Just Communities Designation

Why it matters

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Just Communities Designation serves to counteract policies of the past that have robbed generations of families of wellbeing and wealth-building through home ownership and the intentional disinvestment in neighborhoods.

By identifying these areas of disinvestment, the Just Communities Designation can target investment in areas that have been historically excluded from the benefits of State resources.

Census tracts were selected using a detailed, data-driven process based on the goals of House Bill 241/Senate Bill 308. The process used public data to assess overall community conditions and identify areas with the greatest need and opportunity.

Each community was scored using factors such as:

• Priority Funding Area
• Homeownership
• Property Value Trends
• Commercial/ Residential Vacancy
• State Imprisonment Rate
• Exposure to Lead-Based Paint
• Rates of Asthma Among Older Adults
• Redlining
• Proximity to Superfund Sites

Read our full methodology to learn how the communities were chosen.

Just Communities designation map viewer

The Just Communities Viewer is an interactive tool designed to visualize outcomes from past development and address economic and health disparities by proactively targeting investments in Maryland’s historically underserved communities.  The map serves as a tool for users, policymakers, community leaders, and residents  to use data to inform applications, community engagement, policy, and partnerships. 

Governor’s Just Communities designation

On June 19, 2025, Governor Moore officially designated 419 census tracts as the inaugural group of areas to receive the Just Communities Designation. These designations are effective until 2030.

How it works

State prioritization bonus points

Requests for state funds for projects within designated Just Communities receive bonus points or special consideration, meaning those proposals are more likely to be funded (assuming they meet threshold requirements for the funding).

Applicants for eligible State funding will be asked if they’re located in a designated Just Community, and if so, their application will be prioritized for State investment. 

In its current stage of implementation, eligible funding programs in which Just Communities are prioritized through existing programs at the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).