CHESTERTOWN — The Kent County Local Management Board is supporting 14 area organizations through its share of the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund.
The aim of the initiative is “to bolster neighborhoods and programs for improved equity, stability, educational opportunity and well-being for children, families and residents,” according to a news release.
The Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, established under the Cannabis Reform Act of 2023, allocates a portion of adult-use cannabis tax revenue to local jurisdictions to support community-based initiatives that benefit low-income communities and those disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of cannabis laws.
KCLMB requested applications that meet the locally identified K.N.O.C.K goals and the priorities dictated by the Maryland Office of Social Equity.
[KNOCK is an acronym for Kids and Neighbors Organizing for Change in Kent, a civic engagement project that focuses on inclusive and participatory community research. The mission is to ensure that every voice in Chestertown, especially those from historically underrepresented groups, is heard and considered in local decision-making processes.]
Proposals could address activities ranging from out-of-school time programming, job skill development or services for families impacted by incarceration — always with a focus to support low-income residents.
For this grant cycle, KCLMB received 25 applications totaling $665,476, according to the news release.
With $120,000 available, the KCLMB Program Committee conducted a full review and scoring process. Then, the full commission adopted a final funding scenario and the Kent County Commissioners approved the awards.
Printed here are the fiscal year 2026 Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund recipients and aligned goals.
Large grant recipients
• Horizons of Kent & Queen Anne’s, expand summer program enrollment [access to supports for students and families].
• Minary’s Dream Alliance, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant facility upgrades [community childcare and recreational services].
• Kent County Public Schools’ Judy Centers, transportation for family programs [access to early childhood development services].
• United Covenant Union, domestic worker support program [workforce development and neighbor to neighbor supports].
• Rebuilding Together Eastern Shore, home repair services [housing and homelessness prevention].
• Washington College Starr Center’s Hip Hop Time Capsule, expand number of paid high school student interns [workforce development].
• Community Mediation Upper Shore, school-based mediation [restorative practices in safe school environments].
• Kent County Middle School afterschool buses, 2026 school year transportation [access to afterschool programs and enrichment].
Small grant recipients
• Big Mixx’s, youth barbering apprenticeship [workforce development].
• C.A.S.T. [Coping And Support Training], six-week youth program [student summer enrichment].
• Kent Attainable Housing, financial literacy sessions [housing and renter supports].
• Open Doors Partners for Education, literacy tutoring [support students of all languages and abilities].
• Voices of Reason Consulting, reintegration support for families [impact of incarceration and training opportunities].
• Sultana Education Foundation, kayaking and outdoor education [water safety and enrichment].