ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today announced additional action to close the racial wealth gap and expand access to work, wages, and wealth for Black Marylanders. Before a congregation of 200 at Bethel AME Church in Cambridge, the governor made official new Just Community designations to prioritize up to $400 million in competitive state investments in communities that have been historically impacted by exclusionary policies. The governor also announced the addition of nearly 7,000 pardons for certain cannabis convictions, expanding upon the historic clemency order that the governor signed last year.
"We know the racial wealth gap affects all of us. It hurts our economy; it restrains job growth and it limits our potential as a state," said Gov. Moore. "If you want a growing economy, you have to make sure it is an inclusive one. We cannot afford to simply 'meet' about the situation before us and delay progress—we need action. Together, we are going to continue the work of repair with action that delivers results."
Governor Moore signed Just Community legislation in 2024 to target state investment in communities that have experienced decades of discriminatory policies like redlining, urban renewal projects, high incarceration rates and disproportionate exposure to environmental and health hazards. The legislation promotes equal opportunity by working to more systemically uplift historically underserved communities.
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