As an advocate of the housing needs of low and
moderate income people, the Commission appears
before federal agencies. Congress, and the General
Assembly. It also encourages and aids local gov-
ernment efforts to develop mutual and cooperative
solutions to common housing problems.

The Commission consists of ten members ap-
pointed by the Governor to four-year terms. The
president of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Delegates, or their designees, serve as
non-voting members. The chairperson and vice-
chairperson are designated by the Governor (Code
1957, Art. 257D).

HOUSING FINANCE REVIEW
COMMITTEE

Chairperson: Robert E. Hecht, Sr.

Public members: Timothy D. Armbruster, 1987;
Francis B. Francois, 1987.

Department members: Vacancy, Secretary of
Economic and Community Development; Ardath
M. Cade; Hans F. Mayer; John B. Moore.

45 Calvert St.
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-2468

The Housing Finance Review Committee was
created in 1983 to review specific loan requests or
catagories of loan requests, and the investment and
project financing policies of the Community De-
velopment Administration (Chapter 668, Acts of
1983). After review, the Committee makes its
recommendations to the Secretary of Economic
and Community Development.

Appointed by the Governor, the Committee
consists of four Department employees, two public
members who serve four-year terms, and one
public member who is the chairperson of the
Maryland Housing Policy Commission.

DIVISION OF LOCAL AND
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

John B. Moore, Jr., Director

45 Calvert St.
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-2150

In July 1976 the Division of Local and Regional
Development was established to manage and coor-
dinate Department assistance to local governments
and regional organizations in their efforts to devel-
op and implement economic development, hous-
ing, and historical-cultural programs. In coopera-
tion with local officials, the Division also provides

Economic and Community Development/173

training and management systems assistance to
local units of government.

The Division helps local and regional officials
identify development problems and issues, assess
alternative courses of action, design specific action
programs, and obtain Department, other state, or
federal resources to implement development pro-
grams. As a clearinghouse for Departmental ser-
vices to subunits of State government, the Division
coordinates State and local involvement with a
number of federal programs related to community
and economic development, housing, and histori-
cal-cultural matters.

The Division administers Maryland's Appala-
chian Regional Commission (ARC) development
program and grant process, ensuring full use of
available ARC resources designed to stimulate
economic and community development projects
and activities in Western Maryland. To facilitate
liaison with the three western counties of the State,
the Division maintains the Department's Western
Maryland Regional Development Office in Hagers-
town.

The Division coordinates federal Economic De-
velopment Administration (EDA) programs in
Maryland through assistance aimed at implemen-
tation of an Economic Development Planning
Program. It coordinates the submission of develop-
ment projects for funding by EDA.

The Division also carries out responsibilities for
the Department as the Governor's designated State
liaison agency with the U. S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development for implementa-
tion of the federal Community Development Block
Grant Program and the Urban Development Ac-
tion Grant program in Maryland. By direct techni-
cal assistance, the Division helps local govern-
ments and regional organizations develop plans
and applications for these programs. In addition,
the Division assists local governments in obtaining
departmental housing-related resources to comple-
ment local programs using Federal Block Grant
funds.

The Division serves as the Department's liaison
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture rural
housing and development programs, which provide
resources for Maryland's local and regional devel-
opment activities.

The Division administers Maryland's Enterprise
Zone Program, which was created in 1982. The
Program promotes private and public capital in-
vestment in projects that will create and sustain
jobs for the chronically unemployed.