Board accepts Enough Act capacity-building grant for Local Management Board; funding limited for FY26

The Board of Carroll County Commissioners voted to accept a capacity-building award tied to the state's Enough Act initiative and to use the locally administered Local Management Board (LMB) as the county hub for community engagement and planning in designated high-poverty areas.

County citizen-services staff and the LMB manager told the board the Enough Act funding for FY26 is smaller than prior rounds but will be blended with other state and county funds to continue outreach and program planning. Staff said the total budget for the current round is $105,520, composed of $56,739 in Enough funding, $26,000 from a FY26 CCIF NOFA allocation and $22,000 from FY27 NOFA funding; no county match was required.

Staff described ongoing community engagement in Westminster and Union Bridge and said the LMB will return to commissioners with a draft plan of proposed investments and community-identified priorities. Officials warned that the state legislature's future appropriations remain uncertain and that the position funded by Enough Act dollars could be at risk if state funding is reduced.

Commissioners and staff discussed census-tract eligibility for some competitive federal and state funding programs and noted that county advocates are working with state officials to refine area definitions so Carroll County can qualify for more competitive grants. The board approved applying for the grant and accepting the award; staff said they will present a draft implementation plan to the board in a subsequent meeting.