Cambridge Chosen for DHCD Program

(CAMBRIDGE, Md) – The City of Cambridge may be seeing a facelift for its downtown area in the near future, thanks to a state grant.

It’s the Commercial Facade Improvement Program. And it’s part of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

The city of Cambridge is being awarded a grant as part of this program.

Now we don’t know how much this grant will be for at this time. But in a release sent out by the city Monday morning, officials said they’re going to be working with Housing and Community Development to help revitalize many of the downtown buildings.

WMDT spoke with a member of Community Development about the impact this is going to have.

“…Like anything, as downtowns become older and, and in need of constant maintenance, any types of incentives that, that we could offer to help maintain that, that aesthetics. You know, is always a positive thing,” says Kevin Baynes with DHCD.

The Commercial Facade Improvement Program launched in Maryland in 2023. However, it has been in the works for years with Community Development.

And in the case of Maryland communities like Cambridge, it can help to draw people back in to downtown.

Kevin says, “It is if you will, the window into the community. So I think Main Street, it’s an important tool to keep the exteriors of the commercial buildings looking, looking, you know, it’s the aesthetics. It kind of gives a signal in terms of, vitality and a signal in terms of, whether it’s a solid economic operation.”

According to the city of Cambridge, the program offers up to 50 percent reimbursement for face improvements on qualifying buildings.