Momentum
Baltimore

Join us on a journey into Baltimore's next decade.

• Infrastructure and Connectivity
• Urban Development
• Reimagining Neighborhoods
• Economic Growth
• Tourism and Hospitality
• Sustainability and Events
• Social Responsibility
• Sports and Entertainment

• • Centrally located along the I-95 corridor, Baltimore is drivable for one-third of the East Coast's population in addition to being easily accessible by plane or train.
  • The Baltimore Convention Center is only a 15-minute drive from Amtrak's Penn Station and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
  • Amtrak recently unveiled a $60-million high-speed platform at Penn Station, part of an ongoing $100-million transformation that will expand passenger amenities, enhance accessibility and generate economic growth in the surrounding neighborhoods.
• • $6.5 billion will be invested in downtown Baltimore by 2028, including the recent renovations of Lexington Market and CFG Bank Arena as well as the highly anticipated redevelopment of Harborplace.
  • A $500 million re-envisioning of the Inner Harbor is moving forward and includes new residential, entertainment and retail spaces that will create construction jobs, attract businesses and increase tourism to the area.
  • Downtown, new eye-catching digital billboards showcase Charm City's thriving cultural scene, provide key visitor information and generate economic income through the billboard tax.
  • A recent $16.8 million makeover of Rash Field Park added a nature park, adventure park and skatepark to the waterfront promenade.
• • A former industrial area has been transformed into the Baltimore Peninsula, a $5.5 million waterfront venture that includes 14 million square feet of mixed-use development, 2.5 miles of restored waterfront and 40 acres of green space.
  • Harbor Point, Baltimore's newest waterfront neighborhood, is anchored by Exelon's $270 million Baltimore headquarters. The neighborhood is currently in Phase III of development, which will bring 4.5 acres of park space and additional office, retail and residential facilities to the already impressive neighborhood.
  • Baltimore is the proud home to four arts & entertainment districts — Bromo, Station North, Highlandtown and Pennsylvania Avenue. Free monthly art walks welcome thousands of visitors to these vibrant neighborhoods, showcasing the city's creative culture.
  • Around the city, historic public markets are getting modern makeovers that honor their past while meeting the present needs of their surrounding communities. One of Baltimore's oldest markets, Hollins Market, recently reopened after a $2.1 million renovation that transformed the interior and made room for more vendors.
• • Baltimore was recently designated as one of 31 tech hubs around the country. Organizations like Fearless, EcoMap Technologies, b360 and many others have made their homes in Charm City, bringing significant investments and job opportunities here.
  • More than 5,300 full-time state employees are set to relocate to offices in Downtown Baltimore by April 2024.
• • In 2022, more than 26 million people visited Baltimore for overnight and day trips, increased from 2021 by 10%. Total visitor spending in Baltimore increased by 39% last year, bringing in nearly $4 billion to Baltimore's economy. (citation: Longwoods International)
  • We expect these numbers to rise in the years ahead given the increase in positive perception of Baltimore as a tourist destination. The results of a 2023 survey conducted in partnership with Destination Analysts revealed a 5% increase in the likelihood of travelers to visit Baltimore in the next three years.
  • On the meetings side, 51 events at the Baltimore Convention Center generated $136.6 million in economic impact in 2022.
  • With our nationally recognized Warm Welcome program, Baltimore is modeling what it means to be an inclusive and accessible destination. We are proud to have been named a 2023 Afar Travel Vanguard, just one of seven organizations recognized for our efforts to make travel a force for good.
• • Even with welcoming 120 groups and 500,000 visitors annually, the Baltimore Convention Center diverted 150 tons of materials from landfills by giving preserved materials to Baltimore residents and nonprofits and recycling other supplies within the facility.
  • In collaboration with their catering team, SodexoLive, the BCC installed garden grow towers and an urban bee farm on its roof in 2022, allowing them to produce their own fresh vegetables and honey.
  • The National Aquarium's new groundbreaking Harbor Wetland exhibit reintroduces a saltmarsh ecosystem to Baltimore through 10,000 square feet of floating wetlands, advancing citywide efforts to purify our waters and attract native species like blue crabs, oysters and herons.
  • The Waterfront Partnership recently announced that after ten years of research and investment, the Inner Harbor is swimmable and supportive of native species.
• • Our standard approach to projects involves collaborating and working closely with small local businesses.
  • In addition to legal, accounting and marketing support, Downtown Partnership's BOOST Harborplace Program provides up to $50,000 to BIPOC-owned businesses to assist with build-outs and operation costs.
  • Visit Baltimore is a partner with SocialOffset, an organization that connects meeting planners to Baltimore-based service organizations.
  • Visit Baltimore also distributes community events grants provided by the Baltimore Tourism Improvement District to enhance Baltimore's cultural, social, and economic vitality by providing financial assistance to organizations and individuals planning community-focused events.
  • The Visit Baltimore Education & Training Foundation supports the development of the city's hospitality community by distributing scholarships and grants, offering apprenticeships and promoting citywide job opportunities.
  • The Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs awarded DPOB $1.6 million to revitalize and strengthen small businesses in Downtown neighborhoods.
• • What was once an underutilized corridor between M&T Bank Stadium and Camden Yards is getting a new life as the Walk at Warner Street, which consists of TopGolf, Paramount music venue and Yards Social Bar
  • The development of Warner Street is bolstered by the allocation of $650 million from The State of Maryland to the modernization of our sports stadiums, which have also hosted superstar performers like Stevie Nicks and Billy Joel in recent years.
  • The Orioles also recently signed a 30-year lease at Camden Yards, keeping the team in Baltimore for decades to come.
  • Plans are underway to renovate and reimagine Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness Stakes and Preakness Live music festival. The initial $375 million agreement covers a new state-of-the-art clubhouse with turf and dirt tracks and a community event center.

• "In Baltimore, connectivity between neighborhoods and between people plays a critical role in shaping our future. Through major investments in accessibility and transportation, we're ensuring that every corner of our city is interconnected. From enhanced sidewalks and roadways to improved public transportation, we're breaking down barriers and fostering a more inclusive Baltimore. Our transportation hubs are undergoing significant improvements; Baltimore's Penn Station is being revitalized with added amenities, while BWI Airport continues to expand its international connectivity with the addition of new airlines and an in-terminal hotel. These investments are about creating opportunities for all Baltimoreans and the visitors who come to enjoy Charm City. By 2032, the red line is likely to further enhance connectivity across Maryland — and who knows, with our proximity to NASA and the nation's capital maybe welcoming intergalactic travelers with a potential spaceport is in our future too. As we build on Baltimore's renaissance, modernizing transportation networks and investing in sustainable infrastructure is making a more resilient and inclusive urban environment that supports the needs of every one of our diverse residents. The improvements we're making now will ensure that everyone feels welcome and is able to access everything that to our wonderful city has to offer."

  Brandon Scott, Mayor of Baltimore City

• "Harborplace is the beating heart of Baltimore — convening communities to enjoy our City's extraordinary waterfront. Harborplace inspires wonder and excitement, attracting legions of tourists and admirers from around the world and plays a central role in revitalizing Baltimore — once again."

  David Bramble, Managing Partner, Co-founder MCB Real Estate

• "Baltimore is a 15-minute city within a city. Everything you love is within 15 minutes, including beautiful places to live and work, a vibrant food and entertainment scene and peaceful respite on the water. Imagine drawing together the entire city with this connectivity - underground tunnels, electric cars, increased utilization of the water for transportation or even a gondola or zipline across the harbor."

  MaryAnne Gilmartin, Founder & CEO MAG Partners: Baltimore Peninsula

• "With Baltimore at the helm, Maryland strides confidently into a future defined by innovation, diversity and progress. We've built out not only a fantastic and robust economic system, but a diverse and equitable one. Baltimore's diverse population houses a very strong minority owned, women-owned, veteran-owned business community of businesses that who effectively participate, grow and become a strong part of the overall economy."

  Kevin Anderson, Secretary, Maryland Department of Commerce

• "In 2032 Baltimore is a shiny beacon of light that people will come to from across the country and world to look at what we've been able to accomplish as an example of excellence in the hospitality space. The Baltimore of 2032 is a major leader when it comes to workforce development coming from the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion. By 2032, every business will be a part of our commitment to building a warm and welcoming destination for all. As leaders in this space, when people visit Baltimore now and, in the future, they will leave feeling respected, seen and heard."

  Al Hutchinson, President & CEO, Visit Baltimore

• "The convention center of the future pays homage to the grit and culture that sets us apart and is a canvas for anyone to walk in and facilitate the dreams they have in their head. The new building is designed through a lens of reducing our carbon footprint. Curbside recycling isn't enough anymore. We are the next renaissance in the modernization of sustainability."

  Mac Campbell, Deputy Director, Baltimore Convention Center

• "As a Black small-business owner, it's beneficial to have collaborations with bigger venues in the city, and I see these more and more frequently among the small-business community. I travel a lot and don't necessarily see that happening in other cities. In 2032, Baltimore is a destination for small businesses because the economic revitalization of downtown is focusing an eye on social justice."

  Sumayyah Bilal, Owner of Codetta Bake Shop

• "One of Baltimore's biggest opportunities in the years ahead includes the development surrounding the professional sports facilities driving more residential, retail and restaurant business interests. In 2032, we envision Baltimore hosting events on a worldwide scale from the World Cup to multiple World Series and Super Bowls. We are the catalyst for making other sports more accessible as the potential hub for sports like Soccer, Lacrosse and Cricket."

  Craig A. Thompson, Maryland Stadium Authority Chairman