Updates from Around Essex

When Chesapeake High School welcomed an exciting influx of new students interested in joining the football program this year, the team encountered a great problem to have: more students wanted to play football than they had helmets available. That’s when the Essex community stepped up. Chesapeake High School Community Schools Facilitator and Essex native Sarah Miller reached out to Essex CDC to share the need and ask whether we could help rally community support to purchase additional helmets before the season began. We immediately reached out to our network, and the response was incredible. Todd Schuler, Essex CDC Board Member and partner at Blondell, Miller & Schuler – Injury Lawyers, was the first to step forward, immediately pledging $2,000 toward the effort. From there, other local businesses, community leaders, property owners, and Essex CDC Board members quickly joined him. Together, the community raised the $4,000.00 needed to purchase 10 new

Essex is heading to the ballpark! Join your friends, neighbors, family, and fellow community members for Essex Community Night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards as the Baltimore Orioles take on the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, September 9 at 6:35 p.m. This special community night is a chance for Essex residents and organizations to come together, enjoy America’s pastime, and show off a little Essex pride along the way. Whether you’re bringing the family, gathering your coworkers, meeting up with friends, or organizing a night out for your school, nonprofit, or community group, there’s room for everyone. And the best part? Tickets are just $15 (+ tax)! It’s an affordable way to enjoy a night at one of baseball’s most iconic ballparks while connecting with the people who make Essex such a great place to call home. So grab your Orioles gear, rally your crew, and get ready to cheer

Eastern Boulevard Street Banner Sponsorships Are Now Open! The colorful banners lining the 400 and 500 blocks of Eastern Boulevard have been up for almost a year! Installed as part of Essex CDC’s ongoing placemaking efforts, these banners bring color and energy to “The Boulevard,” showcase local businesses and organizations, and help define the heart of Essex’s central commercial district. We are incredibly grateful to all of the businesses, organizations, and individuals that sponsored banners over the past year. Their support has helped us bring color, pride, and a stronger sense of place to Eastern Boulevard. Now, it’s time to prepare for another year! Essex CDC is accepting Eastern Blvd. Street Banner Sponsorships now through Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 5:00pm. Current banner sponsors are invited to renew their sponsorship and keep their banner on display for another year. New businesses and organizations interested in joining the program are also

Join us for our next Essex Exchange! This month, we’re putting the spotlight on the food and beverage industry with a practical learning session led by Mitch Mullins called Profit on the Plate: The Art and Science of Menu Engineering Whether you own a restaurant, café, food truck, catering company, or other food-based business, or you’re thinking about starting one, this session will offer practical strategies to help you make your menu work harder for your business. Mitch will cover topics including pricing strategies, understanding food costs, and creating a menu that supports both a great customer experience and profitability. Essex Exchange Wednesday is an incredible opportunity to discover valuable resources, learn practical strategies to strengthen your business, and connect with fellow business owners, entrepreneurs, community partners, and others invested in Essex. We’re continuing to expand our learning sessions throughout the year and are always looking for community partners and

Every community has a story to tell, and Essex is no exception. From the small businesses that serve as neighborhood gathering places to the stunning sunsets over Back River, it’s the people, places, and everyday moments that make Essex a community we’re proud to call home. That’s why Essex Community Development Corporation (Essex CDC) is excited to launch #ThisIsEssex—a community-driven campaign celebrating everything that makes Essex special. What Is #ThisIsEssex? #ThisIsEssex is more than just a hashtag. It’s an invitation for residents, businesses, community organizations, and visitors to share the moments that showcase the pride, character, and spirit of our community. Whether you’re enjoying a meal at your favorite local restaurant, attending a neighborhood event, capturing a beautiful view of Back River, celebrating a local business, or highlighting a community improvement project, every story helps paint a picture of what makes Essex unique. How You Can Participate Getting involved is

Supporting local businesses and strengthening our community starts with sharing knowledge, building relationships, and creating opportunities to learn from one another. That’s exactly what Essex Exchange Wednesdays are all about. Join Essex Community Development Corporation (Essex CDC) on Wednesday, August 19 from 9:00 to 11:00 am at the Essex CDC Office for another informative and collaborative morning designed to help local businesses, nonprofit organizations, schools, and community leaders succeed. Learn About Grant Opportunities This month’s featured learning session will be led by the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) and will focus on the Strong Schools, Strong Neighborhoods grant program. Whether you’re preparing your first grant application or looking to strengthen an existing proposal, this session will provide valuable insight into the application process. Participants will have the opportunity to learn what makes a competitive application, better understand the funding process, and ask questions directly to the experts. If you’ve been considering

The Essex Streetscape Project is nearing completion, with construction expected to wrap up by the end of August, according to Baltimore County’s Department of Planning. This project represents a significant investment in the future of central Essex, creating a more pedestrian friendly neighborhood surrounding the commercial district. Led by the Baltimore County Department of Planning and implemented by engineering firm Pennoni, the project was built on a foundation of community input. Residents, business owners, and stakeholders helped shape the vision during two public listening sessions held in 2024, ensuring the improvements reflect the needs and priorities of the people who know Essex best. A Safer, More Walkable Area The streetscape improvements are designed to make central Essex more welcoming for everyone—whether you’re walking to a local restaurant, shopping at a neighborhood business, or simply enjoying a stroll around the neighborhood. Project enhancements include: Together, these improvements will create an area that is easier