HAGERSTOWN – Hagerstown officials are preparing to seek more than $1.1 million in federal funding to support housing programs, neighborhood improvements, and community services in Fiscal Year 2027.
During a June 2 work session, Margi Joe, the Community Development Manager, and Letizia Turner, the Planning & Outreach Coordinator, presented the Fiscal Year 2027 Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant Program and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. They explained how federal funds would be allocated to address housing, infrastructure, and quality-of-life needs across the city.
The plan calls for the city to receive approximately $774,240 through the Community Development Block Grant Program and $350,424.94 through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, bringing the total anticipated federal investment to more than $1.12 million.
Margi Joe said the city was recently selected as a participating jurisdiction in the HOME program, which allows it to receive direct funding to support affordable housing initiatives. Both programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
According to Joe, the annual action plan serves as the city’s roadmap for spending the funds and must be approved by the mayor and council before it can be submitted to HUD for final authorization.
The proposed funding will support a variety of housing programs, including home repair grants and loans, housing rehabilitation efforts, and down payment assistance for qualified homebuyers. Officials said those programs are designed to help residents maintain homeownership, improve housing conditions, and expand access to affordable housing opportunities.
In addition to housing assistance, the plan includes investments in neighborhood revitalization projects such as sidewalk repairs, street improvements, park enhancements, and playground rehabilitation. City officials said those projects help improve public infrastructure while strengthening neighborhoods throughout Hagerstown.
The action plan also provides funding for nonprofit organizations that serve vulnerable populations, including low-income households, seniors, youth, people experiencing homelessness, and residents with disabilities. The city partners with community organizations through subrecipient agreements to deliver many of these services.
The planning process included two public hearings and a public comment period. The first hearing was held in December 2025 to gather feedback on community needs, while a second hearing took place in May 2026 to review the draft action plan. Officials reported that no additional comments were received during the formal public review period, resulting in no changes to the proposed plan.
During council discussion, Councilman Kristin Aleshire suggested that the city explore whether future Community Development Block Grant funding could help address child care affordability challenges facing local families. Staff indicated the idea could be evaluated as part of future program planning efforts and acknowledged that child care has emerged as an important community need.
The mayor and council are expected to consider formal adoption of the Fiscal Year 2027 Annual Action Plan during their June 9 meeting. Approval would allow the city to submit its funding request to HUD and move forward with implementing the proposed programs and projects.
