MACo Associate Director Kevin Kinnally on Friday testified in support of HB 1455 (CF SB 826) – Makerspace Initiative Pilot Program before the House Ways and Means Committee. This bill creates a grant program to help counties, nonprofits, and other eligible applicants establish or expand makerspaces.

Makerspaces provide the space and means for community members to design, prototype, and manufacture items using tools that would otherwise be inaccessible or unaffordable such as 3-D printers, digital fabrication machines, and computer-aided design software.

From the MACo Testimony:

The bill could spark economic development and promote diverse and vibrant business communities within our counties. This in turn creates jobs, contributes to enhancing quality of life, and expands the local tax base – enabling counties to better provide core services for Maryland families and businesses.

Follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2020 legislative session on MACo’s Legislative Tracking Database.