August 29th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

The City of Cumberland’s Department of Community Development and Cumberland Economic Development Corporation will hold a meeting on September 8, 2016 at 10:00 am. in the City Hall Council Chambers in the second floor of City Hall in order to answer questions regarding the new Leasehold Improvement Grant Program and application. The application is now available . Applications can be accessed on the City of Cumberland’s website at www.ci.cumberland.md.us , on the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation’s website at www.choosecumberland.org or in person in the Department of Community Development in the lower level of City Hall during regular business hours as well as at the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) Office at 60 Pershing Street from 8:00am-5:00pm.

This program is funded through the State of Maryland’s Community Legacy program and is designed to assist new lessees of commercial space or existing lessees within Cumberland’s zoned Central Business District who plan to increase their amount of leased space. Funds will be awarded through a competitive process. The maximum grant funding for any one property is $20,000. It is possible that not everyone who applies will be awarded funds. Lessees who are interested in applying for this funding are highly encouraged to attend the September 8th informational meeting.

Community Legacy, a part of the Sustainable Communities Program, is an on-going program that provided nearly $6 million in funding for projects throughout the state of Maryland in 2015-2016 for financial assistance to help existing communities implement comprehensive revitalization plans by providing funding to communities to target projects that will assist with reversing disinvestment trends, reducing sprawl, and enhancing community life for businesses and residents. Since 2001, the City of Cumberland has been awarded over four million dollars from the Community Legacy Program.

Applications for the Upper Story Redevelopment Grant Program must be submitted to the City of Cumberland’s Department of Community Development no later than noon on Friday, October 28, 2016.