Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund

About the Fund

As a part of Maryland's legislation of adult-use cannabis, Maryland voters approved a law in 2022 establishing Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (CRRF) as part of the Maryland Cannabis Reform Act to invest in communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition and enforcement. The Maryland Office of Social Equity has identified Prince Frederick and Lusby as eligible communities in Calvert County.  The Fund provides grants to support programs, services and initiatives that improve quality of life, promote economic growth and advance equity in these communities.

In Calvert County, the Department of Community Resources administers the local portion of the Fund in collaboration with community partners, as approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Community Resources, along with partners, reviews community needs, advises on funding priorities and makes recommendations to ensure that investments align with the Fund’s purpose and benefit residents most impacted. In July 2025, a survey was conducted to identify community needs and priorities.  The funding priorities are ranked below. 

Funding AreaPrince FrederickLusby
Education and afterschool programs 17%18%
Behavioral health crisis response services16%17%
Community childcare and recreational services15%15%
Housing and homelessness prevention initiatives15%13%
Job training and workforce development programs13%13%
Transportation improvements in high-density areas10%10%
Truancy and absenteeism intervention programs8%8%
Programs that benefit individuals/families impacted by incarceration0%6%


Timeline

  • Online Training: Tuesday, October 21 at 2 pm - Virtual 
    • Microsoft Teams Meeting Link
      Meeting ID: 243 438 466 686 4
      Passcode: RD79Y4fc
      Dial in by phone: +1 872-216-2953,,950367498# United States, Chicago
      Phone conference ID: 950 367 498#
  • Application Deadline: Friday, Nov. 7, 2025
  • Award Decision Notifications: Mid-December
  • Period of Performance: Jan. 1, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026
  • Mid-year report due: Wednesday, July 15, 2026
  • End of year report due: Friday, Jan. 15, 2027
  • Note: Dates subject to change. Updates will be posted here. 

FY2026 Awardee List

Agency

Program

Priority Funding Area

Program Description

Recommended Award

Arts Council 

Arts Council of Calvert County Program Manager

Education and after-school programs

The Arts Council will support a Program Manager to expand arts education, community outreach, and youth engagement opportunities in Prince Frederick and Lusby. The position helps coordinate youth arts programs, artist residencies, workshops, and community events that increase access to creative learning. 

$33,660

Barstow Acres Children’s Center and Loving Arms

Partnering with A Childcare Center to Enable Continuation of Affordable Services

Education and after-school programs

Barstow Acres and Loving Arms will partner to maintain affordable childcare services for working families facing increased operational and staffing costs. The initiative supports early childhood education, behavioral health supports, and family stability by helping sustain a licensed childcare center serving Prince Frederick. Funding will support this program by helping to purchase a van to transport children to and from childcare centers and field trip activities. 

$40,000

CAASA

Connecting Calvert: Building Safe and Informed Communities

Education and after-school programs

CAASA will distribute quarterly direct-mail education campaigns focused on substance use prevention, youth engagement, family wellness, and holiday safety. The mailings provide residents with timely information on substance use trends, mental health, law changes, and local support services, particularly for households facing transportation or digital access barriers. Funding supports printing and mailing to help increase community awareness and promote healthier, safer behaviors.

$15,452

Calvert County Health Department

Always on Call: Investing in Preparedness and People of Calvert Crisis Response

Behavioral health crisis response services

Supports non-billable infrastructure activities needed to maintain 24/7 crisis response capacity, including on-call readiness, clinical supervision, travel time, and staff coordination. 

$48,866.40 

Calvert County Minority Business Alliance

Join Our Business (JOB) Bridge Workforce Development Program

Job training and workforce development

The JOB Bridge program provides entrepreneurship education, business mentoring, and workforce readiness training for minority, women-owned, and small business entrepreneurs. Participants receive technical assistance, networking opportunities, and skills development to strengthen business operations and economic mobility. Funding supports up to 10 stipends to local businesses to host summer career internship or other established workforce programs for on-the-job (OTJ) training for job seekers. 

$10,000

Calvert Library

Sensory Support for Young Learners

Education and after-school programs

Calvert Library will expand sensory-friendly learning tools and early literacy supports for young children, including those with sensory processing needs. The initiative equips branches with adaptive learning materials, sensory kits, and staff training to improve accessibility during story times and early-learning programs. Funding enhances inclusive early-childhood education environments for families in Lusby and Prince Frederick.

$5,000

Calvert Library

Steps to 500: Growing Readers, One Book at a Time

Education and after-school programs

Steps to 500 encourages families to build daily reading habits by providing books, literacy resources, and milestone incentives for young children as they work toward completing 500 reading activities. The program supports early language development, school readiness, and family engagement in literacy. Funding assists with books, materials, and program delivery for local families.

$7,500

Calvert Safe Housing Network

Safe Housing for Victims

Housing and homelessness prevention initiatives 

The Safe Housing Assistance Resource Program (SHARP) provides emergency housing, financial assistance, and supportive services for individuals and families fleeing domestic or sexual violence. Services include hotel placements, transportation for case management and counseling, housing navigation, safety planning, and deposits to secure long-term housing. Funding supports urgent housing needs and helps prevent homelessness for survivors in crisis.

$45,000

LEAP Forward

Launching Educational Assistance Programs Forward, Inc. (LEAP Forward Inc.) 

Education and after-school programs

LEAP Forward will expand STEM-focused after-school learning and mentoring for middle and high school students in Lusby. The program provides hands-on STEM education, academic support, college and career preparation, and structured enrichment opportunities that address gaps in rural STEM access. Funding supports program instruction, materials, and operational costs to increase equitable STEM engagement for local youth.

$36,000

LifeStyles of Maryland

Homeless Workforce Services

Job training and workforce development

LifeStyles will provide workforce training, employment readiness, and case management for individuals experiencing homelessness in Prince Frederick and Lusby. Services include skills training, job placement assistance, transportation support, and wraparound case management to reduce employment barriers. Funding supports staffing, training materials, and direct services that help participants secure income and achieve long-term stability.

$50,000

Loving Care

The Community Empowerment Lab – Workforce Development Program

Job training and workforce development

Loving Care will operate a workforce development program that trains residents for careers in senior care, personal care, and community-based health services. The program offers certification preparation, hands-on skills training, and coaching to help participants enter a growing local workforce sector. Funding supports instruction, materials, and program coordination to strengthen employment pathways.

$50,000

Mt. Olive United Methodist Church

Yardley Hills Missional Action Plan Youth Program

Education and after-school programs

Expands after-school academic support, communication capacity, and safety resources for youth in the Yardley Hills community, addressing hunger, safety, communication, and access barriers.

$20,047.28

Positive Outcome Mentoring and Dance, Inc. 

Beyond the Bell

Education and after-school programs

Beyond the Bell is an after-school program for 5th–8th grade students that blends creative arts, physical activity and social-emotional skill-building in a safe, structured environment. The program provides equitable access through scholarships and a sliding-fee scale and partners with the College of Southern Maryland to expand space for arts and athletic programming. Funding supports staffing, teaching artists, equipment, supplies and program operations to serve up to 50 middle-school youth in Prince Frederick for no cost to the participants.  

$50,000

Project ECHO

Restoring Safe Shelter Capacity Through Infrastructure Updates

Housing and homelessness prevention initiatives

Project ECHO will complete essential safety and infrastructure upgrades at its emergency shelter in Prince Frederick to maintain safe housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The project includes replacing outdated electrical systems, flooring, technology infrastructure and door hardware to ensure ADA accessibility, safety compliance and full shelter capacity. Improvements will help stabilize vulnerable residents and preserve a critical emergency housing resource.

$50,000

Stella's Girls, Inc.

Calvert County Mentoring Program (Youth Leadership and Workforce Development)

Education and after-school programs

Stella’s Girls will expand its evidence-based mentoring, STEAM education and workforce readiness programming for underserved youth in Prince Frederick. The initiative integrates academic support, social-emotional learning, truancy intervention and hands-on career exploration for 50 students. Funding supports staffing, apprenticeships, STEAM materials, mentor training and facility costs to strengthen youth leadership and future workforce readiness.

$48,500

Tri- County Council of Southern Maryland

New Start "Boss-Up & Build"

Programs benefiting individuals and families impacted by incarceration

The New Start program provides entrepreneurship training, life-skills development and reentry support for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated residents returning to the Lusby and Prince Frederick communities. Participants develop business plans, receive workforce readiness instruction and are paired with business mentors to support long-term economic stability and reduce recidivism. Funding will expand instruction, mentorship and business-plan development opportunities for justice-impacted residents.

$37,444

 

 

 Total 

$547,469.68

FY2027 Applications

Information will be available in fall 2026 regarding the FY2027 application process. Please check here for updates. 

Share Feedback and Contact Us

Share any additional comments, thoughts or concerns you may have on our online form.

For questions about the fund, upcoming application communities or serving as a community liaison, please contact: 

Calvert County Department of Community Resources
Phone: 410-535-1600, ext. 8803
Email: Community.Grants@CalvertCountyMd.gov