The West North Avenue Development Authority (WNADA) has awarded millions in funding to 19 recipients to help improve the West North Avenue corridor in West Baltimore. The grants are part of WNADA’s 15-year revitalization plan for the area.
In this second round of funding, WNADA gave more than $6.5 million to minority, women, veteran, and returning citizen-led businesses to help transform the most disinvested residential and commercial corridor in West Baltimore. The revitalization plan seeks to advance restorative justice and promote community development by improving housing, public space, mobility, and economic opportunity for West North Avenue.
“These awards will stimulate economic growth and improve community services in West Baltimore,” said Chad Williams, executive director of WNADA. “The State’s RFQ opportunity enables our small and local communities to build stronger neighborhoods and become more resilient.”
Some of the projects that have been selected to receive the grant funding are in the Coppin Heights, Easterwood, and Mondawmin neighborhoods. Local businesses opening storefronts in Druid Heights and Penn North communities also will receive funding, as will initiatives that aim to assist, employ, and train Baltimore’s young people in construction trades.
“This year, the WNADA grant program hit a new milestone. More than 108 businesses and organizations submitted proposals with requests for more than $100 million in grant subsidy support,” said Senator Antonio Hayes, 40th district. “This is a testament to the interest of the community to work together for positive change. The State is proud to support these local efforts that do so much to improve the quality of life in the 40th district and beyond.”
The State of Maryland’s West North Avenue Development Authority was created in 2021 to facilitate economic growth in West Baltimore. During its meeting on Monday, March 24, the WNADA Board of Directors unanimously supported the proposed projects for grant funding.
“I look forward to the growth that our investment in these focus nodes will bring, I congratulate the communities and businesses that are receiving support through this round of grants,” Williams said.
Of the more than $6.5 million awarded, $4.8 million in grants will be distributed for projects devoted to neighborhood development, public safety, and residential and commercial development. From that $4.8 million, $2.7 million was allocated for the purchase of the 1.8-acre Greenwood Towing property located at 1370 W North Ave., and $1.1 million was allocated for public safety.
With this funding, the overall investment in the West North Avenue corridor for FY 25 is around $12.2 million. In addition to the $9.7 million it contributed in FY24, WNADA has invested $21.2 million over the last two years to promote economic growth. The next grant round for the authority will begin on Thursday, May 1, 2025. A Pre-submission conference will be held on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Interested businesses and organizations can check the WNADA website for location details by clicking this link.
