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Sarbanes Community Projects Advance in House Spending Bills

June 30, 2022

Priorities Focused on Climate Resilience, Transit, Job Training, Education and Community Revitalization

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md). announced the inclusion of more than $26 millionin federal funding for community projects in the draft Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) appropriations bills for Maryland's Third District. This is the first step in the funding process. Congressman Sarbanes will continue to fight for this funding as the bills move to consideration on the House Floor and negotiations with the Senate.

"If I am successful in ultimately securing this funding, it will boost community projects across Maryland's Third Congressional District," said Congressman Sarbanes. "Building on the investments in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that was signed into law last year, this federal funding would expand access to transit systems and reinforce the infrastructure that connects our communities. To strengthen our economy and create new opportunities, this funding would also expand access to crucial community services, educational opportunities and workforce development programs that help all Marylanders succeed."

Funding requests from Congressman Sarbanes that have cleared the first hurdle include:

  • $3,350,000 for the Montgomery County Department of Transportation to purchase additional buses and physical infrastructure to expand Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus service from Burtonsville to Columbia along Route 29.
  • $3,460,000 for the City of Annapolis' City Dock Resilience and Revitalization Project. This funding would cover the design and engineering of flood mitigation and resiliency infrastructure for this transformational project, which will become a model for coastal resilience.
  • $3,000,000 for the Anne Arundel County Government to create a multimodal transportation center to assist with both county and state Maryland Transit Administration operations and serve commuter buses to both Washington, DC and Baltimore in order to improve local services and improve the commuter network.
  • $3,000,000 for the Howard County Government to connect Downtown Columbia at Lake Kittamaqundi and extend a multi-use pathway to the existing Patuxent Branch Trail.
  • $2,750,000 for the City of Annapolis to build a significant portion of the West East Express and complete the design work on the College Creek Connector – two connected, high-priority trail projects to expand the City's trail network.
  • $2,500,000 for the City of Baltimore to design and construct the Northern segment of the Baltimore Greenway Trails Network, a 35-mile concept to use trails, open space and green infrastructure to foster greater connectivity, mobility and economic growth throughout Baltimore.
  • $2,471,500 for the Anne Arundel County Government to complete a needs assessment of the current configuration of the local Emergency Operations Center with a focus on improving coordination, communication and interoperability with local and state agencies and better align the facility with state and federal Emergency Management and Homeland Security programs, initiatives and requirements.
  • $1,650,000 for the Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation's Inclusive Ventures Small Business Program. These funds would be used for mentors, classroom instruction, content development, supplies and grants to minority, women and veteran small business entrepreneurs.
  • $1,500,000 for the Anne Arundel County Government to accelerate the design, acquisition and construction of spurs and connectors to the major trails traversing the County.
  • $950,000 for Towson University's Teacher Workforce Initiative to provide full tuition and fees for 20 career changer students to enter the one-year Masters of Arts in Teaching program and become certified teachers. The project would also fund 25 undergraduate transfer students with Associate of Arts in Teaching degrees from Maryland community colleges with full tuition, housing and board for one year, cutting their total costs to get their degrees in half.
  • $827,905 for the Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare (BACH) to create the BACH Training Institution, a workforce development program that offers an integrated and holistic approach in preparing participants from underserved populations for economic and career growth in the healthcare sector.
  • $440,000 for the Howard County Autism Society'sAutism Hiring Project (AHP), a demonstration project that advances workplace neurodiversity and acceptance connecting businesses to Autistic adults.
  • $400,000 for the Anne Arundel County Government to expand capacity, increase staffing and provide enhanced services to youth through the Fresh START Program, which is designed to decriminalize behaviors while holding youth accountable, reduce racial and ethnic disparities in charging and provide early intervention and services to youth impacted by trauma, mental health challenges and/or substance use.
  • $375,000 for the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park (AMM) to construct a new outdoor preschool that will serve as a multipurpose environmental education space to educate Pre-K-12 students about Annapolis' rich maritime heritage and the Chesapeake Bay's ecology.
  • $100,000 for Best Buddies International, Inc.'sBest Buddies Maryland Inclusion Projectto create opportunities for meaningful social interactions and relationships for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Funds would create friendships for a minimum of 100 students with disabilities and their typical peers at 10 elementary, middle or high schools.

Earlier this year, Congressman Sarbanes accepted FY23 Community Project Funding requests to direct federal resources to nonprofit organizations and public entities, such as state and local governments. See here for more information.