The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced that The City of Frederick was awarded $100,000 in Community Legacy (CL) Grant funds.
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City Receives Community Legacy Grant
$100,000 Awarded to Continue and Expand Façade Improvement Programs and Pilot a Building Reuse Program in Downtown Frederick
Frederick, MD – January 15, 2016: The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced that The City of Frederick was awarded $100,000 in Community Legacy (CL) Grant funds. The award will be used to continue and expand a city-wide façade improvement grant program and pilot a building reuse program in Downtown Frederick.
Frederick’s program funds will support the continuation and expansion of a Façade Improvement Matching Grant Program within the Patrick Street Corridor Community. The Frederick Façade Improvement Project will be administered jointly by the City of Frederick’s Department of Economic Development and its partners - the Downtown Frederick Partnership, the Golden Mile Alliance, and East Frederick Rising. A portion of the funds will also be used to pilot a Building Reuse Program within the Main Street Area of Downtown Frederick, which will be administered by the Downtown Frederick Partnership.
Of the $100,000 grant award, $56,000 will be allocated to the Downtown Frederick Partnership, $22,000 to East Frederick Rising, and $22,000 to the Golden Mile Alliance.
“Façade programs have been used successfully to improve aesthetics, rehabilitate deteriorating buildings, and attract private capital for renovation,” said City of Frederick Director of Economic Development, Richard Griffin.
The Downtown Frederick Partnership operates a Façade Program in historic Downtown with Community Legacy funding that resulted in more than 80 building improvement projects since 2004. This is valued in excess of $520,000 and far more in area wide investment.
FY15 was the first year the program expanded to include East Frederick and the Golden Mile corridors. The expanded Façade Program has generated interest, press, and pending projects. The Golden Mile Alliance was allocated $23,500 to begin their program. To date, all funds have been deployed along the Golden Mile to complete façade improvement projects at Petersen’s Carpet & Flooring, Casa Rico, and Vista Shops at Golden Mile.
The DFP has allocated all of their allotted funding for fiscal year 2015. EFR has created an application, identified eligible properties, and anticipates funds to be allocated.
The Community Legacy program provides local governments and community development organizations with resources for essential projects aimed at strengthening communities through activities such as business retention and attraction, encouraging homeownership and commercial revitalization. Fifty-five projects in 19 counties and Baltimore City received a total of $6 million in Community Legacy grants in fiscal year 2016.
The City of Frederick Department of Economic Development strives to increase economic opportunity for Frederick residents through job creation, revitalization and reinvestment.
For more information, contact Richard Griffin, AICP CEcD, Director of Economic Development at 301-600-6360 or email rgriffin@cityoffrederick.com
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