Created in 1985, St. Mary’s County Community Development Corporation (CDC) is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization promoting public and private investment in and revitalization of Lexington Park, St. Mary’s County, Maryland. The CDC seeks to develop, implement, and assist community infrastructure projects designed to revitalize and increase investment in commercial and residential neighborhoods.

Community development corporations (CDCs) are 501(c)3 non-profit organizations that are created to support and revitalize communities, especially those that are impoverished or struggling. Oftentimes, CDCs work to create and sustain affordable housing, but CDCs can also be involved in initiatives for education, job training, healthcare, commercial development, and other social programs. CDCs can adjust the scope of programming based on the needs within the surrounding community.

While CDCs may work closely with a representative from the local government, they are not a government entity. In our case, St. Mary’s CDC was formed in 1985 as a quasi-governmental agency with local government employees and board of directors, but split from county government to become a private nonprofit in 2015.

As nonprofits, CDCs are tax-exempt and may receive funding from private and public sources.

St. Mary’s County Community Development Corporation was formally incorporated by St. Mary’s County government in 1985, collaborating with St. Mary’s County Housing Authority and other regional nonprofits, with local, state, and federal governments, and with private industry to accomplish its mission.

The CDC was recalibrated in 2004 to prepare for a multi-million dollar redevelopment of 80 acres of dilapidated housing into an urban park and overhaul a revolving loan fund for business start-ups and early stage development. The CDC continued its mission to improve the housing stock in St. Mary’s County, provide business loans, operate job search and training programs, and support capital improvement projects, particularly in Lexington Park, MD.

In 2014, the CDC was spun-off from county government and operates today as a stand-alone 501(c)3. The reconstituted CDC focused its efforts on advancing infrastructure developments in Lexington Park including the creation of an ArtsPark on the urban park property, and attempted construction of a road extension for increased safety and blight reduction in Colony Square, a Lexington Park neighborhood targeted for revitalization by St. Mary’s County Housing Authority, Three Oaks Center, and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

Although focused on Lexington Park, MD, St. Mary’s CDC is open to revitalization projects throughout St. Mary’s County.

In Lexington Park, the CDC is seeking to implement infrastructure improvements suggested in the 2016 Lexington Park Development District Master Plan developed by St. Mary’s County Planning Commission and adopted by the St. Mary’s County Commissioners.

John K. Parlett, CMI

William Higgs, LSR Engineering

Capt. Glen Ives, Sabre Systems