Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs

This is just a reminder that Baltimore City ranked third highest-performing jurisdiction out of 170 U.S. cities and counties in investing ARPA to advance racial and economic equity by the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School The Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs is proud that our commitment to advancing equity through ARPA has received national recognition. After reviewing July 2023 data submitted to the Treasury, the Institute found that Baltimore devoted 81% of $336.7 million in obligated funds towards equity-focused investments, as defined by their classifications. To learn more, read our press release in our NEWS section (arp.baltimorecity.gov/news) and visit the Budget Equity Project at the Institute here: https://lnkd.in/gzzsmUVd.

?? ?? GOOD NEWS: Our work includes advocating for basic human rights: A healthy environment (clean air and clean communities) and quality housing. ?? ??? Thank you to all who supported near and far as we celebrated a HUGE milestone by completing our first permanently affordable home in the community. This is the beginning of a healing journey- development led by and for the community! Huge thanks to our team at SBCLT, especially Raychel Gadson for planning these events. Every donation, every well wish, every positive thought and even the skepticism got us to this point! It was NOT easy, but we persisted. ?? ?? ?? Thank you Gov. Wes Moore for our recognition. We cannot wait to give you a tour of our community!! Special thanks to our speakers: Comptroller Brooke Lierman, Senate President Bill Ferguson, Baltimore City Department of Housing & Community Development Commissioner Alice Kennedy, Shamiah Woods Kerney - Baltimore City Office of Recovery Programs, Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, Michael Middleton- SB7 communities, Mary Pettini, Kerdria Gee, Rev. Dr. Tikeisha Harris, and Dr. Lawrence Brown our MC. The common theme of our speakers was that this was not an overnight thing; but this moment was a result of seven years of hard work and persistence. Thank you to our development team Brooklyn Billies Real Estate Club, DesignHAND Architects, Charles Eddington, Blaque Diamond Builders LLC, Rian Hargrave, L. Herring Coyote Demolition, LLC. and the Neighborhood Design Center. Funding for these homes were made possible by Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) (A fund we helped to establish), Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs, Greater Baybrook Alliance, SB7, St Vincent De Paul, We have a Dream Equity Fund, and State Bond Bills thanks to Delegates Robbyn Lewis and Luke Clippinger! Thank you Fern Shen for this beautiful coverage of the event and our collective movement throughout the years. https://lnkd.in/e3hMUd_U

HAPPENING IN WEST BALTIMORE!?The Druid Heights community has a new neighborhood park.?The Etting Street Park in the 2100 block of Etting Street opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Mayor Brandon M. Scott, neighborhood residents, businesses and area stakeholders. This community-led initiative is sponsored by the Druid Heights Community Development Corporation, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Baltimore City Department of Housing & Community Development, Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs, and financial assistance from the West North Avenue Development Authority and the Chesapeake Bay Trust. #westBaltimore #neighborhoodgreenspace #communityledproject

#baltimoreishiring MORP is looking for a Project Manager to oversee and provide technical assistance to projects related to the Opioid Restitution Fund and other projects to ensure they are completed on time and within budget. Apply today! #jobs #publicservice

Today, Brandon M. Scott, CRO Kerney, and other dignitaries joined ARPA partner Druid Heights CDCas they cut the ribbon on another West Baltimore green space. The Druid Heights Etting Street Greenspace project focuses on reducing inland flood and nonpoint pollution in an area with increased economic investment. The city-owned lots on both sides of the block in this Qualified Census Tract, totaling approximately 27,773 square feet, have faced ongoing issues with illegal dumping by residential and commercial contractors. Illegal dumping has increased inland flooding and suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorus, and heavy metals in the Jones Falls watershed. This project recreates this space as a pedestrian-only space and provides a long-term green space to help encourage economic investment in this area of West Baltimore.

The Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs recently published our quarterly report to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Check out the At-A-Glance version and the full report on our website at https://lnkd.in/e7YqhY47

Last week, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and our ARPA partner, Baltimore RecNParks, were on hand to cut the ribbon on the new and improved Cecil Elementary School playground. ARPA funding continues transforming these spaces and giving our young people the state-of-the-art facilities and programs they deserve. "The excitement and joy of these young people was a reminder of why investments like these are so important," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. $700k of ARPA funding went into the overall Cecil Elementary School playground project. The development of Cecil Elementary is a vital part of the Baltimore City Reinvestment Plan and the Central Baltimore Partnership's strategy for East Baltimore Midway. This project, led by Parks & People Foundation, began in 2018 and represents a $3.6 million multi-year investment combining public and private funding, including contributions from the Recovery Office, Weinberg Foundation, and Maryland State Funding.?

#ARPAinACTION #TBT Two weeks ago, ARPA partner Downtown Partnership of Baltimore announced the opening of its newest #BOOSTBaltimore storefront, dede. shop. This is in addition to the seven Black-owned businesses supported by the #BOOSTBaltimore program, which is funded by ARPA and opened in the Inner Harbor shopping center. In 2022, @mayorbmscott awarded the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPOB) $1.6 million in ARPA funding. The funds were awarded to support DPOB’s three key business assistance grant programs (Downtown BOOST Program, Fa?ade Improvement Program, and Operation Storefront), which provide small businesses and property owners with critical capital and operating support to sustain and grow within the 106-block business improvement district. DPOB is committed to incentivizing private investment and economic growth that strengthens and improves the business climate in Baltimore City.

Make sure to check out this video to learn more about our ARPA partner, the?Volo Kids Foundation. The Volo Kids story began in Baltimore City in 2015 in response to the civil unrest sparked by rioting throughout the city. The Volo Kids Foundation aimed to use sport as a tool for healing and a means of uniting communities. Volo Kids partnered with City Council members, community organizers, and recreation centers to execute its vision to launch the first Volo Kids Foundation program at Herring Run Recreation Center. Volo Kids Foundation receives ARPA funding?to support the operation of the BActive program, which will provide Baltimore kids with access to quality, structured sports programming in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. BActive-facilitated sports clinics will teach lessons in communication, body positivity, and confidence-building through sports, with a focus on trauma-informed care. BActive will connect kids, particularly those in recreation deserts, with ongoing Baltimore City Recreation and Parks (BCRP) programming. Congrats on all your hard work!

“With the grant, I could purchase food for my kids and gas to get back and forth to work. I mainly used it for food because food is very expensive. The money came at the right time. It was like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.” -Brianna G. | Direct Care Worker Grant Recipient Check out some direct quotes from our 9th Edition of?#ARPA Insight Stories on Baltimore’s direct care workers, called the “Unsung Heroes of Our Community.” As the backbone of our healthcare system, direct care workers include home health aides, nursing assistants, personal care aides, and other professionals who provide essential services to those in need. They offer hands-on care to Baltimore’s aging population, people with disabilities, and individuals with chronic illnesses. In September 2023, @mayorbmscott, alongside leadership and members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the local labor union chapter that includes direct care workers, announced an ARPA-funded investment to provide Baltimore’s direct care and service workers with needed relief funds. A $2 million ARPA grant was provided to 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds, operating on behalf of the Healthcare Industry Grant Corporation, issuing the funds to direct care and service workers. Photos are from the 2023 “Mayor Scott Announces $2 Million ‘Direct Care Worker Relief’ Grant Alongside 1199SEIU” funding announcement. Please read more by visiting our website at https://lnkd.in/eCX8X2gX. Link in Bio #ARPAinACTION #RecoveryAtWork