Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Council September 2025 Meeting Recap

As part of the Reinvest Baltimore initiative, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has begun a new blog series to highlight updates from monthly Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Council meetings. For more information on the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Council, visit our website.

In July, Governor Wes Moore announced $50 million in state grants from the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative (BVRI). The funding will support an ongoing public, private, and nonprofit partnership to move at least 5,000 vacant properties in Baltimore City into homeownership or other community assets. The awards were the first made under the initiative’s new, accelerated application and award process. In September, as outreach to awardees began, the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Council, chaired by Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day, welcomed the state agency’s program leaders to unpack the application round and awards.

What’s New in FY 2026?

The biggest change in FY 2026 for the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative is the evolution from specific project-based awards to a framework that empowers community partners and emphasizes whole-block redevelopment. This new framework provides better support, speed, and flexibility to vetted and approved Community Development Organizations that are already doing incredible work to revitalize communities targeted by BVRI. This funding will be administered to these organizations by the Maryland Community Investment Corporation (MCIC), the state’s new, federally-certified Community Development Entity.

Who Received the $50 Million?

Most of the funding – $30 million – was awarded to 20 Baltimore-based Community Development Organizations serving targeted areas. Combined, the City of Baltimore and the Maryland Stadium Authority will receive $15 million for the acquisition, stabilization and demolition of vacant properties on blocks prioritized by the city. The remaining $5 million in FY 2026 BVRI funds will support large, mixed-use projects ongoing from last year.

In addition to the $50 million in BVRI awards, more than $1.5 million in philanthropic grants launched the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative Support Fund, also administered by MCIC. The Fund will provide technical assistance as awardees deploy BVRI resources..

Where and How will Funds be Used?

Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative funds will be used for the acquisition, demolition, stabilization and renovation of vacant properties. These properties are determined by Baltimore City DHCD and non-profit community development organizations and approved by the State of Maryland. The property list aligns with the Initiative’s whole-block strategy to support impactful revitalization and sustainable community growth.

FY 2026 Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative funds are projected to support the redevelopment of more than 1,850 vacant properties. Funds awarded to Baltimore City and the Maryland Stadium Authority will support acquisition, stabilization and demolition, including three large-site demolitions. Funds awarded to the Community Development Organizations will support acquisition and renovation 16 historically disinvested neighborhoods with defined and achievable redevelopment plans.

What’s Next?

Speed. Response to Baltimore’s vacancy crisis must be immediate and urgent. Awardees are expected to rapidly and effectively deploy state funds. Those who demonstrate speed and success will be prioritized for additional funding when appropriate. To that end, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development launched a standardized framework for monthly reporting to track progress and guide future funding decisions. The department, Baltimore City and MCIC are currently starting partner coordination meetings with the 16 awarded Community Development Organizations to quickly put these important state resources to good use.

The department will continue to strengthen its partnerships with these organizations and other community stakeholders to explore complementary whole-block investment and neighborhood market rebuilding in targeted BVRI areas, including:

• Incentivizing affordable homeownership to attract new residents with homeownership counseling, downpayment assistance, and special mortgage programs;
• Preserving legacy homeownership and generational wealth with repair grants, estate planning, and other service;
• Placemaking improvements to enhance community services, quality of life, walkability, recreation, and retail.

Coordinating BVRI funds and other potential investments will help these Baltimore communities retain and respond to the needs of current residents and make sure they remain attractive, safe, and sustainable for future residents.

For more details on the presentation and a full video of the meeting, visit the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Council webpage.