4-02-2026 4:17am

Tax Allocations Based

Baltimore County Launches CRRF Community Grant Program to Invest in Disproportionately Impacted Communities

TOWSON – Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier announced the launch of the County’s Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (CRRF) Community Grant Program, which will provide funding to support communities disproportionately impacted by past cannabis enforcement policies.

The CRRF was established at the state level through Maryland’s 2023 Cannabis Reform Act following voter approval of adult-use cannabis legalization in 2022. Under state law, a portion of adult-use cannabis sales tax revenue is set aside in a statewide Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund to support economically-disadvantaged communities and areas disproportionately affected by cannabis enforcement policies.

“This grant program represents an opportunity to reinvest in communities that were disproportionately affected by past enforcement policies,” said Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier. “Our goal is to ensure these funds expand opportunity, strengthen neighborhoods, and support residents in meaningful and lasting ways.”

The CRRF Community Grant System will serve as the primary vehicle for distributing funds to eligible organizations serving Baltimore County residents. Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, nonprofits, service providers, businesses, and other entities serving residents of Baltimore County.

Allocations to each Maryland jurisdiction — including Baltimore County — are calculated based on the relative number of cannabis possession charges between July 1, 2002 and January 1, 2023. Jurisdictions with higher historic charge rates receive a greater share of funding. The program operates under oversight from the Maryland Office of Social Equity to ensure equitable, transparent, and community-informed investment.

To access and administer its share of these funds, the Baltimore County Council unanimously passed Bill 37-24 in June 2024, formally establishing the County’s own Community Reinvestment and Repair Commission (CRRC) and a dedicated special revenue fund to manage CRRF dollars.

To guide investments, Baltimore County conducted community surveys in 2024 and 2025. Residents identified the following priority areas:

Homelessness prevention and shelter services
Mental health and substance use services
Education and after-school programming
Housing assistance
Workforce development
Criminal justice-related services, including expungement support
Parks, recreation, youth, and agricultural programming

The County’s online grant portal allows eligible organizations to:

Review eligibility requirements and application guidelines
Submit applications electronically
Track deadlines and program updates

A webinar for a program overview and to learn more about the application process is being held March 18. The application deadline is April 1, 2026, and applications can be submitted online at https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/budfin/CRRF#about.

For Fiscal Year 2025, the County’s CRRF allocation totals $13,210,727.81. Initial investments have included support for the County’s freezing weather shelters and other community stabilization efforts. CRRF funding is reinvested directly into Baltimore County community organizations, programs, and services.

Through this Community Grant Program, Baltimore County is committed to ensuring CRRF dollars are invested transparently, responsibly, and in direct response to community-identified needs.