Board of Public Works Approves $34.5M in Funding for County Projects

Today the Board of Public Works (BPW) approved $34.5M in funding for county projects in ten jurisdictions. Community colleges, land preservation, and stormwater management were among the major priorities, in addition to other general infrastructure improvements. 

In the most recent meeting of the BPW, many local governments were awarded funds for new and ongoing projects. Of the $34M in county funding, $20M of that did not go directly to county governments but to three community colleges for major renovations. Counties are funding partners in the operation of the community colleges therefore any state funds allocated have the potential to offset some of the local costs of upkeep. These funds went to Anne Arundel Community College, two Baltimore County Community College locations, and Montgomery College – Rockville.

Another major project on the list receiving funding is one that has been in development for a number of years, and this is the Downtown Frederick Hotel and Conference Center. The Frederick County Executive and County Council were approved for $7.5M to go towards the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping for the future site of the conference center. Additionally, these funds do not require a local match but also only cover a portion of the total $101M estimate for project completion.

Check out additional funds for county government projects statewide that were also approved during the meeting today.

Anne Arundel

  • A request to encumber funds for an $8,020,000 grant to Anne Arundel Community College to renovate the first three floors of the Florestano Building to repurpose the facility into a “one-stop” student services center at the Anne Arundel Community College Arnold campus. The building was constructed in 1993 and housed the School of Health Sciences until 2021. The renovated facility will house the Departments of Enrollment Services, Student Success, and Student Development, as well as conference and lounge space.

Baltimore City

  • A request from the Maryland Department of the Environment for new grant funding up to $221,250 to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City for a project to mitigate flood risk in the Frederick Avenue corridor.  The project will include installation of solar powered high-water sensors, signal transmitters, and warning signage to deter motorists and road users.  This will provide early warning to travelers and residents of possible flood conditions on the portion of Frederick Avenue historically affected by flood events (Item 12 of the Secretary’s Agenda); and

Baltimore County

  • A request to encumber funds for a $3,953,000 grant to Community College of Baltimore County – Catonsville Campus to renovate and expand the Campus’ existing 23,288 NSF Student Services Center.  The building no longer meets the requirements of serving as the primary focal point for student-related services.  This project will replace systemic infrastructure, reconfigure spaces, correct code deficiencies, enhance energy efficiency, and address life-safety issues.
  • A request to encumber funds for a $2,639,000 grant to the Community College of Baltimore County – Essex Campus to replace the primary electric switchgear lineup and significant portions of the electrical distribution infrastructure at the Essex Campus of the Community College of Baltimore County. The existing electrical switchgear lineup and distribution infrastructure dates to 1974 and is past its expected useful life.

Charles 

  • A request to provide a $196,646.47 grant to The County Commissioners of Charles County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 49-acre conservation easement in the Nanjemoy-Mattawoman Forest Rural Legacy Area (Gaines property).  Acquisition will protect both woodlands and forested nontidal wetlands.  This easement will also preserve approximately 1,200 linear feet of forested buffer along Beaverdam Creek, which flows to Nanjemoy Creek, and then the Potomac River.  Preservation of this property will add to a conserved area of critical wildlife habitat, as well as woodlands and wetlands that protect water quality.  The easement will be held by the Grantee.  Easement value: $4,651.15/acre

Frederick

  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $7,500,000 grant to the County Executive and County Council of Frederick County for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Downtown Frederick Hotel and Conference Center.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant.  The General Assembly previously approved this funding as part of the 2024 Capital Budget.

Montgomery

  • A request to encumber funds for grants totaling $5,690,000 to the Montgomery College – Rockville Campus to renovate the first three floors of the Montgomery College Rockville Campus Macklin Tower, which houses the campus library.  The project will include a complete interior renovation and reconfiguration of each floor including modernization and upgrades to building systems and equipment serving these floors.  The project will be phased so as to keep the Library operational in its current location during construction.

Prince George’s

  • A request from the Maryland Department of the Environment for new grant funding up to $5,000,000 to Prince George’s County for a storm drain improvement project to alleviate systemic flooding problems in the Calvert Hill area of College Park.  This will include adding new storm drain pipes and systems, installing a new underground stormwater storage vault, upgrading current road culverts, and improving and maximizing conveyance of flows and stormwater runoff capacity in the existing open channels and drainage systems.

Queen Anne’s

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit an additional $180,666 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Queen Anne’s County to design and construct an extension to the South Island Trail from Christ Church to Marine Academy Drive.

Somerset

  • A request from the Maryland Department of the Environment for new grant funding up to $893,423 to Somerset County Sanitary District for Smith Island Clean Water project.  This multi-phase project entails the planning, design, and construction of a new Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Ewell, at a design capacity of 40,000 gallons per day (gpd), and the upgrade of the wastewater collection and conveyance system.  This will allow 83% reduction in nitrogen and 90% reduction in phosphorus, reducing nutrients to the Frances Gut and ultimately to the Chesapeake Bay.  In addition, the project includes decommissioning of the existing Tylerton WWTP, an overhaul of three existing pumping stations, and the construction of a new sanitary force main for the conveyance of wastewater from Tylerton to the new Ewell WWTP. 

Worcester

  • A request to provide a $277,079.65 grant to Worcester County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 26.40-acre conservation easement in the Bishopville-Showell Rural Legacy Area (Drew property).  Acquisition of this easement will preserve productive prime farmland that contributes to the agricultural economy in an area of small working farms, as well as protect the scenic views along St. Martins Neck Road.  The property is partially within the St. Martins River and Isle of Wright Bay watershed and partially within the Assawoman Bay watershed.  The easement will be held by the County Commissioners of Worcester County.  Easement value: $9,550.53/acre