Archive for the ‘gov't-quasi gov't’ Category

ANNAPOLIS – The Board of Public Works Approved $525,773 in agricultural cost-share grants to help farmers implement conservation practices to protect the environment, but of the 10 counties that received them several are conspicuously off the list.  Big winners are Wicomico, Washington and Carroll, and big losers are Anne Arundel, Calvert and St. Mary’s.

See full release.

ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland Board of Public Works voted unanimously to lease property to the National Sailing Hall of Fame & Sailing Center. This site, owned by the Department of Natural Resources, is adjacent to the U.S. Naval Academy and Annapolis City dock.

See full release.

Md. Dept. Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley at BWI Business Partnership

LINTHICUM – The state’s largest department has spent more than $100 million in snow removal, faces a $136 million (or 21%) decline in the vehicle titling tax, and expects it will be 2011 before a new fiscal authorization comes through that would allow for long-term planning.  In some cases, said Dept. of Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley, the state has been successful in looking ahead and meeting needs.  A deal with BMW will bring to the Port of Baltimore 50,000 cars next year, and a new berth there is under construction that will accommodate bigger cargo ships that are expected to become popular because of the widening of the Panama Canal.  A new Chesapeake Bay Bridge crossing is not under consideration in any scenario.

The Secretary also pointed to the state’s adjustment to cash shortfalls, such as a $2.5 billion cut in capital programs and its efforts in the land grab for federal funds.  The feds have sent our way $638 million in last year’s jobs bill, $90 million for upgrading BWI’s MARC station, and $60 million to improve a 100 year-old rail tunnel in Baltimore.  No comment yet from other countries holding U.S. Treasuries.

SEVERN – Maryland’s congressional delegation has arranged for the state to receive $5.6 million to accommodate much-needed roadway work around Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving Ground.  This is part of $138 million that Maryland obtained this year for BRAC-related infrastructure to support the roughly 30,000 jobs headed our way.

See full release.

ANNAPOLIS – Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp. has published the Nov/Dec list of new, expanding and/or relocating companies in the county.  Nine firms have opened shop, while the largest ones on the list are Lockheed Martin, Best Buy and Vision Technologies.

See full list.

ANNAPOLIS – The new administration in the City of Annapolis has gotten some extra time to evaluate the initiative to generate power and revenue from the former dump near Parole.  With a Dec. 21 unanimous vote by the city council, the administration will begin negotiations with developer Aerotropolis Renewable Energy Group with the aim of making a decision in 45 days to move ahead with a memorandum of understanding.  The renewable energy project will spend $250 million of private funds on solar, biomass and geothermal systems, and will generate up to 18 megawatts of power.

ANNAPOLIS – Construction of a gambling casino near Arundel Mills mall is expected to start this summer following Monday night’s county council vote and a signature by County Executive John Leopold.  Statewide voters last year approved the contentious concept, which is projected to bring in $450 million to the state and $30 million to the county.

See full release.

ANNAPOLIS – The city has finalized a deal to encourage property owners to improve energy efficiency in their buildings.  Under the Annapolis Energy Zone program, building owners can finance energy improvements by attaching a loan to the property that is paid back through property taxes.  Loans and the improvements transfer to new owners, so credit scores are not affected.  The city expects to make 50 loans next year, and it provides a list of pre-approved auditors, installers and contractors.

See full release.

ANNAPOLIS – Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold announced four projects that have been granted tax-exempt Stimulus Recovery Zone Facility Bonds.  The $32 million program is expected to create more than 1,700 new jobs.  The tax exempt financing applies to:

• Buckingham (Merritt Properties) – awarded $5 million for a $68 million mixed-use development in Hanover;
• Dynasplint – awarded $11 million for a $25 million HQ in Pasadena;
• Meade Center (Fortis Odenton, LLC) – awarded $7.4 million for a $14 million mixed-use development in Odenton;
• Odenton Health/Tech Campus (AJ Properties) – awarded $8.8 million for two buildings in Odenton.

See Stimulus release.

ANNAPOLIS – In the ongoing effort to build up the state’s farm business, Maryland Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance presented a holiday tree to Wellness House of Annapolis, a cancer support group.  The tree came from Robert Giffen, owner of the Mas-Que Christmas Tree Farm and Plantation, an Annapolis farm that shares land with Wellness House.

The state promotes different farm products throughout the year in the “Maryland’s Best” program with fed funding of $358,000 for two years, and for good reason: the 2010 Maryland Policy Choices survey found that 78% are more like to buy a farm product if it is identified as grown by a Maryland farmer.

Seasonal stats on the number of tree farms and trees harvested (2007) from USDA:

Anne Arundel – 17 farms, 386 trees

Queen Anne’s – 9 farms, 1,184 trees

Prince George’s – 11 farms, 422 trees

Howard – 8 farms, 2,260 trees

Statewide – 200 farms, 77,800, total value $2.4 million.

See Maryland’s Best program.

See Wellness House.