Community Conservation FAQ

Office of Community Conservation
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Office of Community Conservation and what does it do?
What is a Community Conservation Area?
What programs are part of the Office of Community Conservation?
How do I contact Community Conservation for assistance?
What is the role of the Sector Coordinators?
Are there focus areas within each sector?
What are some of the projects underway in the community conservation sectors?
What are Community Conservation Action Grants?
How do I apply for these grants?

Q. What is the Office of Community Conservation and what does it do?

A. The Office of Community Conservation was established by County Executive Ruppersberger July 1, 1995. Its mission is to preserve, stabilize, and enhance the human, physical, and economic condition of the County's urban communities through cooperative public-private programs which address specific neighborhood concerns, and empower communities by fostering local self-reliance. These efforts are directed to the County's Community Conservation Areas as defined in the Baltimore County Master Plan 2010.

The Office of Community Conservation has five Sectors: Southwest, which covers the area west of Baltimore City and south of Interstate 70; Northwest, which lies between I-70 and Falls Road, reaching as far north as Reisterstown; Central, which border Baltimore City on the south, and lies between Falls Road and I-83 on the west, Perring Parkway and Cromwell Bridge Road on the east, and Hunt Valley on the north; Northeast, which encompasses the area between Perring Parkway and Cromwell Bridge Road on the west, the Route 40 corridor on the southeast, and Gunpowder Falls on the north; and Southeast, which generally covers the area of the County south of Route 40.

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Q. What is a Community Conservation Area?

A. Community Conservation Areas, in large part, are comprised of the older Baltimore County neighborhoods and commercial districts that surround Baltimore City. The 2010 Baltimore County Master Plan identified Community Conservation Areas as neighborhoods and business areas where buildings and infrastructure are basically sound, but may require public and private investment in order to remain stable.

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Q. What programs are part of the Office of Community Conservation?

A. The Office is made up of several components including: Administration; Commission on Disabilities; Community Development Block Grant (CDBG); and Neighborhood Revitalization. Neighborhood Revitalization consists of Housing Opportunities (rehabilitation, homeownership, multifamily housing and development), and Sector Coordination.

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Q. How do I contact Community Conservation for assistance?

A. Your first point of contact can be made with the Sector Coordinator for your area. The numbers for each of the two sectors are as follows: Eastern (410-887-2288) and Western (410-887-4040).

If necessary, please call 410-887-3317 for assistance in identifying the appropriate Sector Coordinator.

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Q. What is the role of the Sector Coordinators?

A. The Sector Coordinators serve as link between community and local business groups and Baltimore County government. They facilitate solutions to community problems and coordinate efforts which involve neighborhoods and governments. Many times, the Coordinators are the first point of contact when a community concern or issue arises. The Office of Community Conservation Sector Coordinators Terri Kingeter (Eastern) and Tony Baysmore (Western).

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Q. Are there focus areas within each sector?

A. The Office of Community Conservation has identified "priority action areas," which are specific parts of generally stable areas that are showing various signs of stress. The Office of Community Conservation has designated the communities of Lansdowne/Baltimore Highlands, Essex, Middle River, Greater Hillendale, the Liberty Road corridor, Old Dundalk, Turner Station, Colgate, Woodlawn, and Greater Pikesville, as priority action areas. Problems of unemployment, low incomes, high mobility, low educational attainment, issues of public safety, substance abuse, poor housing conditions, lack of services, daycare, job training, and transportation can be found in these specific geographic locations.

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Q. What are some of the projects underway in the community conservation sectors?

A. While there are numerous and varied projects underway that are specific to each of the five sectors, there are some projects that are universal within the County's Community Conservation Areas. These include alley repairs, streetscape improvements in the older commercial districts, homeownership promotion, and analysis of rental housing. Greater detail is provided in the County's Consolidated Plan or may be found by contacting the Office of Community Conservation at 410-887-3317.

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Q. What are Community Conservation Action Grants?

A. These are grants from Baltimore County to incorporated community associations, homeowner associations, and non-profit organizations for physical improvement projects up to a maximum of $7,500 per organization. A 25 percent match from the applying group is required, one half of which must be cash or other non-labor donations. The grant funding usually becomes available July 1 of each year.

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Q. How do I apply for these grants?

A. Grants are offered once each fiscal year and applications are usually available in May. The review period takes place during the summer and awards are made in the fall of each year. Since the County's budget is not officially approved until the end of May, we anticipate the availability of funding and send out applications prior to budget approval. Contact the Baltimore County Office of Community Conservation at 410-887-5606 or E-mail kkendrick@baltimorecountymd.gov to request an application package.

Revised April 27, 2009