As a lifelong resident of Dundalk, David Barton wanted to stay in his grandfather?s Dundalk home, but he wasn?t sure the costly renovations would be a wise investment.
With the help of a state community revitalization grant, Barton made $120,000 in improvements, including granite counter tops ? a bonus for his fiancee.
“It gives me great hope that other young families will join me in investing in Dundalk,” he said.
Barton joined Gov. Martin O?Malley and county and state officials at Veterans Park in Dundalk Thursday to announce $7 million in state funding for Community Legacy Awards for 73 projects across the state.
The grants support the revitalization of historic and Main Street communities.
“It makes a relatively small amount of money go a long way by leveraging other resources,” said Ray Skinner, secretary of the Department of Housing and Community Development.
The Dundalk Renaissance Corp., which provided a grant to Barton for his project, received $215,000 to hire a project manager and fund home renovations.
Baltimore City organizations received nearly $1.2 million in funding for 10 projects, including the East Baltimore Revitalization project and the Greenmount West Revolving Loan Fund.
To receive funding, communities must develop a comprehensive plan for revitalizing transitional neighborhoods and downtowns.
The grants and loans can be use for projects such as housing acquisition and rehabilitation, loans for local businesses, streetscape enhancement and facade improvements, officials said.
The program “helps Maryland?s older neighborhoods have a better opportunity for the future,” O?Malley said.
