The Board of Public Works (BPW) — a three-member panel including Governor Larry Hogan, Comptroller Peter Franchot, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments.

Anne Arundel County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $50,000 grant to the Executive Committee of the Howard L. Turner Post No. 276  for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Post 276 facility.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 5 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Baltimore City

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for grants totaling $650,000 to the Board of Directors of the Arch Social Club for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of theArch Social Club facility.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 1 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request from the Department of Housing and Community Development for approval to provide a $1,206,960 loan under the Neighborhood BusinessWorks program, which is a Smart Growth tool for revitalization through business creation or expansion in designated revitalization areas.  This loan will be made to 401 E. 30^th Street, LLC for the Peabody Heights Brewery in the Waverly community. Some of the funding will be used to update the restrooms, purchase a glycol chiller (a major component of the brewing process), add video games and entertainment in the existing warehouse space, enhancing taproom activities, and expand the space to accommodate an additional 100 customers (Item 9 of the Secretary’s Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $400,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Baltimore History Center at the Peale, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Peale Museum on Holliday Street. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 3 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda);
• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $1,000,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Central Baltimore Partnership, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Station North Investment Fund. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 7 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda); and
• A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $5,500,000 to the Board of Trustees of the Johns Hopkins Hospital for the planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, and capital equipping of a new medical research building in the space formerly occupied by the Children’s Medical and Surgical Center including the North Tower Annex. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 2 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Baltimore County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $699,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 43.75 acres (Igusa property) in Baltimore County. This entirely forested property is located along the Gunpowder River and will be managed by the Maryland Park Service as an addition to Gunpowder Falls State Park.  Acquisition will expand public recreational opportunities for hiking and fishing, protect Forest Interior Dwelling Species and important flora habitat, and protect a portion of Gunpowder Falls that contains a naturally reproducing brown trout population. Acquisition will also protect water quality in the Loch Raven Reservoir Watershed, an important water source for Baltimore City and Baltimore County.

Caroline County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $141,300 in funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program to purchase and install new playground equipment, safety surfacing, a well, a water fountain, and an observation deck at Templeville Community Park. In addition, there will be improvements to the Park’s driveway and parking (Item 3A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $18,000 in funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program to purchase and install a stage, benches and landscaping for the Meditation Garden at James T. Wright Park in Preston (Item 3A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Carroll County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $113,000 in funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program to install a new spray ground and playground equipment at the Westminster Municipal Pool (Item 4A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Cecil County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $40,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Cecil County to provide additional funding to construct four pickleball courts at Calvert Regional Park (Item 2A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request from the Department of Housing and Community Development for approval to provide a $828,998 loan under the Neighborhood BusinessWorks program which is a Smart Growth tool for revitalization through business creation or expansion in designated revitalization areas. This loan will be made to Music Farm, LLC to renovate a vacant building, located at 107 North Street, Elkton that will eventually be used as a concert and theater venue called Elkton Music Hall. This project will eliminate a vacant and deteriorating commercial building in the heart of downtown Elkton and serve as the next step in the continued revitalization of Elkton’s Arts and Entertainment District. (Item 8 of the Secretary’s Agenda);
• A request to provide a $599,600.11 grant to the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 132.78-acre conservation easement in the Agricultural Security Corridor – Harvest Crescent  Rural Legacy Area (Keln Holdings, LLC property).  Acquisition of this easement will protect prime agricultural fields and forested lands. The easement will be co-held by the Department of Natural Resources and the ESLC.  Easement value: $4,244.69/acre (Item 16A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request to provide a $1,407,681.75 grant to the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 217.51-acre conservation easement in the Agricultural Security Corridor – Harvest Crescent  Rural Legacy Area (King’s Ridge, LLC property).  Acquisition of this easement will protect primegricultural soils and forested lands. The easement will protect 5,569 linear feet of a forested riparian buffer on Still Pond Creek, which flows directly to the upper Chesapeake Bay will be held by the Department of Natural Resources and ESLC.  Easement value: $XXXX/acre (Item 17A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Charles County

• A request to provide a $406,934.48 grant to Charles County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 111.51-acre conservation easement in the Zekiah Rural Legacy Area (Lucas property).  Acquisition of this easement will protect ecologically significant agricultural and forest lands and provide permanent protection to 3,400 linear feet of stream buffers on Jenkins Run, a tributary of the Potomac River.  The easement will be held by the County Commissioners of Charles County, which is paying compliance costs.  Easement value: $3,395/acre (Item 18A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Dorchester County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $208,295 in funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program to upgrade the Vienna Baseball/Softball Field, including purchasing and installing LED athletic field lighting, a scoreboard, field improvements, and picnic tables (Item 5A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Garrett County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $11,250 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Garrett County for the following development projects:
  • Broadford Park: $6,750 in additional funding to upgrade the deteriorating roof of pavilion #1 and install lighting for one of the baseball fields (Item 7A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
  • Grantsville Town Park: $4,500 to construct youth batting cages (Item 7A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Kent County

• A request to provide a $599,600.11 grant to the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 132.78-acre conservation easement in the Agricultural Security Corridor – Harvest Crescent  Rural Legacy Area (Keln Holdings, LLC property).  Acquisition of this easement will protect prime agricultural fields and forested lands. The easement will be co-held by the Department of Natural Resources and the ESLC.  Easement value: $4,244.69/acre (Item 16A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request to provide a $1,407,681.75 grant to the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 217.51-acre conservation easement in the Agricultural Security Corridor – Harvest Crescent  Rural Legacy Area (King’s Ridge, LLC property).  Acquisition of this easement will protect primegricultural soils and forested lands. The easement will protect 5,569 linear feet of a forested riparian buffer on Still Pond Creek, which flows directly to the upper Chesapeake Bay will be held by the Department of Natural Resources and ESLC.  Easement value: $XXXX/acre (Item 17A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Montgomery County

• A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $2,348,500 grant to the Board of Directors of Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC), Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the CSAAC facility. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 6 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Prince George’s County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $225,000 in funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program for new inclusive playground equipment and safety surfacing at Community Park in University Park (Item 9A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $30,000 in funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program to create the new Rhode Island Pocket Park with landscaping, walkway, benches and associated amenities (Item 9A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $192,424 in funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program to construct a new splash pad at Community Park in Upper Marlboro (Item 9A.3 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Talbot County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $40,000 in funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program to repair and resurface hard-surface courts, restripe the tennis court, and add a pickleball line, fencing, and landscaping at Oxford Causeway Park (Item 10A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

St. Mary’s County

• A request to certify matching funds and enter into a grant agreement for a $1,856,000 grant to the County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County to complete construction of the renovation and expansion of the St. Mary’s County Adult Detention Center. The Grantee has submitted documentation of sufficient funds to meet the matching fund requirement for this project (Item 4 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).

Wicomico County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $27,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 7.06 acres (Gale property) in Wicomico County. This entirely-forested property is located along Riverton Road and will be managed by the Maryland Forest Service as an addition to Chesapeake Forest Lands. Acquisition will improve access and boundary line management while expanding recreational opportunities (Item 13A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $250,000 in funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program to purchase and install new playground equipment, safety surfacing, benches, and picnic tables at Willards Town Park (Item 11A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $210,943 in funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program to upgrade the baseball field at Mardela Springs Park. This includes installing LED athletic field lighting, a scoreboard, a flagpole and fence protectors (Item 11A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda).

Worcester County

• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $111,650 in funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program to purchase and install LED athletic lighting for the basketball courts at Dr. William Henry Park in Berlin (Item 12A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
• A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $265,400 in funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program to purchase and install new playground equipment and safety surfacing at Northside Park in Ocean City (Item 12A.2 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).