Bel Air Downtown Alliance

We envision Bel Air’s future as a sustainable community in which people live, work, and play. We attract and welcome diverse neighborhoods where our parks, schools, and commercial centers are vibrant assets that enrich our quality of life. Our success is based on strong collaborations with our government and economic partners.

Who Are We?

At its infancy, the Bel Air Downtown Task Force was established to oversee development of a Downtown Market Study. This process helped to identify business types and locations that are successful in Bel Air.

From 1999 to 2001, under the directions of the Planning Director of the Town of Bel Air, the Task Force evolved into the Bel Air Downtown Revitalization Alliance, shifting its focus to supporting economic development in Downtown Bel Air.

In 2001, with the founding of the Bel Air Downtown Revitalization Alliance 501(c)3 as a Maryland Main Street program, real initiatives were taken and progress was made.

In 2003, having achieved great early success, the Alliance was renamed once again as the Bel Air Downtown Alliance. The focus of the group is consistent with the four pillar structure of Maryland Main Street programs: Design, Organization, Economic Vitality, and Promotion.

Why Do We Give?

What Do We Give?

In 2011 the Bel Air Downtown Alliance introduced the Hometown Heroes Banner Program to honor men and women from the Harford County area who have served or are currently serving our country in a branch of the military or first responder. Each unique banner includes the soldier or first responder’s picture, branch of service and era of service. The banners are 24″ wide and 44″ tall and include sponsor’s name, prominently displayed at the bottom. The current Hometown Hero Banners will be displayed during the service holidays for 2022. The Bel Air Downtown Alliance will make the banners available for pick up at the end of this year. All banners not picked up within 30 days will be discarded. We encourage you to visit Downtown Bel Air and to see the Heroes banners proudly displayed.

Total Given So Far

In a partnership with The Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation (UCHF), the Bel Air Downtown Alliance is supporting cancer care, right in our community. The Kaufman Cancer Center on the campus of Upper Chesapeake Medical Center is fully funded through charitable gifts which directly help nearly 1,500 cancer patients and their loved ones in our community cope with the physical, financial, psychological, and emotional aspects of cancer. The month of October is filled with decorated store fronts, point of sale items, fundraising events and promotions throughout the county and on the campuses of University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health. It is a time where the Bel Air community comes together for a cause that so many of us are affected by.