In a speech announcing the award recipients, Maryland GovernorParris N. Glendening observes that "the overwhelming response tothe Community Legacy program confirms that many Maryland residentsshare the vision of living in close-knit, thriving communities withgood schools, open space and access to public transit." Alltogether, the bevy of applicants requested 10-times the amount offunds available for the grants. "The decision-making process wasquite arduous," DHCD Spokesman Ed McDonough tells GlobeSt.com. DHCDofficials divided into groups of eight to evaluate each proposal,most of which had numerous components. "Because of fundinglimitations," Mc Donaugh notes, "there were a lot of very goodprojects that didn't get funded."

Proposals out of Baltimore City received the most nods, with 11different projects winning funding awards. But measuring in dollarsand cents, Prince George's County is the biggest winner, with 10different proposals receiving an aggregate amount of approximately$4 million. For those applicants who did not receive funding,McDonough says NHCD will certainly encourage them to fine-tunetheir proposals and resubmit next year. But there is no guaranteethat the same $10 million will be available for the CommunityLegacy Program in Fiscal Year 2003. "The decision-making process isbased in part on how much money we get from the state legislature,"McDonough explains. The current economic climate may not allow forsuch an amount for the program the next time around. However,McDonough adds, "we're hoping that we're going to be able towhether this blip in the economy."