The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) recently announced $5.3 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program funding for Fiscal Year 2026. Awards will support 11 projects in nine counties to expand affordable housing opportunities, make neighborhoods more accessible and upgrade community infrastructure. Our three local counties—Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset — are all benefitting from the funds in FY 2026.
“Many of the greatest small towns in America are right here in Maryland,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “By investing support in the visions of rural Maryland leaders, together we can ensure that every corner of this state has a path toward a bright future.”
The CDBG State Program provides federal funds to states which then distribute assistance to rural counties, cities and towns. DHCD manages the state’s annual allocation of federal funds and administers them through an application process with priority given to emergency health and safety initiatives.
All three local counties will be utilizing the funds to continue providing a county housing rehabilitation program. Somerset County is receiving $350,000, and anticipates assisting 20 properties. And both Wicomico County and Worcester County were awarded $300,000 each, and anticipate assisting 10 properties in each of their respective jurisdictions. The housing rehabilitation program in our tri-county area provides grants and loan funding to owner occupied properties for general rehabilitation and lead abatement services.
Wicomico County is additionally receiving $800,000 in CDBG funds for the Town of Willards to make improvements to their water treatment plant with cellular and web-based controllers for more efficient operations.
Since its creation in 1987, Maryland’s CDBG Program has awarded more than $335 million to local government grantees for 1,122 projects.
Lauren Bunting is a Broker with Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City, Maryland.
