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Promoting sustainability in the communities of Southwest Baltimore County

SWVF is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization established to address the economic development of Southwest Baltimore County. A citizen board partners with County and State officials plus other stakeholders to achieve grants and facilitate improvements that benefit the community.

Southwest Baltimore County is a designated Sustainable Community. The Sustainable Communities Program is a place-based designation offering a comprehensive package of resources that support holistic strategies for community development, revitalization and sustainability. Led by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Sustainable Communities has provided local governments with a framework for promoting environmentally, economically and socially responsible growth and development in existing older communities. 
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Embracing our heritage while shaping our future


Sustainable Community Designation

1940-census-enumeration-district-maps-maryland-baltimore-county-halethorpe-a5221d
image credit: National Archives Catalog, "A3378 - Enumeration District Maps for the Twelfth Through Sixteenth Censuses of the United States, 1900-1940," catalog.archives.gov/id/5832532.

October 22, 2021

"The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development today announced Arbutus has become Maryland’s newest Sustainable Community. With this designation, Arbutus becomes the ninth designation in Baltimore County and 123rd in the state. By earning a Sustainable Community Designation, local governments are provided with a revitalization “toolbox” of state resources including programs, loans, grants and tax credits that can support brick and mortar community projects, small business development, job creation and tourism.

Arbutus’ Sustainable Community Area is in Baltimore County, located south of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) campus and is bordered by Patapsco Valley State Park to the south and west. Arbutus is uniquely positioned and able to serve as a hub for a diverse technology, industrial business community, and provide direct access to major commuter routes such as I-95, I-695, I-895, and I-295, and is six miles from BWI Airport. Additionally, Arbutus is just 20 miles away from the Washington DC Beltway, providing further access to several business communities and federal employment centers.

In addition to the Sustainable Community Designation, Arbutus has been designated as a Local Historic District, a Commercial Revitalization District, a Design Review Area, and a County Enterprise Zone, which all further encourage neighborhood revitalization and economic development. Arbutus’ key outcomes of the new designation include improving stream water quality and increasing the tree canopy, attracting and retaining more businesses such as grocery stores and cafes, creating a more complete bicycle and pedestrian network, encouraging homeownership and promoting relationships between the community and UMBC students and faculty, and lastly, to expand upon the area’s existing assets for the arts."

A new ping pong table at the park! ... See MoreSee Less
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“Thank you everyone for your comments. In the coming weeks DPWT will be creating an online portal so you can all make formal sidewalk requests for your neighborhood. We will have more information when it becomes available. Thank you everyone!” ... See MoreSee Less
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Residents are invited to share input on the master plan at the Baltimore County Planning Board public hearing scheduled for Thursday November 16, 2023 at 4 p.m. in 105 W. Chesapeake Ave., Room 104, Towson, MD.Following this public hearing, the Baltimore County Planning Board is anticipated to vote on the Baltimore County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan in January 2024. Following adoption by the Planning Board, the Master Plan will be submitted to the County Council for consideration and adoption.The complete Baltimore County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan is available here publicshare.baltimorecountymd.gov/BikeandPed/Countywide%20BikePedMP.pdf.CONTACT USOFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONSHistoric Courthouse Mezzanine400 Washington AvenueTowson, Maryland 21204EMAILcommunications@​baltimorecountymd.govDIRECTORSean NaronPRESS SECRETARYErica PalmisanoFOLLOW USFACEBOOKBaltimore County Government ... See MoreSee Less
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AMS Families, November 16th please check out the Thrift Store that will be located in the AMS Cafeteria. *All are welcome* ... See MoreSee Less
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