Community Legacy Program
Community Legacy Program
The Community Legacy program is a partnership between the town and the Maryland Dept. of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). It provides 50% matching grants for exterior facade and other improvements, and the property owner pays the other 50%. The Town supplies the administrative part of the program. The maximum grant is $12,500 per property, per State fiscal year.
The property has to be located within a designated Sustainable Community Area (SCA) in order to be eligible for grant funds. The SCA is primarily located within the National Register Historic District. The Town has received $50,000 in grant funds from FY13-FY19, $55,000 in FY20, and $50,000 in FY21 & FY22.
Grant Application Process:
- Determine if your property is eligible for the program. Sustainable Community Area Map.
- An owner who is interested in applying for the program should contact the Town Planner at 301-600-6309 or zgulden@emmitsburgmd.gov to make sure their property and their project qualifies. Applications can be downloaded here or picked up at the Town office.
- A local Sustainable Community Work Group reviews the applications received and forwards them to the Maryland Historical Trust for review. The MHT review determines whether the property is a "contributing structure" to the historic
district, and whether the proposed project complies with Federal standards for materials and work on such structures. - Once approved, the Town and property sign an agreement -- with a time frame for completion -- and the work can commence.
- When the work is completed, the owner pays the total amount to the contractor and provides proof to the Town that the contractor has been paid.
- The Town submits a reimbursement request to DHCD for the 50% grant money, and provides a check to the property owner once the reimbursement is received.
**This process takes a few months, but the results have been very positive for both the property owners and the Town in general.