1. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Act” means Housing and Community Development Article, Title 6, Subtitle 5, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   2. (2) “Application” means an application to the Department as described in Regulation .04 of this chapter.
   3. (3) “Community development organization (CDO)” means a nonprofit corporation, foundation, or any other nonprofit legal entity whose purpose is to implement a clear revitalization strategy in a neighborhood or set of neighborhoods within Baltimore City or the inner-beltway communities of Baltimore County or Anne Arundel County.

   4. (4) “Community enhancement project” or “project” means a project submitted by an applicant to the Secretary for approval in accordance with the Act and this chapter for one or more of the following purposes:

      1. (a) Down payment assistance for homebuyers to purchase and rehabilitate homes;
      2. (b) Programs to acquire or rehabilitate vacant or blighted properties;
      3. (c) Programs to improve existing residential and business properties;
      4. (d) Programs to achieve energy efficiency through weatherization and energy retrofits;
      5. (e) Development of mixed-use projects that combine housing, retail, and office space;
      6. (f) Development or enhancement of community open space or public infrastructure;
      7. (g) Workforce and employment development programs;
      8. (h) Strategic demolition; and
      9. (i) Development or implementation of any other community enhancement project that the Department considers necessary to further the purposes of the Act.
   5. (5) “Department” means the Department of Housing and Community Development, a principal department of the State.
   6. (6) “Financial assistance” includes a grant, loan, assurance, guarantee, other credit enhancement, reduction in the principal obligation of or in the rate of interest payable on a loan or portion of a loan, or prepayment of interest on a subordinate or superior loan or portion of a loan.
   7. (7) “Fund” means the Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative Fund established under Housing and Community Development Article, §6-510, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   8. (8) “Local government” means any of the 23 counties of the State, the City of Baltimore, a municipal corporation of the State subject to the provisions of the State Constitution, Article XI-E, or any of their duly authorized agencies or instrumentalities.
   9. (9) “Mixed use” means a use that combines commercial, business, institutional, open space, and residential uses, or some combination of those uses, in the same building or on the same site.
   10. (10) “Nonprofit organization” means a corporation, foundation, or other legal entity that specifies in its charter or bylaws that no part of the net earnings may inure to the benefit of a private shareholder or individual holding any interest in the entity.
   11. (11) “Program” means the Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative established under the provisions of the Act.
   12. (12) “Program agreement” means an agreement or agreements between the Department and a recipient of financial assistance to implement one or more community enhancement projects in a designated Sustainable Community.
   13. (13) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Housing and Community Development.
   14. (14) “Sustainable community” means the part of a priority funding area that has been designated a sustainable community under Housing and Community Development Article, §6-205, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   15. (15) “Sustainable community plan” means a plan consisting of one or more community enhancement projects or other revitalization projects that are located in a sustainable community.

Authority: Housing and Community Development Article, §§2-111, 5-508, and 6-505(b), Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: August 14, 2017 (44:16 Md. R. 808)