Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Division of Just Communities Selected for Rural and Small Cities Program
NEW CARROLLTON, MD (January 29, 2026) – Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day today announced that the Division of Just Communities has been selected to participate in the Public Finance Initiative’s Rural and Small Cities Program, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The competitive program supports government and quasi-governmental organizations to assess place-based challenges, understand options to finance investments over time, and develop actionable plans to achieve their goals through technical assistance and tailored capacity-building workshops. The program will support the Division of Just Communities as they advance innovative, people-centered investment strategies in rural communities and small cities.
“The opportunity to participate in the Rural and Small Cities Program allows us to sharpen our approach to placemaking and gives us new tools to ensure our investments are coordinated, strategic, and centered on the people and places they are intended to serve,” said Secretary Day. “We are excited to collaborate with PFI and our partners to strengthen outcomes for Maryland’s rural and small communities.”
As part of the cohort, the Division of Just Communities will receive targeted capacity building to co-create a shared, People-Centered Placemaking strategy for rural and small cities across Maryland state agencies to align resources and expand the impact of the State’s investments.
“This work will help strengthen the Division’s strategic Just Communities Act interagency implementation in preparation for the upcoming involvement of residents, communities, local and municipal leaders, and other partners. Our approach to this work is anchored in our mission supporting leaders who want to embed values in public finance decision-making to create lasting change in the world,” said Lourdes German, Executive Director of the Public Finance Initiative.
Under the leadership of Assistant Secretary Cat Goughnour, the Division of Just Communities is responsible for executing the goals of the 2024 Just Communities Act, targeting state investment in communities that have experienced decades of discriminatory policies like redlining, urban renewal projects, high incarceration rates and disproportionate exposure to environmental and health hazards. Using a racial equity and social justice framework, program evaluation, and community involvement, 419 of Maryland’s 1,463 census tracts are designated as Just Communities, representing 17 counties and the City of Baltimore. The five-year designation, signed by Governor Moore in June 2025, created priority consideration for competitive state funding starting in Fiscal Year 2026.
“By using innovative data tools to target and track long-term investment, the State of Maryland is taking active steps to repair the harm caused by practices such as redlining, segregation, and targeted disinvestment,” said Assistant Secretary Goughnour. “This approach ensures that investments not only support enduring community-led growth but reflect and retain the cultural capital and inherited knowledge of those most affected.”
As part of the program, the Public Finance Initiative will work with the Division to co-design and host a two-day Just Communities capacity-building workshop to support the Department’s People-Centered Placemaking efforts, equipping participants with tools to advance equitable development and community-driven revitalization. Over two days, participants will co-create a people-centered placemaking strategy for Maryland’s rural and small communities. The workshop will be highly interactive, with regional breakout discussions, hands-on tool exploration, and collaborative exercises designed to leverage expertise and create actionable next steps.
About the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development Division of Just Communities
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development transforms communities into places people want to call home. Through investments in community-led placemaking, housing and small business development, infrastructure and broadband deployment, the Maryland DHCD partners with local government, nonprofits, and private sector stakeholders to make great places. For more information, visit dhcd.maryland.gov.
About the Public Finance Initiative
The Public Finance Initiative (PFI) partners with governments & organizations who want to embed values in public finance decision-making to create lasting change in the world. The Public Finance Initiative is a fiscally sponsored organization of TSNE MissionWorks, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Learn more at www.publicfinanceinitiative.com and stay connected with PFI on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.