Join us for a ribbon cutting! It’s free and open to the public! RSVP HERE

  

Date: July 13, 2026 

Time: 3:30 – 4:30 pm Remarks and Ceremony 

5:00 – 7:00 pm Open House Reception 

Location: 8739 Flower Ave, Silver Spring, MD 

  

Silver Spring, MD (June 30, 2026) – Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP) invites the public to a ribbon cutting event on July 13 at 3:30 pm at 8739 Flower Ave to celebrate the designation of the Long Branch neighborhood as an official Main Street Maryland community. 

The event will feature remarks by Maryland Secretary of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) Jacob R. Day, MHP President Robert A. Goldman, and other community leaders. Guests will experience a brief tour of local businesses, parks, and murals. MHP will unveil new office space made possible by Project Restore funding. Plus, DHCD will announce exciting details about a new initiative called Destination Main Street. Stay for the open house reception to experience culinary delights from local restaurants and connect with business owners and community members.   

Long Branch is one of only two Maryland Main Streets in Montgomery County to receive this honor. Located between downtown Silver Spring and Takoma Park, Long Branch has a distinctive family-friendly feel and features many locally owned eateries and shops, vibrant murals and public art on every street corner and lively community events that provide a diverse array of entertainment for locals and visitors.   

“I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Long Branch and I’ve seen how much it has to offer the people of Montgomery County,” said DHCD Secretary Jake Day in a press release. “The Designated Main Street Maryland community status means Long Branch has the support of the Main Street Maryland Program and the Department to achieve its full potential as a thriving, lovable place for businesses and residents.”  

Nonprofit developer MHP has been engaging in neighborhood revitalization efforts in Long Branch since 2011.  This work aligns with MHP’s mission to not only preserve and expand affordable housing, but also to strengthen neighborhoods surrounding their properties through community development and outreach.    

“MHP is honored to be part of this exciting and well-deserved milestone for the Long Branch community,” said MHP President Robert A. Goldman. “As a Main Street Maryland designee, Long Branch will shine even more brightly, and more people will discover the many wonderful businesses there.”   

Each year, MHP’s efforts draw attention to the Long Branch community, highlighting the neighborhood’s culture and enhancing its status as a destination. In addition to monthly events, efforts have included pedestrian improvements, outdoor stages and eating areas, exterior property enhancements, vibrant murals, plantings, social media support, a neighborhood print newspaper, restoration of the historic Flower Theater façade, acquisition of a commercial space slated for a coffee shop, and more. Through these efforts, MHP aims to promote an inclusive future that enables current residents and businesses to be resilient in the face of change, with the goals of bringing communities together, celebrating diversity, expanding understanding of the crucial role of shared public spaces, and highlighting the value of locally owned businesses.  

In the near future, Long Branch will be home to a Purple Line Metro station stop, enabling even more people to visit.   

“Main Street Maryland represents some of the strongest and most vibrant business districts that Maryland has to offer. So to have the Long Branch community of Silver Spring included in this company is a humbling recognition of the work that MHP has put into revitalizing Long Branch,” said Chris Gillis, MHP Director of Policy & Neighborhood Development. “We are constantly inspired by the successes of other Maryland Main Streets, and this designation will serve as further motivation for us as we seek to help Long Branch achieve its full economic potential.”  

Long Branch efforts are a collaborative partnership between MHP and the Long Branch Business League, with additional support from Montgomery County Government, Montgomery Parks, Purple Line Transit Partners, and Cafritz Foundation. As a Maryland Main Street, Long Branch now receives funding and support from DHCD. 

ABOUT MHP  

At MHP, we are dedicated to making home possible. Since 1989, MHP has been preserving and expanding access to quality affordable housing. MHP is a private nonprofit that provides more than 3,250 homes in Montgomery County, MD, and surrounding communities. We accomplish our mission by housing people, empowering families, and strengthening neighborhoods.  Learn more at mhpartners.org  

  

ABOUT MAIN STREET MARYLAND  

The Main Street Maryland program is housed at Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and focuses on strengthening Maryland’s downtown commercial districts through local investment and revitalization. Main Street Maryland has been transforming communities across the state since 1998. Additional information about the Main Street Maryland program and the communities it supports can be found at mainstreetmaryland.org.