October 17th, 2024 by WCBC Radio

Comptroller applauds continued efforts to increase affordable housing. Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman joined Governor Wes Moore and Treasurer Dereck Davis to approve more than $221 million in state expenditures during Wednesday’s Board of Public Works meeting. Funding approved included $3.4 million to support affordable housing development in Howard County through the Rental Housing Works Program, administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

The estimated $31 million project, sponsored by Enterprise Community Development, Inc., will offer 68 affordable units for households earning between 30-60% of the Area Median Income. According to 2023 Census data, the median household income in Howard County is $141,159.

Comptroller Lierman applauded DHCD for its work on the Rental Housing Works Program and highlighted the challenges that stand in the way of building affordable housing, including zoning, and obtaining funding. She also thanked affordable housing developers for their work to build homes for Marylanders.

The Rental Housing Works, it is worth noting, it is such an important part of the capital stack to create affordable housing units in this state,” Comptroller Lierman said. “It is essential that awards be based on merit and need and the ability to deploy the funds immediately, and nothing else.”

The one, two, and three-bedroom units in the Waverly Winds 4 project will have features that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water and will comply with the Maryland Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022.

Additionally, Comptroller Lierman took time to question the Procurement Director for the State Highway Administration (SHA) about the agency’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) goal-setting process, and whether the agency would be willing to adjust their parameters to open more opportunities to MBEs regardless of where they are located.

During today’s meeting, there Board of Public Works approved eight items awarding more than $22 million to certified minority business enterprise prime contractors, and 12 items with established participation goals for MBEs. So far in 2024, the Board of Public Works has awarded $607 million to MBE prime contractors.

In all, the Board of Public Works approved 70 items representing $221,766,841.52 in state expenditures. This included:

• Grant agreements for 6 recipients for 7 projects located in 3 counties and Baltimore City with a total value of $14,409,576.

• 9 items awarding $15,055,588.86 to prime certified small business primes.

• 2 items awarding $2,595,217.57 to Employment Works Program providers.

• 2 items awarded with established participation goals for veteran-owned small business enterprises.