Baltimore County Community Groups Face October 30th Improvement Grant Deadline

The Welcome to Arbutus mural decorates a brick building along a neighborhood street.

Baltimore County community organizations have until October 30th to apply for the current Community Improvement Grant round. The county’s program page lists $2.2 million in fiscal 2027 funding for capital projects that improve neighborhoods and provide a public benefit.

The first step is not simply filling out the form. All applicants must complete a pre-application meeting with the county. Groups should contact program representative Tom Suchecki with a description of their proposed project so eligibility and scope can be discussed before submission.

Two award tiers

Tier 1 offers awards from $3,000 to $15,000, supported by a $400,000 funding pool. Tier 2 covers $15,001 to $200,000, with $1.8 million available. The county allows up to 10 percent of a Tier 2 award for project-management costs.

Eligible applicants include qualifying nonprofit community organizations and chambers with 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(6) status. Organizations must be in good standing with Maryland and have a bank account in the organization’s name.

What kinds of projects fit?

The program is intended for lasting improvements. Examples include community gardens, neighborhood signs, benches, murals, community buildings and pocket parks on non-county property. Projects must serve the public, demonstrate community support and align with the county’s planning goals.

Applicants also need appropriate site control or permission. The county calls for improvements with at least 15 years of durability and completion within two years of an executed grant agreement. School projects, county-park work, improvements benefiting a single for-profit business and private-only homeowners association amenities are among the exclusions.

This is not an immediate funding payout. The program page describes an approval process of roughly seven to eight months, with agreements anticipated in June 2027. An application does not guarantee an award.

With the deadline approaching, groups should review the official eligibility guidance, arrange the required meeting and gather ownership permissions, project costs and organizational records. The county links its online application from the program page. No specific October 30th closing hour is stated in the information reviewed, so applicants should confirm timing directly instead of assuming an end-of-day deadline.