Guest feature: Lindsay Renner is the public relations writer for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Follow along with DHCD on Facebook and Twitter.
Sykesville might not be Maryland’s biggest town, but it’s one of the most distinctive. In fact, in 2016, the small Carroll County town, separated from neighboring Howard County by just a length of historic railroad, was named America’s Coolest Small Town by Budget Travel.
Since becoming a Main Street Maryland community in 2011, the town has used associated funds from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to keep improving. Most recently, in FY17 the Main Street Association was the recipient of a $2,000 Keep Maryland Beautiful Clean Up & Green Up grant for expansion of a community garden.
In FY16, the town used $50,000 in Community Legacy funds for façade improvements along Main Street. Another $7,500 from the Main Street Improvement Program was used for historic exhibits outside the Town House, which serves as Sykesville’s Town Hall, and Baldwin’s Station, a restaurant located inside the town’s former train station.
For Julie Della-Maria, the Sykesville Main Street Economic Director, one of the best things about the town is its sense of community. A mix of businesses and nonprofit organizations have come together and make the town unique. “They can relate to what we’re doing. They feel that sense of community, and there’s pride in it,” she said. According to Della-Maria, the camaraderie among Sykesville’s residents is evident in the makeup of the people who run its Main Street program. With herself as the only exception, it is entirely volunteer-run.
Sykesville is a town rich in history, which attracts many of its visitors. Baldwin’s Station was a stop on the B&O Railroad’s Old Main Line, the country’s oldest railway. Festivals are also a big draw for the town. In November, the town will host the Sykesville Craft Beer festival. A similar event last year had 34 breweries on site, and it is expected to draw even more this year. These events give residents “a chance to meet their neighbors and establish new connections,” said Della-Maria. Main Street is also home to a diverse selection of businesses, ranging from the recently opened Patapsco Distilling Company to antique stores, restaurants, and even a country-western store.
The post Sykesville brings past and present together appeared first on MDBIZNews.
from https://mdbiznews.commerce.maryland.gov/2017/08/sykesville-brings-past-and-present-together/
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