BALTIMORE, MD (Thursday, July 29, 2021) – Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott kicked off the renovations for Penn North’s historic Arch Social Club. The Club was an awardee of the City’s competitive Community Catalyst Grant (CCG) totaling $180,120. Funds will be used to upgrade the Club’s electrical system, expand the museum and support ADA-compliant upgrades in the building. 

“For more than a century, the Club has stood proudly as a cornerstone of Baltimore’s African American civic, political, and cultural life,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Not only is our investment in The Arch Social Club historically significant, it also underscores the important investments being made across the Pennsylvania Avenue Corridor. I look forward to the outcome of this project and to the revitalization of the Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts & Entertainment District that will be celebrated for generations to come.” 

The City of Baltimore launched the CCG program to focus resources in long-disinvested areas and spur growth, transformation, and additional investment. The Arch Social Community Network (the Network) which serves as the non-profit arm of the Arch Social Club, also won CCG operating grant support, providing operating dollars to build capacity in economic development, youth development, and cultural engagement. 

In addition to CCG funding, the Arch Social Club also won grant support from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This $5 million project compliments revitalization efforts along the Pennsylvania Avenue Corridor, which received a State designation as the Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts & Entertainment District in 2019.

“The hard work of residents, community associations, community development organizations, anchor institutions, committed private developers, and many other stakeholders is what drives community development,” said Acting Housing Commissioner Alice Kennedy. “It is critical to the City’s success that we empower and strengthen our partner groups.  With strong community and public and private sector support, this project will augment community revitalization efforts happening in the Pennsylvania Avenue Corridor, which is poised for inclusive, transformational investment.”

“We’re extremely thankful to the City of Baltimore for supporting us in our efforts to revive the Pennsylvania Avenue Corridor into a functioning cultural and social amenity for the surrounding community. With this funding, we can increase our ability to provide a space for positive African American cultural engagement and economic and social development in the Penn/North community,” said Van Anderson, President, Arch Social Club. “Revitalizing this area will help attract tourism dollars for the City and community and will draw those who want to experience Baltimore’s historically rich African American Culture as expressed through music, dance, and positive Black social life.”

For more information about the Arch Social Club, visit https://www.archsocialclub.com/.