Baltimore City earned a 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award for a homeownership initiative that helped residents purchase homes while generating millions of dollars in local real estate activity.

The Buy Back the Block Grant Pilot Program earned recognition in NACo’s Community and Economic Development category. Running from March 2023 through July 2025, the American Rescue Plan-funded program provided down payment assistance to eligible Baltimore City residents purchasing homes within designated areas. Administered by Live Baltimore, the pilot sought to increase homeownership, stabilize the City’s population, and help prevent displacement, particularly in historically disinvested communities.

By the conclusion of the pilot, 117 households across 57 Baltimore neighborhoods received $1.59 million in grants. Those investments supported $23.9 million in home sales and are estimated to generate approximately $1.08 million in property tax revenue each year.

The program’s reach is also extending beyond the original ARPA-funded pilot. Following the initiative’s initial results, City officials allocated non-ARPA funding to support its future expansion.

Baltimore City’s honor is part of 165 NACo Achievement Awards earned by Maryland counties this year, recognizing programs and services across nearly every area of local government.