 Last weekend, I joined with over 1,000 mayors from across the country to discuss the challenges that cities like ours currently face. Like most other cities, Baltimore is forced to work with constrained resources, worsened still by continued cuts to federal programs. With limited resources, local leaders must think more innovatively.
That’s why this week I announced the Baltimore City Anchor Plan (BCAP), a new, collaborative effort working with major leaders in the fields of education, research, and medicine, to foster economic growth and spur community development across Baltimore.
Across the City, anchor institutions drive economic development in the communities they serve. They employ thousands of people, many of whom are City residents, and they inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy each year.
These anchor institutions—including our BCAP partners Bon Secours Baltimore Health System, Coppin State University, Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University Maryland, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Morgan State University, Notre Dame of Maryland University, and University of Baltimore—are unparalleled in their potential to shape neighborhood revitalization and drive economic development in Baltimore.
Across Baltimore, new developments are revitalizing our neighborhoods, and much of the credit belongs to these institutions. This includes projects like the $72 million dollar Earl G. Graves Business School at Morgan State University, or the $80 million dollar Science and Technology Center at Coppin State.
Through BCAP, anchor institutions and the City will work together to address priority areas that include public safety, local hiring, local purchasing, and quality of life. BCAP will serve as an inter-agency forum for City agencies to coordinate with anchors on City services and initiatives such as homeownership incentives, neighborhood revitalization, recreational assets, public works and transportation capital investments, and business and employment services.
The partnership will guide future investment across the city under one unified vision and continue to position Baltimore for future growth—creating more opportunities for every community to succeed.
The Baltimore City Anchor Plan is based on a simple idea: our fortunes are interconnected. We cannot have strong anchor institutions without strong neighborhoods, and we cannot have strong neighborhoods without strong anchor institutions.
I’m so blessed to be mayor of a city with so many community partners who are willing to step up and work with government to move our city forward. Baltimore has weathered the recent economic downturn better than many other big cities, due in part to the commitment our anchor institutions have shown to their surrounding communities.
Together, we can continue to move Baltimore forward in the midst of economic uncertainty by continuing to support jobs, infuse millions of dollars into our local economy, and properly direct resources to rebuild our communities.
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If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at my website or by email at mayor@baltimorecity.gov. You can also follow the Mayor’s Office and be a part of the conversation on Facebook or Twitter.
 Sincerely,
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Mayor, City of Baltimore
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The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
 Last weekend, Baltimore City presented the African American Festival, the region's largest cultural and arts festival. Hundreds of thousands gathered at M&T Bank Stadium (home of the Baltimore Ravens) to celebrate the life, music, and culture that make Baltimore unique. Photo by Mark Dennis.
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Independence Day Holiday
City offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, due to the Independence Day holiday. Please note the following changes to City services:
- Trash and recycling will not be collected. This includes the Downtown area. Trash and recycling normally scheduled for collection on Friday will be picked up on Saturday, July 5.
- No bulk trash collections will be scheduled.
- Citizen drop-off centers will be closed.
- Household Hazardous Waste drop-off will not occur on July 4. Instead, it will take place on Saturday, July 5, 9:00 am – 7:00 pm at the Northwest Citizen Convenience Center, 2840 Sisson Street.
- Street sweeping will not take place.
- Parking meters will not be in effect.
- Citizens will be unable to access city offices for bill payments or permits. Some bills can be paid online at www.baltimorecity.gov.
- All Enoch Pratt Free Library locations will be closed.
SummerREADS
Now through August 7, children and their families can visit participating schools to earn prizes for reading, check out books, participate in STEM activities, join a reading circle, and meet special guests. In addition, participants will be served a healthy and well-balanced breakfast and lunch each day. SummerREADS is part of the Weinberg Foundation’s Summer Youth Initiative. More information is available online.
Baltimore City Tennis Camp
Druid Hill Park, Reservoir Tennis Courts
June 23 – Aug 1 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Spaces are still available for Baltimore City Recreation and Parks' summer tennis camps. Youth and young adults interested in learning or honing their game will receive instruction and play time. Lunch, field trips, and before-care are included. Registration costs for the camps are $400 for a six-week session, or $70 per one-week session. For more information, or to register, call 410-396-7019.
Community Action Partnership OHEP Energy Assistance Week
July 1 – 3, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
MSU Student Center, Calvin & Tina Tyler Ballroom, 1700 E. Coldspring Lane
NOTE: Community Action Centers & 2700 N. Charles St. will be closed July 1 – 3.
Struggling to pay your energy bills? Energy assistance grants are available! The Mayor's Office of Human Services Community Action Partnership presents OHEP Energy Week. You may be eligible for help with your energy bill. You do not need to have received a turn-off notice to apply for energy assistance. Try to arrive early, because assistance can only be provided for the first 600 people each day. For more information, or to find out if you qualify, please call 410-396-5555.
World Cup Viewing Party on the Waterfront
Tuesday, July 1, 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Inner Harbor, West Shore Park
The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore invites you to a Viewing Party! Come support the Unites States men's national soccer team as they face off against Belgium in the FIFA World Cup round of 16. Image Engineering—the team behind the Power Plant Light Show Spectacular—will broadcast the match on a larger-than-life 10' x 20' LED wall. Dooby's will serve drinks and Korean BBQ, and the Darua and Kommie Pig food trucks will be on-site. So come join us as we support our nation's athletes!
Independence Day Recycling Bin Sale
Tuesday, July 1, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Abel Wolman Municipal Building, 200 N. Holliday Street
Celebrate the "Freedom to Recycle" with the Department of Public Works! Pick up a new recycling bin at special one-day-only reduced prices. Small bins will be on sale for $4, and large bins for $7 (lids are an additional $3). For more information, contact Natasha.Neale@baltimorecity.gov or call 410-396-4511.
Ports America Chesapeake Fourth of July Celebration
Friday, July 4, 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Inner Harbor
Celebrate Independence Day with live music and celebratory fireworks at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Hear from Top 40s band Thunderball, followed the U.S. Naval Academy Band Electric Brigade at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater. The fireworks show—viewable from several locations in Downtown and the surrounding areas, including Federal Hill, Fell’s Point and Harbor East—will begin at 9:30 pm. For more information, visit www.promotionandarts.org or call 410-752-8632.
Picnic at the Top
Friday, July 4, 7:30pm – 10:00 pm
Top of the World Observation Level, 401 E. Pratt Street, 27th Floor
Celebrate the 4th of July with a picnic at the Top of the World! Take in a 360-degree view of Baltimore and enjoy the best view of the evening's vibrant fireworks display. Family-fun activities and picnic fare will be available. Tickets are $50 for adults, $25 for children ages 3-12. For more information, call 410-837-VIEW (8493) or visit www.viewbaltimore.org.
Baltimore Beach Volleyball “Hat Draw” Tournament
Friday, July 4, 1:00 pm
Inner Harbor, Rash Field, near Light Street and Key Highway
Baltimore Beach Volleyball presents this Independence Day tournament. Registration will open at noon on-site. Men's, women's, and co-ed teams, as well as singles, are invited to participate. Registration is $25 per person, and proceeds from the tournament will benefit Sail Baltimore. For more information, visit www.baltimorebeach.com.
Moonlight Walk in the Park
Saturday, July 12, 10:00 pm – 12:00 am
Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, 3100 Swann Drive, Druid Hill Park
Join the Friends Of Druid Hill Park for a Moonlight Walk In The Park. Hike the portion of the Jones Falls that runs through Druid Hill Park—as well as the old roads that travel along the back side of The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore—long after the park closes for the night. This walk is a roughly 6 mile loop on paved surfaces with several hills. Come dressed for the weather and bring water and a snack. The hike will begin in front of the Rawlings Conservatory. Tickets are $10; proceeds support the Friends of Druid Hill Park and the Druid Hill Farmers' Market. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.druidhillpark.org.
Waterfront Partnership Summer Socials
Friday, July 18, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Inner Harbor, West Shore Park
The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore’s Summer Socials offer free entertainment on the Waterfront. Summer Socials will continue through August, with one Summer Social taking place each month. Enjoy live music from local bands, cold beverages, food trucks, a Waterfront Kids Zone presented by Wondersitter, and the Walter Sondheim Interactive Fountain. Summer Socials are fun for the whole family! For more information, visit www.waterfrontpartnership.org.
Baltimore Data Day
Friday, July 25, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm (Opening Session & Keynote, July 24)
UB William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center, 11 W. Mount Royal Avenue
The Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance presents the 5th annual Baltimore Data Day: Using Indicators for Community Change, in conjunction with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and the Johns Hopkins Urban Health Initiative Reverse Research Day. This one-day conference will help community leaders expand their ability to use technology and data for the improvement of Baltimore's neighborhoods. Baltimore Data Day brings together community organizations, nonprofit agencies, civic and faith-based institutions, and government entities. The conference is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required. For more information, visit bniajfi.org.
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