ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore and the Board of Public Works today advanced $30.4 million in strategic investments to strengthen communities across the state, including $24.3 million in grant awards for 25 community revitalization projects, and a $6.1 million contract to support We Our Us’s work to engage justice-involved youth in Baltimore City. The funding, which represents a portion of the agenda passed by the board today, reflects the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to supporting initiatives across the state that promote affordable housing, invest in public safety, and spur economic growth.
“We know that partnership produces progress, and there’s no better case study than Baltimore,”
said Gov. Moore. “The progress we’re seeing isn’t an accident, it’s the result of our investments in community resources, and partnerships with groups like We Our Us and Downtown Partnership. When Maryland invests in the people doing the work on-the-ground—the ones who are focused on performance rather than being performative—Maryland wins.”
The Board of Public Works voted to approve more than $24 million in Fiscal Year 2026 grant awards from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to support 25 revitalization projects. Initiated by the General Assembly, this funding is sourced from three separate state programs: the
Baltimore Regional Neighborhoods Initiative, the
National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund, and the
Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Fund. Project awards include:
- $2 million to the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore to support the buildout of the Strategic Operations Center, a centralized public safety network that uses next-generation technology to enhance coordination between emergency personnel and social service providers in the Downtown Baltimore region;
- $4.5 million in total to ReBUILD Metro, a Baltimore-based organization that has transformed more than 500 abandoned properties and spaces in East Baltimore into new developments;
- $4 million to support Viva White Oak, a $2.8 billion, 280-acre mixed-use development led by MCB Real Estate in Montgomery County that will include thousands of housing units, large amount of retail space, and lab and office space to support innovators in high-skilled industries; and
- $5 million to support the construction of IonQ’s new headquarters in the Discovery District at the University of Maryland, College Park, pursuant to the state’s Capital of Quantum Initiative, which seeks to catalyze $1 billion in public and private investments for quantum information science and technology.
The Board of Public Works also advanced a $6.1 million contract to
We Our Us Unity Engagement Men’s Movement, Inc., a Baltimore-based youth engagement movement focused on creating positive change through community support, resource provision, and conflict resolution. The investment will help the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services provide non-residential services and programming for youth who are ordered by the juvenile court to receive community-based mentoring, life enrichment services in Baltimore City.
“We are seeing truly remarkable strides in the effort to stop violence in our communities, and it happened because of collaboration and partnership with community groups like We Our Us, people who spend every day uplifting and inspiring our young people,”
said Maryland Department of Juvenile Services Acting Secretary Betsy Fox Tolentino. “I am excited to expand our work to give more young people a chance to strengthen positive choices and deepen their understanding of their own value and potential.”
We Our Us—a youth engagement organization and partner in the governor’s work to uplift young men and boys—has engaged hundreds boys and young men in Baltimore City through mentoring, job training, housing support, and access to mental health resources. Through close partnerships with both the Department of Juvenile Services
THRIVE Program and the Baltimore Mayor's Office, We Our Us is making an impact on at-risk youth in neighborhoods across the city.
“This award represents a powerful investment in building safer communities and supporting young men and boys across the state of Maryland.”
said We Our Us President Antoine Burton. “This funding will support We Our Us in our mission to guide young men and boys toward productive pathways for success by strengthening resources and support for young people leaving the justice system. We are grateful Governor Moore understands the urgent need to support young men and boys and is investing in the resources to ensure they can meet their full potential.”
During today’s meeting, the Board of Public Works also approved investments to support major tourism attractions in Downtown Baltimore City, land preservation in Frederick County, state forest expansion in Worcester County, and programs that support women entrepreneurs:
- $2.3 million capital grant to support upgrades to critical infrastructure at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, including a new roof that will allow the Pier 4 building to accept solar and green roof technologies.
- $26.5 million contract through the Maryland Stadium Authority to support ongoing renovations at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, as part of the state’s $600 million cumulative bonding investment to provide a world-class experience to Orioles fans.
- $1.6 million award to acquire and preserve a historic 19th century farmstead adjacent to Gambrill State Park in Frederick County, allowing for an expansion of the high-demand campground and trail system.
- $325,000 award to acquire a 27-acre property that will become part of the Pocomoke State Forest in Worcester County, which will provide an opportunity to plant more that 18,000 trees as part of Maryland’s 5 Million Trees Initiative.
- $100,000 capital grant to The Cube CoWork for their acquisition of a property in Baltimore, to support their expansion of services and programs serving women entrepreneurs—with a focus on Black women, mothers, and underrepresented communities.
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