Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Kicks Off New Day Trips: Community Connections Series in Frederick County

MIDDLETOWN, Md. (March 31, 2026) – Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day hosted a series of roundtable discussions with community leaders in Frederick County on Tuesday to start the Department’s latest series of county tours.

The visit was part of DHCD’s newest Day Trips: Community Connections tour series, a new phase of the Department’s broader Day Trips initiative. While the first round of Day Trips focused on visiting every county in Maryland to tour projects and hear from local officials and partners, this next phase is designed to create more focused conversations with community and civic partners closest to the work in housing, community revitalization, homeless solutions and business development.

Tuesday’s visit was centered on three roundtable discussions in Middletown and Emmitsburg that allowed Department staff and local leaders to collaborate around these goals:

• Strengthening coordination among Department leaders and local service providers to identify homelessness, address service gaps and policy challenges along with aligning local efforts with state housing stability priorities,
• Examining barriers to building housing in Frederick and brainstorming potential solutions,
• Discussing long-term housing and community development goals for Emmitsburg and Mount St. Mary’s University.

During the Mount St. Mary’s University roundtable, Secretary Day presented a check celebrating the Department’s investment in the School of Health Professions, which received $1 million through a Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Fund grant and opened in fall 2025. The grant supported Mount St. Mary’s University and the Daughters of Charity to turn a then underutilized wing of the Daughters’ St. Joseph House in Emmitsburg into the university’s School of Health Professions, which is now home to a physician assistant program and a pediatric behavior health center.

Department staff also visited Middletown Main Street, a Designated Main Street and participant in the Main Street Maryland program since 2008. The tour visited Memorial Hall, a building vacant for decades before being rehabilitated into new apartments and retail space through support from the Department’s Community Legacy Program, and the town’s Welcome Center, a recipient of the Department’s Community Investment Tax Credits Program.

“The best way to learn how we can help Marylanders is by meeting them in their communities,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “Today’s discussions with our partners and local organization leaders provided us with valuable information on how DHCD can ensure we leave no one behind in Frederick County.”

Here’s what community partners had to say about the visit.

“Addressing today’s housing challenges requires more than any one organization can accomplish alone—it demands strong, sustained partnership. The collective conversation today with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development leaders reinforced that when local experience is aligned with state-level resources and strategy, we can move further, faster. By working together, we have a powerful opportunity to expand access to safe, affordable housing while strengthening and revitalizing the communities we serve.” – Eric Anderson, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County

“By working as a team, we do more than provide housing—we develop trust, restore dignity, create stability, and build a robust community where everyone has a place to call home.” – Maria D. Herrera, Executive Director, Spanish Speaking Community of Maryland Inc. (La Comunidad)

“We are always happy to host DHCD in Middletown and we love showing the team the finished products of DHCD grant funded projects that have helped grow convert Middletown from a charming small town to a must-visit destination to dine, shop, and explore our rich history, and surrounding agricultural roots.” – Becky Axilbund, Executive Director, Main Street Middletown, MD. Inc.

“Strong communities are not built in isolation, they are built through collaboration. Addressing housing affordability and expanding attainable homeownership opportunities in Frederick County requires partnership across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. When we align our efforts, we create not just housing, but pathways to stability, economic mobility, and long-term community vitality. It truly takes a collective commitment to ensure Frederick remains a place where individuals and families at all stages of life can find a place to call home.” – Hugh Gordon, CEO, Frederick County Association of REALTORS

“We’re proud to partner with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and local leaders in Frederick County to advance practical, community-centered housing solutions. Strong collaboration is what drives real progress—strengthening neighborhoods, preserving what matters, and expanding opportunities for residents. We look forward to continuing this work in Frederick and across Maryland.” – Max Friedman, VP of Portfolio Preservation, Conifer Realty

“True progress is never a solo endeavor; it is the result of forces working together. At this morning’s meeting in Middletown, Maryland, under the leadership of Secretary Jake Day, we are seeing this principle in action—fostering partnerships across the state to create lasting solutions, reminding us that by united effort, we can turn ambitious affordable housing initiatives into reality.” – Stephen Wilson, SCG Development

“Secretary Day and his team understand the growing gap between wages and escalating cost of housing. The conversation today gave voice to some of the reasons why costs are growing so quickly, and identified strategies to help reduce those costs.” – Ken Oldham, United Way of Frederick County

“Emmitsburg is grateful to Secretary Day and the DHCD team for the opportunity to discuss the challenging realities of downtown revitalization, infrastructure investment, and future housing and development in our town. We, as a Town, remain committed to preserving our character, supporting local businesses, and creating a lovable place for current and future residents. We appreciate the State’s interest in learning about our community and partnering with us as we plan for the future.” – Mayor Frank Davis, Town of Emmitsburg