Johns Hopkins and GBC Transition BLocal Initiative to Greater Baltimore Committee

The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) and Johns Hopkins University and Medicine have announced a significant transition in the management of the BLocal program, from Johns Hopkins to GBC. This move signifies a new chapter for BLocal, an economic impact initiative that has been instrumental in supporting local hiring, procurement, and investment in the Baltimore region since its inception in 2016. The initiative, which expanded the goals of HopkinsLocal to the broader business community, has committed over $69 million in its first three years and seen its partners spend more than $1.4 billion on local businesses and hire over 4,000 Baltimore City residents between 2016 and 2021.

As part of this transition, GBC will conduct a feasibility study, supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, to explore the future direction of BLocal. This study aims to build on the successes of BLocal and the Baltimore Integration Partnership (BIP), integrating their efforts into a single, modernized platform under the BLocal brand. The initiative aligns with the GBC’s Multi-Year Agenda, focusing on inclusive economic growth through local hiring, support for small businesses, and access to economic opportunities.

Maria Harris Tildon of Johns Hopkins University and Medicine expressed pride in the initiative's beginnings and support for its transition to GBC, highlighting the shared goal of benefiting Baltimore. Mark Anthony Thomas, President and CEO of GBC, emphasized the transformative impact of business-led, place-based investments and GBC's role in leading BLocal into its next chapter. The feasibility study will guide the relaunch of BLocal, with a focus on a 'hire local' initiative initially, followed by additional pillars in subsequent years.

Johns Hopkins remains committed to supporting Baltimore's economic growth through its institutions, while GBC plans to release the feasibility study findings in early 2026, with a relaunch of BLocal to follow. This transition represents a collaborative effort to deepen economic opportunities and prosperity in Baltimore's communities, building on the strong foundation laid by Johns Hopkins and its partners.