Clean Community Challenge Applications NOW OPEN
Do you want to beautify your local street, alleys, or greenspaces? The Clean Community Challenge is a neighborhood beautification competition and grant program, taking place during the summer 2026. Through this program, Clean Corps is providing up to $1,500 of financial support for block-level cleaning and beautification projects. Drawing inspiration from the AFRO Clean Block competitions of the past, this program is meant to support residents in creating flourishing neighborhoods that are healthy and beautiful. For more information and to apply click here: (PDF version) (Word version)
About the Baltimore Clean Corps Initiative
Clean Corps is a multi-agency initiative, led by the Baltimore City Department of Planning and operated in close collaboration with Baltimore-based nonprofits: Civic Works and Bon Secours Community Works. Funded primarily by the American Rescue Plan (ARPA), Clean Corps works in partnership with community leaders in 42 underinvested neighborhoods to tackle issues of illegal dumping, litter, overgrown grass and weeds across the city. Clean Corps grantees hire under and unemployed residents to clean and maintain community-selected vacant lots, alleys, sidewalks, tree pits, public trash cans and more.
As a workforce development program, Clean Corps provides holistic support for employees to stabilize their lives and facilitate the steps needed for a successful career. We help employees accomplish their career goals through providing trauma-informed care and counseling, rental assistance and expungement services, GED programs, Certified-Driving License training, resume-writing, interview coaching, conflict resolution, and leadership training.
Clean Corps operates in each neighborhood in partnership with a representative community association. The community provides crucial input for where to prioritize service. We also support cleaning efforts that are already occurring in our neighborhoods by participating in regular community clean-ups and dumpster days. We service known hot spots and work with the Department of Public Works to complete work orders assigned through 311. Finally, we provide routine cleaning to major commercial corridors, main streets, areas around community assets, including schools, community centers, gatherings spaces and shopping centers.
Clean Corps Dashboard
Since early 2023, Clean Corps has maintained a service dashboard that allows all of Baltimore City’s residents to follow the progress of the Clean Corps crews in their 42 targeted neighborhoods over time. Everyone can view the before and after photos of work completed by the Clean Corps crews as they clean and mow vacant lots, clean alleys, and empty public trashcans on a daily basis to create a cleaner Baltimore. Visit the dashboard here: Clean Corps Dashboard
Survey
Clean Corps needs to hear from you! If you live in one of the neighborhoods we service, complete this survey to let us know how we’re doing, suggestions you may have to help us improve service, and how Clean Corps is making an impact on where you live.
Who do I communicate with about Clean Corps service in my neighborhood?
The DOP point of contact for East side neighborhoods is Maddy Silberger-Franek (maddy.franek@baltimorecity.gov). The DOP point of contact for West and South neighborhoods is Lamar West (lamar.west@baltimorecity.gov). Please see the table below for Clean Corps Operator information.
Neighborhood(s) | Operating Organization | Point of Contact |
Belair Edison, Berea, Broadway East, Coldstream Homestead Montebello, Darley Park, East Baltimore-Midway, Four by Four, Johnston Square, Madison Eastend, McElderry Park, Milton-Montford, Oliver, South Clifton Park | Civic Works | |
Auchentoroly-Parkwood, Central Forest Park, Druid Heights, Edgewood, Forest Park, Fallstaff, Glen, Harlem Park, Midtown-Edmondson, Mondawmin, Mosher, Penn North, Sandtown-Winchester, Upton | Civic Works | |
Carroll-Camden, Carrollton Ridge, Cherry Hill, Franklin Square, FSO/Boyd Booth, Lakeland, Mount Clare, Mount Winans, Pigtown, Saint Paul, Westport | Bon Secours |
Tree Pit Maintenance
Trees are important to all of our communities. Studies show that trees help clean air, provide shade, and reduce temperatures around them during the summer. Studies have shown that trees can help to reduce crime and clean the air around them. But a key to keeping street trees alive is to make sure that the tree pits are clean.
Clean Corps would like to clean the tree pit in front of your building. This includes removing all of the trash, weeds and rocks within your tree pit. If you have planted flowers or bulbs in your tree pit and/or do not want anyone to clean the tree pit in front of your building, please contact the Clean Corps Program at cleancorpsbaltimore@gmail.com or call 410-396-2929.
For more information about the Clean Corps program, please email cleancorpsbaltimore@gmail.com or call 410-396-2929.