Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s Vacant to Value Initiative received the 2012 Award of Excellence in Innovation (Urban) from the Maryland Asset Building and Community Development Network (ABCD) Network. The award honors organizations and individuals for their achievements in asset building and community development. Mayor Rawlings-Blake and Baltimore Housing Commissioner Paul T. Graziano were commended for designing an innovative program that tackles vacant properties and enhances the value of Baltimore neighborhoods.  “We are honored that our Vacants to Value Initiative was recognized by the Maryland ABCD Network,” said Baltimore Housing Commissioner Paul T. Graziano. "Baltimore Housing has worked hard to create and implement an innovative plan that will help us effect real change in Baltimore." Launched in November of 2010, Mayor Rawlings-Blake’s Vacants to Value initiative is driving growth and reinvestment in Baltimore's neighborhoods by streamlining the sale of vacant city property; strengthening code enforcement efforts to promote rehabilitation; and providing targeted incentives for homebuyers and developers who invest in vacant properties. The Maryland ABCD Network is a membership-based coalition of nonprofit and government agencies involved in asset building and community development activities in Maryland, along with supportive businesses and individuals. We ensure strong asset building and community development organizations through communication, advocacy, and capacity building activities. For more information about the Vacants to Value Initiative, visit Baltimore Housing’s website at www.baltimorehousing.org.