Johns Hopkins and GBC Transition BLocal Initiative to Foster Economic Growth in Baltimore

The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) and Johns Hopkins University and Medicine have announced the transition of the BLocal program's management from Johns Hopkins to GBC, signaling a new chapter for the initiative aimed at bolstering local hiring, procurement, and investment in the Baltimore region. Since its inception in 2016, BLocal has expanded the framework of HopkinsLocal, committing over $69 million in its first three years and, between 2016 and 2021, its 24 partners spent more than $1.4 billion on local businesses and hired over 4,000 Baltimore City residents.

This transition includes a feasibility study supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to shape BLocal's future, integrating it with the Baltimore Integration Partnership (BIP) to enhance economic inclusion across the city. GBC's leadership in this next phase aligns with its Multi-Year Agenda, focusing on inclusive economic growth through local hiring, supporting small businesses, and expanding economic opportunities.

Mark Anthony Thomas, President and CEO of GBC, emphasized the transformative impact of business-led, place-based investments and GBC's role in aligning partners, policy, and capital to benefit Baltimore's communities. The feasibility study, to be conducted over the next six months, aims to establish goals and recommendations for a renewed BLocal, starting with a 'hire local' initiative to connect the workforce with major employers.

Johns Hopkins remains committed to supporting Baltimore's economic growth through this transition, with GBC planning to relaunch BLocal after releasing the feasibility study's findings in early 2026. This move represents a continued effort to leverage the region's economic power for community prosperity and opportunity.