000 in financial assistance to low- and moderate-income home buyers who purchase homes in Barclay, Charles North, East Baltimore Midway, Greenmount West, Harwood, Old Goucher, and Remington.

Launched in 2019, the purpose of the program, which is usually matched with additional City, State, and employer-provided homebuying resources, is to create a broad range of housing opportunities in Central Baltimore.

This Incentive Program offers $10,000 down payment assistance in the form of deferred loans to potential homebuyers whose household incomes are up to 100% of the neighborhoods’ median income (approximately $73,600 for an individual or $105,100 for a family of four.)  Repayment on this loan is due on the sale of the property by the recipient of the incentive. Please note that this is not a grant or a forgivable loan.

Our Partners — Live Baltimore, Healthy Neighborhoods, Neighborhood Housing Services, and others, also have excellent resources for potential homebuyers of all income levels who wish to explore homeownership counseling, financial assistance, or information about particular neighborhoods.

For information about how to apply for this program as well as these complimentary resources, please contact Aaron Kaufman, Community Projects Director, akaufman@centralbaltimore.org, or 443-681-7098 (office).

Community Spruce-Up Program

Greenmount Avenue mural by Gaia, photo Ⓒ Edward Weiss for the Central Baltimore Partnership

 Neighborhood-driven projects that transform public spaces

The Central Baltimore Partnership’s Community Spruce-Up Program provides grants of $10,000-$25,000 per project to neighborhood-driven, public space, capital improvement projects in all 11 Central Baltimore Neighborhoods. The program has been an essential resource for community-building in Central Baltimore and has funded over 70 community-led projects. In 2022, priority will be given to public space projects that promote healthy living in parks and open spaces, technology installments to address challenges of the digital divide, and to support social interaction among community residents of all backgrounds.

Applicants may be neighborhood associations, merchant groups, or other not-for-profit organizations located in, or serving, the neighborhoods of Abell, Barclay, Charles North, Charles Village, East Baltimore -Midway, Greenmount West, Harwood, Oakenshawe, Old Goucher, Remington, Wyman Park, and/or the Waverly Main Street. Applicants must submit a letter of intent and estimated budget with a Letter of Interest (LOI) by the LOI deadline; and if asked to proceed following their LOI submission, they must submit a full application, completed budget, and letter of support from the local community association as a part of their full application. 

The CRAYON Fund

The Crayon Fund’s micro-grants support Central Baltimore youth

The CRAYON Fund (Cool Resources Accessible for Youth Opportunities in Neighborhoods) provides event-based micro-grants, up to $500, that support activities and projects that broaden resident participation in neighborhoods, provide youth enrichment, strengthen community ties, and develop leadership capacity in Central Baltimore. This grant fund has supported stoop nights, National Night Out, youth training opportunities, intergenerational events in community gardens and parks, as well as community organizing in response to the COVID pandemic. In the coming year, there will be an effort to align with the health and wellness-focused goals of the GLOW (Greenmount, Life, Opportunities, and Wellness) initiative.

Grant applicants must:

  • Complete an application form (linked below), including responses to all narrative questions with event/activity description, a completed budget, and identification of community support, where possible.
  • Meet the following organizational standing criteria: 1) hold tax-exempt status (501c3) or; 2) are fiscally-sponsored by an organization with 501c3 status or; 3) can be an organized community group with a group bank account.
  • Be based in or serve one of the following communities: Barclay, Charles North, East Baltimore-Midway, Greenmount West, Harwood, Old Goucher, and Remington.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.  You can download the application here.

For more information, contact Aaron Kaufman, Community Projects Director, at akaufman@centralbaltimore.org or 443-681-7098 (office).

Neil Muldrow Business Development Fund

Neil Muldrow Business Development Fund Ⓒ Edward Weiss for the Central Baltimore Partnership

Helping small Central Baltimore businesses

The Neil Muldrow Business Development Fund was created to aid small businesses who wish to locate or expand in Central Baltimore. During the past two years, the program has also offered essential assistance to small businesses to meet the challenges of the pandemic.

Launched in 2018, the Muldrow Fund honors the lifelong work of  Ackneil Muldrow, who was devoted to minority-owned small businesses and among many contributions, founded and led the Development Credit Fund, Baltimore’s first collaborative effort to finance African-American businesses.  

The Muldrow Fund encourages locally-owned businesses to locate or expand in the growing Station North Arts District, along Greenmount Avenue, in the Waverly Main Street area and in other Central Baltimore business hubs. 

The Fund offers grants and loans in four key ways: 

The Commercial Facade Restoration Program provides a one-to-one matching grant to support storefront rehabilitation designed to improve the aesthetics of the building and the commercial corridor.

The Tenant Build-Up Program helps retailers, building owners, and cultural organizations meet the high costs of renovating long-vacant buildings. 

Technical Assistance is offered via a wide array of services including free design services to support façade rehabilitation and tenant fit-out, marketing via social media platforms, identifying lending institutions to support business expansion, and helping businesses plan experiential (memorable!) marketing events designed to generate foot traffic and revenue.

Investment Funds targeted to Station North and the Greenmount corridor encourage acquisition and redevelopment of vacant and underused buildings and contribute to enhanced public spaces. 

For more information about the Neil Muldrow Small Business Development Fund, contact Jack Danna, Commercial Revitalization Director, 410-702-5193 or jdanna@centralbaltimore.org

Safe and Healthy Homes Program

Tweak from Brentwood Apt. in Harwood Baltimore smaller

Up to $15,000 of direct assistance for senior, legacy, and disabled, homeowners

CBP is partnering with St Ambrose Housing Aid Center and Jubilee Baltimore, Inc to help elderly and long-time homeowners repair and preserve their homes, with the Safe and Healthy Homes Program. Repairs can include roof repair or replacement, HVAC (cooling and heating), in addition to (code-related) plumbing and electrical work. Weatherization enhancements, renovations for the purpose of fall prevention and improving accessibility are also covered. Up to $15,000 of direct assistance is available for each home. Supportive resources can include estate planning, assistance with tax credits, deed support, and healthcare-related service referrals.

Homeowners must meet the criteria below:

  • Be one of the following types of homeowners —
    • A Legacy homeowner who has lived in their home for ten or more years 
    • A descendant of a previous long-term owner/occupant.
    • A Senior homeowner, aged 65 or above 
    • A Disabled homeowner who, without home modifications, would be unable to remain in their home 
  • Live in one of the following Central Baltimore neighborhoods: Barclay, Charles North, East Baltimore-Midway, Greenmount West, Harwood, Old Goucher, or Remington
  • Have total household income that is 60% or less of the area median income (approximately $44,160 for a household of one and approximately $63,060 for a household of four)

In conjunction with this program, support, (in pursuit of supplementary resources) is available from Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) and Housing Upgrades Benefiting Seniors (HUBS) among others. For more information about the program, contact Aaron Kaufman, Community Projects Director at akaufman@centralbaltimore.org or 443-681-7098 (office) or 203-644-7862 (cell).

Station North Arts District Program

Artscape, photo © Edward Weiss for Central Baltimore Partnership

Serving Baltimore’s first and most famous arts district

Located in the heart of Baltimore, the Station North Arts District (SNAD) was the first area in Baltimore to receive state designation as an Arts & Entertainment District in 2002. This designation offers state and local tax incentives for artists, entrepreneurs, and developers. SNAD is a diverse collection of artist live-work spaces, galleries, venues, rowhomes, industrial warehouses for artisans, and businesses, spanning the neighborhoods of Charles North, Greenmount West, and Barclay. Rated as one of the Top 5 Art Districts in the U.S. by USA Today in 2021, the Station North Arts District is home to public art projects like Open Walls Baltimore, Graffiti Alley, and the Ynot Lot, as well as major festivals including Artscape, Asia North, the Maryland Film Festival, and Baltimore Pride.

The Station North Arts District Program supports and advocates for a thriving and diverse arts community in the district, by promoting civic and cultural engagement, harnessing and directing resources, and preserving and enhancing the creative vibrancy of the district. For current programming, visit the StationNorth.org website.