Anchor institutions including Baltimore’s Catholic colleges sign city plan focusing on four initiatives

Leaders from Bon Secours Hospital, Loyola University Maryland and Notre Dame of Maryland University joined Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and leaders representing Baltimore’s education and medical institutions to sign the Baltimore City Anchor Plan June 25.

The plan is a collaborative effort to strengthen communities and foster economic growth and development across the city, according to Loyola. Through BCAP, Bon Secours, Loyola, Notre Dame and other anchor institutions will partner with city government to focus on innovative initiatives in four priority areas: public safety, local hiring, local purchasing and quality of life.

Anchor institutions are Baltimore City’s largest employers and serve as catalysts to attract and retain residents, create jobs and drive economic growth, according to Loyola. 

Leaders from Coppin State University, The Johns Hopkins University, Maryland Institute College of Art, Morgan State University and University of Baltimore also signed the plan, which tasks Baltimore City government agencies with coordinating with anchors on homeownership incentives, neighborhood revitalization, recreational assets, public works and transportation capital investments, and business and employment services, among other city services, according to Loyola. 

Next steps include creating a quarterly interagency meeting schedule and organizing biannual presidents roundtable meetings between the mayor and anchor institution presidents to coordinate on priority areas, according to Loyola.