Planning & Zoning
3430 Court House Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043
United States
Sustainable Communities
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) administers the Sustainable Communities Program. The Maryland Sustainable Communities Program is a place-based designation offering a comprehensive package of resources that support holistic strategies for community development, revitalization and sustainability. Howard County has worked with Maryland DHCD to designate certain areas of the county as Sustainable Communities including Ellicott City, North Laurel-Savage, and Long Reach Village.
Obtaining the sustainable community designation, which lasts five years, opens eligibility for state programs and resources, such as Neighborhood BusinessWorks, Community Legacy and the Strategic Demolition Fund. The designation also enhances competitiveness for state programs such as Maryland Bikeways.
Application Documents
Title
Ellicott City Sustainable Community
Content
Howard County first Sustainable Community designation was granted for Ellicott City. In collaboration with a community workgroup, an Application/Action Plan was submitted and approved by DHCD in 2012. The five year designation was renewed in 2017 with the approval of the Renewal Application/Action Plan.
Title
Long Reach Sustainable Community
Content
In 2016, the County submitted a successful Long Reach Sustainable Community Application/Action Plan in coordination with a workgroup with representatives from County agencies, Howard County Economic Development Authority, Howard County Housing Commission, Columbia Association, Columbia Art Center, Long Reach Village Board chair and staff, Long Reach High School and area business owners. See Press Release.
Title
North Laurel/Savage Sustainable Community
Content
Howard County, in partnership with a workgroup, prepared a Sustainable Community Action Plan for the North Laurel-Savage area. The application was approved and the area was designated a Sustainable Community in 2013. A Renewal Sustainable Community Action Plan for North Laurel-Savage area was submitted in 2019.
Benefits and Resources
Title
Overview
Content
To support revitalization of Sustainable Communities, state agencies have created a revitalization toolbox that documents available benefits and resources.
For some of Maryland DHCD's programs - such as Community Legacy, Neighborhood BusinessWorks, and Strategic Demolition Fund - Sustainable Community designation is a requirement.
In addition to providing resources on revitalization programs, state agencies also offer a searchable database on programs that support reinvestment in existing communities. The Reinvest Maryland Toolbox includes more than 100 federal and state programs that support infill, redevelopment and community revitalization in Maryland.
Title
Who May Apply?
Content
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STATE PROGRAM |
Local Governments |
Community Development Organization (1) |
Nonprofit |
Business Owner |
Commercial Property Owner |
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Community Legacy For more information: http://dhcd.maryland.gov/Communities/Pages/programs/CL.aspx |
X |
X |
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Neighborhood BusinessWorks For more information: |
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X |
X |
X |
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Strategic Demolition Fund For more information: http://dhcd.maryland.gov/Communities/Pages/programs/SDF.aspx |
X |
X |
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Sidewalk Retrofit For more information: Regional MDOT representative |
X |
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Maryland Bikeways For more information: http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/newMDOT/Planning/Bike/Bikeways.html |
X |
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Community Safety and Enhancement For more information: Regional MDOT representative |
X |
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Small Commercial Tax Credit (Historic Preservation) For more information: |
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X (2) |
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Job Creation Tax Credit For more information: http://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/programs-for-businesses/job-creation-tax-credit |
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X |
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Sustainable Communities Tax Increment Financing For more information: |
X |
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Water Quality Revolving Loan Fund For more information: http://mde.maryland.gov/programs/Water/WQFA/Pages/water_quality_fund.aspx |
X |
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X |
X |
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Low Income Housing Tax Credit For more information: http://dhcd.maryland.gov/HousingDevelopment/Pages/lihtc/default.aspx |
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X |
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X |
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Nonprofit Assistance Fund (Operating Assistance Grant) |
X |
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X |
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1) Examples of community development organizations include: community development corporations, main street organizations, downtown partnerships, etc
2) Tenants with long-term leases (i.e. those over 20 +/- years) may be eligible to apply, with permission from the property owner
Title
Howard County Funding Awards
Content
The list below provides examples of the types of projects that have been funded (at least in part) by state programs of benefit to Sustainable Communities. Howard County and its partners received a few of these grants prior to Sustainable Community designation, when these areas were designated as Community Legacy Areas (a designation type that Maryland DHCD no longer administers, now that the Sustainable Community designation is available).
|
Sustainable Community |
Funding Program |
Award Year |
Award Value |
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| Old Ellicott City Jail House – Pre‐development activities for the reuse and redevelopment of the Old Ellicott City Jail to ensure the preservation of the historic structure while simultaneously enhancing the aesthetics. | Ellicott City | Strategic Demolition Fund | 2022 | $250,000 |
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Old Ellicott City Building Improvement Program – Improve building façades, interior areas, design planning, and support building fit‐out in historic Old Ellicott City in support of new and current businesses. |
Ellicott City | Community Legacy | 2022 | $50,000 |
| Ellicott City Safe and Sound: Flood Mitigation – Stabilization, site development, façade improvements and clean-up of buildings/areas on and surrounding Main Street in Historic Ellicott to support revitalization efforts. | Ellicott City | Community Legacy | 2020 | $485,000 |
| Ellicott City Safe and Sound: Flood Mitigation – Infrastructure projects to mitigate the impact of flooding in the Tiber-Hudson watershed. | Ellicott City | Strategic Demolition Fund | 2019 | $215,000 |
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US 1 Safety Evaluation – identify short-term actions to improve safety for pedestrians walking and bicycling along US 1. |
North Laurel-Savage |
BMC’s Unified Planning Work Program |
2018 |
$85,000 |
|
North Laurel Connections – design of trail and on road facilities and signage from Savage Park, North Laurel Community Center and the City of Laurel |
North Laurel-Savage |
Maryland Bikeways |
2014 |
$40,000 |
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Ellicott City Façade Improvement Program – matching grants to give financial incentive to main street building owners for façade restoration. |
Ellicott City |
Community Legacy |
2017 |
$100,000 |
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Ellicott City Flood Relief Program – being used for the reconstruction of St. Luke’s wall. |
Ellicott City |
Strategic Demolition Fund |
2017 |
$500,000 |
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Baldwin Commons and Carroll Baldwin Hall – building renovation and enhancement of park. |
North Laurel-Savage |
Community Legacy |
2010 2017 |
$90,000 $70,000 |
|
Patuxent Branch Trail Paving – to upgrade the surface of the currently unpaved portion of the Patuxent Branch Trail, to bring it up to the same quality as the rest of the trail. |
North Laurel-Savage |
Transportation Alternatives Program |
2016 |
$1,092,000 |
|
Howard County Bike Rack – install bike racks throughout Howard County to enhance bicycle access and support the County’s sustainability and public health and wellness goals ($800 has been used within the North Laurel-Savage Sustainable Community). |
North Laurel-Savage |
Maryland Bikeways |
2016 |
$64,000 |
|
Loan Financing – acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and leasehold improvements to create a media production office for Hi Pro Production & Media LLC |
Ellicott City |
Neighborhood BusinessWorks |
2016 |
$25,000 |
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Ellicott City Façade Improvement Program – matching grants to give financial incentive to historic district owners for façade restoration |
Ellicott City |
Community Legacy |
2015 |
$50,000 |
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Ellicott City Streetscape Project –improvements along Ellicott City’s historic main street (i.e. trash cans, recycling bins, planters, etc.) |
Ellicott City |
Community Legacy |
2014 |
$100,000 |
|
Ellicott City Façade Improvement Program – matching grants to give financial incentive to main street building owners for façade restoration |
Ellicott City |
Community Legacy |
2013 |
$50,000 |
|
Corridor Community Service Center – acquisition of permanent office space for the multiservice center in the Patuxent Square mixed-use development in North Laurel |
North Laurel-Savage |
Community Legacy |
2010 |
$80,000 |