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Rising Sun backs $900,000+ Community Legacy grant for Jane's United Methodist Church renovation; pledges 25% match
Summary
The town approved a grant application to the Maryland DHCD Community Legacy Program seeking roughly $900,000 to rehabilitate the former Jane's United Methodist Church into a cultural venue, pledging a 25 percent local match of $231,337 from federal residual funds; award decision expected in 8–9 months.
The Town of Rising Sun voted July 15 to submit an application to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's Community Legacy Program seeking more than $900,000 to rehabilitate the former Jane's United Methodist Church into a cultural venue and community performance space.
Town staff described the building purchase as part of a broader downtown revitalization strategy. Officials said the town envisions renovating the interior to create a stage and screening area for performances and movie nights, and adding a new exterior deck area that could host spectators during parades and civic events. Staff said the town is in talks with a local performing-arts studio that could become a year-round tenant providing classes, shows and an events calendar to draw 100–150 people to downtown programming.
To improve the application’s competitiveness, the council pledged a 25% local match of $231,337 drawn from residual federal funds the town received for economic development (the presentation said funds were not generated by a tax increase). The resolution was approved unanimously.
Staff said the town will not know whether it received the award for approximately eight to nine months. If awarded, funds would be used for interior rehabilitation, a stage and community-facing exterior improvements; staff will return with program details and project timelines for council consideration if the award is made.
