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County accepts $250,000 DHCD grant to support Frostburg main-street revitalization
Summary
Allegany County accepted a $250,000 Neighborhood Revitalization Program grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to address structural issues in historic Frostburg Main Street buildings; the county will administer the program with Frostburg acting as local clearinghouse and a $100,000 per-project cap.
Allegany County commissioners approved acceptance of a $250,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to support rehabilitation of historic Main Street buildings in Frostburg.
Planner/Staff member Strawn told commissioners the county applied last July to DHCD's Neighborhood Revitalization Program and was awarded $250,000 of the $500,000 originally requested. The program is intended to address deferred maintenance and unforeseen structural problems that have stalled redevelopment projects on Frostburg's main street, Strawn said.
Under the agreement, Allegany County will administer the grant program while the City of Frostburg will act as a local clearinghouse to gather project proposals and coordinate with property owners. Strawn said the county and Frostburg are finalizing program guidelines and will develop a memorandum of understanding to define roles. The DHCD award letter and grant agreement were received about two weeks before the meeting; commissioners approved the agreement and authorized the county to sign the grantee paperwork.
The DHCD award includes a per-project maximum of $100,000, Strawn said, and funding for a given property will be contingent on an engineer's report documenting structural issues that require remediation. The county plans to match DHCD funds as needed from lottery proceeds or other sources identified in the program guidelines.
Commissioners approved the grant agreement by voice vote. Staff said program guidelines and the MOU with the City of Frostburg will be finalized before projects are approved and funds distributed.
