Allegany Invests $2 Million to Spur Business Recovery, Redevelopment

Allegany County Announces Nearly $2 Million in Invest Allegany Grants.

$1.8 million in grant funding is going toward 12 area projects to accelerate business recovery and support the redevelopment of the downtown cores of Cumberland and Frostburg and main streets across Allegany County.

The County Commissioners dedicated $2 million in American Rescue Plan funds to revitalize communities, benefiting small, local businesses through the Invest Allegany grant program.

“Invest Allegany will prove to be a lasting success and will be a model for years to come,” said President of the Board of County Commissioners, Jake Shade. “We designed this program from scratch to spur investment in buildings that needed attention. It has worked spectacularly. I only wish we had more funding to assist with more of these great projects.”

Over 40 projects applied for grant funds. A review committee ranked each applicant using criteria including the project’s business plan, local placemaking impact, and the potential for positive job creation with multifamily market-rate housing.

“Instead of telling building owners what to do, we relied on their expertise and will fund a broad array of projects,” said Commissioner Shade. “Every single one of them will improve an older building and expand our tax base.”

According to a County press release:

Awards ranged from $20,000 to $250,000 and will go towards capital improvements of existing structures as well as qualifying capital goods totaling no more than 10% of total project cost. A 1:1 grant match was required by applicants and the awards represent over $3.6 million in community revitalization, directly benefiting small, local businesses.

  • Au Petit Paris Building; Frostburg
  • McMullen Building; Cumberland
  • 107 Polk St.; Cumberland
  • Hill Street School; Frostburg
  • 206 N. Centre St.; Cumberland
  • 64 North Centre St.; Cumberland
  • 42-48 Main St.; Lonaconing
  • M&T Bank Building (AKA Rosenbaum Building); Cumberland
  • Fore Axes Garage Bar; Cumberland
  • Geatz’s Restaurant Building; Cumberland
  • 134 N Mechanic St; Cumberland
  • JJ’s Pizza and Wings; Cumberland

The Allegany County Commissioners have requested that the remaining $185,728.69 in allocated grant funding be used for a second round of funding for those that have already applied. Additional details will be determined by the established review committee before the end of the month.

Visit the Allegany County website for more information on the Invest Allegany grant program.