Courtesy of Juliette Fradin
In his annual State of the City address on March 19, Mayor Fazlul Kabir underscored what he called the “exponential growth” College Park experienced in 2023.
As evidence, Kabir pointed to the opening of 10 businesses during the year, which he estimated would bring 250 new jobs to downtown, midtown and North College Park. And Kabir said the city is expecting nearly 20 new businesses and restaurants to open in the coming year.
Through grants and partnerships, the city will add two student housing complexes — Aspen and Union on Knox — and three affordable housing complexes this year. And with the remnants of pandemic-era American Rescue Plan Act funding, 68 College Park businesses and nonprofits got $2.2 million in grants last year, while 85 households received a combined $260,000.
The city made sizable donations to community organizations last year, the mayor noted, including $300,000 to the three fire companies that serve the city and $500,000 to five local food banks, including Meals on Wheels of College Park.
Kabir also called out the city’s efforts to improve sustainability, diversity and safety.
The full text of the State of the City address is available at tinyurl.com/yjydju2h.
