BERLIN– In 2010 Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed the “Sustainable Communities Act” into law, establishing the Sustainable Communities designation designed to strengthen reinvestment and revitalization in the state’s older communities.
The Department of Planning designated Berlin a sustainable community in July.
Kevin Baynes, Director of the Office of Community Programs, said the designation brings a variety of state resources to the community, particularly from the Neighborhood Revitalization division. The Department of Business and Economic Development, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Planning and the Maryland Historical Trust also offer incentives.
“Many other divisions and departments provide, if you will, sweeteners or additional incentives if you’re located within a sustainable community,” Baynes said. “What it is, is a shared target area to channel revitalization resources to really have an impact by us focusing on the same area so that we’re stronger together than we are apart.”
Berlin recently received $1.9 million in grants for stormwater improvements. Baynes confirmed that the Sustainable Communities designation was a factor in the grants.
“It wasn’t a prerequisite, but it certainly plays into it,” he said. “Sustainable Community is basically a place that the local government approaches the state and says, ‘hey, here’s a great place. We want to keep it great. We actually have an investment strategy going forward.’ They submit to us a Sustainable Communities plan that lays out a five-year vision of what they’d like to accomplish, and so the Sustainable Communities designation helps align certain programs.”
Many programs require the designation in order to receive state and federal funding.
“Designations such as Main Street, which Berlin is, and Sustainable Communities, which Berlin now is, helps when looking to deploy resources,” Baynes said. “Those areas that have a good strategy that are working in concert with other state agencies certainly are more likely to be successful.”
All four incorporated areas in Worcester County – Ocean City, Berlin, Snow Hill and Pocomoke – are designated Sustainable Communities.
Dwayne Felix, Eastern Shore Project Manager for OCP, said Berlin received state funding this year for façade improvements, as well as an energy-efficient roof upgrade at the Visitor’s Center.
“We also helped them acquire the Visitor’s Center and got it up and running to help orient tourists where to go and what to do,” Felix said.
Berlin Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day was instrumental in securing the designation, according to Baynes.
“He is the thriving energy that has been working there with us directly, so we’re looking forward to continuing that with some of the new staff that’s been hired to run Main Street, etc,” he said. “That said, Michael has been a great partner over the years.”
The Department of Planning designated Berlin a sustainable community in July.
Kevin Baynes, Director of the Office of Community Programs, said the designation brings a variety of state resources to the community, particularly from the Neighborhood Revitalization division. The Department of Business and Economic Development, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Planning and the Maryland Historical Trust also offer incentives.
“Many other divisions and departments provide, if you will, sweeteners or additional incentives if you’re located within a sustainable community,” Baynes said. “What it is, is a shared target area to channel revitalization resources to really have an impact by us focusing on the same area so that we’re stronger together than we are apart.”
Berlin recently received $1.9 million in grants for stormwater improvements. Baynes confirmed that the Sustainable Communities designation was a factor in the grants.
“It wasn’t a prerequisite, but it certainly plays into it,” he said. “Sustainable Community is basically a place that the local government approaches the state and says, ‘hey, here’s a great place. We want to keep it great. We actually have an investment strategy going forward.’ They submit to us a Sustainable Communities plan that lays out a five-year vision of what they’d like to accomplish, and so the Sustainable Communities designation helps align certain programs.”
Many programs require the designation in order to receive state and federal funding.
“Designations such as Main Street, which Berlin is, and Sustainable Communities, which Berlin now is, helps when looking to deploy resources,” Baynes said. “Those areas that have a good strategy that are working in concert with other state agencies certainly are more likely to be successful.”
All four incorporated areas in Worcester County – Ocean City, Berlin, Snow Hill and Pocomoke – are designated Sustainable Communities.
Dwayne Felix, Eastern Shore Project Manager for OCP, said Berlin received state funding this year for façade improvements, as well as an energy-efficient roof upgrade at the Visitor’s Center.
“We also helped them acquire the Visitor’s Center and got it up and running to help orient tourists where to go and what to do,” Felix said.
Berlin Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day was instrumental in securing the designation, according to Baynes.
“He is the thriving energy that has been working there with us directly, so we’re looking forward to continuing that with some of the new staff that’s been hired to run Main Street, etc,” he said. “That said, Michael has been a great partner over the years.”