City of Crisfield awarded state funding in effort to boost downtown business

CRISFIELD, Md. – The City of Crisfield is getting a shot in the arm in its efforts to revitalize vacant storefronts.

Money for Main Street

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) awarded the city with $150,000 as part of its Project Restore 2.0 initiative.

“It’s a big deal for us,” said Crisfield Mayor Darlene Taylor. “It gives us an opportunity to allow businesses that are trying to get started, a place to start. We have three locations that we are looking at.”

Those locations are all along Main Street—an area that was once a thriving downtown business corridor.

“The business owners have been excited about the opportunity to fill these vacant spots. Right now we have at least 12 empty buildings here on Main Street,” Mayor Taylor said. “When I grew up here, this was a thriving community. So, we know that it can be again.”

Project Restore

The City of Crisfield’s award comes as part of the third iteration of DHCD’s Project Restore program.

Christine McPherson, Assistant Director of DHCD’s Community & Economic Development Partnerships, says $13.1 million in funding was awarded to 55 place-based organizations across the state. Project Restore was originally supported by $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

“This has been a way that we can funnel money directly into those communities to help fill that need,” McPherson said. “We know that these local place-based organizations are the hands and feet on the ground every single day working with their residents.”

Opportunity Abound

Mayor Taylor says the funding has already generated a lot of interest.

“People who aren’t already in Crisfield have approached us and asked, “What about this opportunity,” So, we see this as an opportunity to help someone grow,” Mayor Taylor said. “We’re not looking to put a business and just leave them alone. We want to make sure that they have a solid business plan and a mentor.”

McPherson says besides providing funding, that’s another area where DHCD can help.

“Some of these buildings have been vacant for decades, and might need new windows or new infrastructure for the building like electrical or plumbing work,” McPherson said.

The agency can provide technical assistance, as well as opportunities for rent abatement.

“We know that those first five years are, a lot of times, the hardest with a start-up,” McPherson said. “So, if we can get them over those different hurdles, they’re really starting to make some traction at that point, and fingers crossed, they stay in that space.”

Looking Ahead

And, ensuring that one business is set up for success, could pave the way for others, as well, McPherson said. “Whenever there are thriving businesses in a commercial core, if those businesses are doing well, they attract more businesses.”

The City of Crisfield will put out a request for proposals sometime in October. Mayor Taylor says she’s looking forward to reviewing those proposals. She plans to meet with the applicants who have a vision for Main Street.

“To tell who’s going to be successful, I think it’s important to know who the people themselves are, and not just look at the paperwork,” Mayor Taylor said. “All these things work together so that all parts of that puzzle will help to create a new and vibrant community.”