Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day traveled across Worcester County on June 26 to learn about the needs of the area.
Davida Washington, housing rehabilitation coordinator for Worcester County, and DHCD Secretary Jake Day stand in front of a house in Snow Hill that benefited from department funds on June 26.
Submitted photo
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day traveled across Worcester County on June 26 to learn about the needs of the area.
The visit was part of ongoing DHCD’s Day Trip tour, which started last fall as a way to directly connect with Maryland’s communities. Worcester County was the 11th stop overall.
From fiscal year 2020 through fiscal year 2024, DHCD has invested more than $42 million in Worcester County for affordable housing, broadband infrastructure, community and business revitalization as well as services for homelessness support.
“We cannot learn the needs of our communities while sitting in our offices in Lanham – we must meet people where they are,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “I’ve seen great changes in Worcester County first-hand over the years but I still learned so much from today’s Day Trip. I’m confident we can continue to work together with leaders from the county and the great cities and towns of Worcester County to ensure we leave no one behind.”
State and local officials, including DHCD Secretary Jake Day, pose for a photo outside of Cypress Roots Brewing Company in Pocomoke City on June 26.
Submitted photo
Worcester County Commission President President Chip Bertino said partnerships with state agencies play a huge role in moving projects forward for a jurisdiction like Maryland.
“Worcester County is continually undertaking projects across a broad spectrum that together support vibrant and bustling communities, with thriving downtown commercial districts at the heart of our towns,” Bertino said. “We are grateful for ongoing opportunities to collaborate with Secretary Day along with other state and local partners to leverage vital grant funds to rehabilitate homes, expand and develop new parks and recreation spaces, and attract career and family-sustaining businesses.”
Day and DHCD staff first traveled to Pocomoke City to tour its downtown area, visit with town officials and see recent redevelopment projects.
Later in the day, DHCD officials traveled to Snow Hill to visit two homes being rehabilitated with funds through the department’s Special Targeted Applicant Rehabilitation Program. The STAR Program is used to preserve and improve single-family properties and designed to bring properties up to applicable building codes and standards or a minimum housing quality standard.
The day concluded with a roundtable discussion at the Snow Hill Firehouse. The meeting gave officials from Worcester County, Snow Hill, Berlin, Pocomoke City and Ocean City the opportunity to share their needs and feedback to DHCD.