A new wildlife refuge in Southern Maryland is the Chesapeake Bay’s first in over 25 years, The Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge would protect up to 40,000 acres spread across a large area spanning Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s counties, mostly south of Washington, D.C. The Baltimore Banner (December 13, 2024)
Southern Maryland Secures $116K for Historic African American Sites, A comprehensive initiative to document African American historic resources in Southern Maryland is set to move forward, thanks to a $58,000 grant awarded by the Maryland Historical Trust’s FY 2025 Historic Preservation Non-Capital Grant Program. This grant, matched dollar for dollar by the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, provides $116,000 in total funding to preserve and highlight the significant contributions of African Americans in the region. The Southern Maryland Chronicle (December 12, 2024)
Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Awarded Grant For Groundbreaking Research On African American Heritage, “We are incredibly grateful to the Maryland Historical Trust for this funding, which will shine a light on the rich and diverse history of African Americans in Southern Maryland,” said Lucille Walker, executive director of the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area. The BayNet (December 12, 2024)
- ‘A new beginning’, Cumberland residents gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the end of the $17.2 million
Reimagine Cumberland project, funded by government entities, that replaced aging infrastructure and opened a pedestrian mall to cars and bicycle traffic. Maryland Department of Planning
Secretary Rebecca L. Flora, AICP, LEED ND / BD+C said the improved downtown is “the front porch of Cumberland” and will help the city grow. “It’s just gonna keep expanding,” she said. “These buildings are what makes this place special.” Flora said she’s designed and built streets, and appreciated details that went into the downtown project.
Cumberland Times-News (November 15, 2024)
Secretary of Planning Flora Speaks at Baltimore Street Ribbon Cutting, Maryland’s Department of Planning Secretary Rebecca Flora was one of the state officials who spoke to the crowd at the New Look Downtown Cumberland ribbon cutting.
WCBC Radio (November 15, 2024)
Governor Moore Announces $20 Million in Tax Credits to Promote Revitalization of Historic Buildings, Governor Wes Moore announced $20 million in historic revitalization tax credits through the Maryland Historical Trust. Leveraging more than $108 million in additional investment, the 10 projects that received funding include affordable housing, makerspaces, and facilities that serve communities. "Our history is our power. And in Maryland, we don't just cherish our state's heritage, we also recognize that preserving history can help drive economic growth and make our state more competitive," said Gov. Moore. "In partnership, we are taking under-used, historic properties and transforming them into new homes, studios, and hubs of community life."
Governor Wes Moore Press Release (November 14, 2024)
State gives $20M in tax credits to local historic buildings, A plan to turn East Baltimore's shuttered "IND" (Institute of Notre Dame girls' school) into senior housing is among several local projects that just got millions of dollars in tax credits from the state.
WMAR TV2 Baltimore (November 14, 2024)
Governor Wes Moore Announces $20 Million in Tax Credits to Promote Revitalization of Historic Buildings, Governor Wes Moore announced $20 million in historic revitalization tax credits through the Maryland Historical Trust, funding 10 projects that will leverage over $108 million in investment to repurpose historic properties for affordable housing, makerspaces, and community facilities across Maryland.
The MoCo Show (November 15, 2024)
UMD to Develop Drone-Delivery Program for Patients on Rural Island, $1.76M USDOT Grant to Fund Pilot Program on Potentially Lifesaving Medical Drops. The project, a partnership of the University of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Planning, utilizes a drone operation to accelerate medical shipments to and from Smith Island and also explore other benefits to rural citizens.
UMD MarylandToday (November 12, 2024)
Our Town Revisited: Chipman Culture Center, In 1838 the Center was built, and in 2018, the center became a part of the Maryland Historical Trust, the state agency dedicated to preserving and interpreting the legacy of Maryland’s past. Now, their goal is to digitize their history so they can become a pictorial museum so they can take charge of their own history and tell the world how they lived.
WMDT TV47 (November 10, 2024)
Annual park event honors heritage of Native Americans, "Native Americans were here first and they are still here," said Rod Cofield, executive director of Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. The annual American Indian Heritage Day drew more than 400 guests to the park last Saturday. Southern Maryland News (November 6, 2024)
Maryland Launches Drone Program for Medical Deliveries, Maryland is taking a bold step to bridge the healthcare gap for isolated communities by implementing drone delivery of medical supplies to Smith Island. This innovative $1.76 million federal program could transform emergency response capabilities and serve as a model for rural healthcare delivery nationwide.
Gadget Review via Mocrosoft Start (October 25, 2024)
An early census of area schools: Recovery continues after pandemic-era losses, Enrollment in Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland and Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia is down by less than a percent this fall compared with last year, according to preliminary data. Meanwhile, Prince George's County in Maryland and Arlington County in Virginia saw small increases. Washington Post (October 14, 2024)
Enrollment relatively flat in some D.C.-area school districts, data shows, Enrollment numbers in D.C. area suburban schools remained steady this fall, reflecting a slow recovery from pandemic losses. Washington Post (October 12, 2024)
Drones to Revolutionize Healthcare Access on Maryland’s Smith Island, Maryland‘s Eastern Shore is set to witness a groundbreaking use of Drone Technology to improve healthcare access for its rural communities. Governor Wes Moore recently announced a $1.7 million grant for the ‘Eastern Shore Pilot Program,’ aimed at using drones to transport medical supplies between Crisfield and Smith Island. Drone XL (October 11, 2024)
New drone technology will help people on Smith Island receive the medical goods they need, ‘Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation’ —also known as SMART grants fund state, local, and Tribal governments to conduct demonstration projects. Over $1.7 million will go toward the project, called the ‘Eastern Shore Pilot Program.’ The program will improve access to healthcare resources focusing on rural communities like Crisfield and Smith Island. WMDT TV47 (October 11, 2024)
Governor Wes Moore announces $1.76 million grant to boost healthcare access on Eastern Shore, Governor Moore has announced that Maryland will receive a $1.76 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to test new aviation technology aimed at improving healthcare access in rural areas. This project will specifically benefit communities on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. WRDE Coast TV (October 10, 2024)
Gov. Moore announces federal funding for drone health care deliveries on Eastern Shore.
Fox 45 (October 9, 2024)
MD Dept of Planning Awarded Grant for Eastern Shore Drone Pilot Program.WGMD (October 8, 2024)
Gov. Moore Announces $1.7 Million for Eastern Shore Drone Program to Expand Healthcare Access. MACo's Conduit Street Blog (October 8, 2024)
A 13,000-year-old quarry is about to be unearthed in Reisterstown, MHT archaeologist, Zachary Singer, will soon lead a dig on the grounds of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Western Run, in Reisterstown. The Baltimore Banner (September 19, 2024)
Governor Moore Announces Project to Document the Civil Rights Movement in Baltimore City, the Maryland Historical Trust, a division of the Maryland Department of Planning, received a $50,000 federal grant to support a project to document places related to the Civil Rights Movement in Baltimore City. Governor Moore's Press Release (September 9, 2024)
DHCD Publishes Guidance for Counties on Implementing Housing Legislation, Through the Turning the Key campaign, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has worked to develop and distribute the first set of guidance on the historic housing legislation Governor Wes Moore signed into law during the 2024 General Assembly Session.
MACo's Conduit Street (August 28, 2024)
Dig yields clues into how Choptank tribe lived with water, Now in its third year of fieldwork, the dig is revealing new clues about the importance of local waterways in early human cultures in the under-documented region. The entities partnering on the dig — Washington College, the Archeological Society of Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust — have taken an unconventional strategy: forging agreements with adjoining private landowners to access a broad swath of individual properties.
Chesapeake Bay Journal (August 22, 2024)
PyroJam on tap at Jefferson Patterson Park, From the late afternoon into the evening and well after sunset, the third annual
PyroJam at
Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum on Saturday, August 25, is expected to light up the sky in southern Calvert County.
Southern Maryland News (August 18, 2024)
Calvert lab analyzes remains of African descent, The remains of at least 15 individuals of possibly African descent are housed at the
Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory located at the Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum. Southern Maryland News (August 13, 2024)
Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Awards Nearly $40,000 in Seed Grants to the Region, Grants will support tourism, economic development, and educational opportunities in Southern Maryland. Southern Maryland News Net (July 16, 2024)
Moore announces more than $5 million in Heritage Project grant awards, The Heritage Areas Program provides $2.4 billion in annual economic benefit and MHAA grants generate $319.8 million in state and local taxes while supporting 33,815 full- and part-time jobs annually. Organizations that will receive awards include museums, parks, historic sites, schools and other educational institutions. Dorchester Banner (July 12, 2024)
Maryland’s Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area gets over $400,000 for projects in Sharpsburg, Catoctin Furnace, more, Governor Wes Moore today announced 87 matching grant awards totaling $5.19 million for Maryland nonprofits, local jurisdictions, and heritage tourism organizations. Washington County belongs to the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, along with Frederick and Carroll Counties. Tri-State News Alert (July 12, 2024)
Child poverty target of Maryland’s new State Innovation Program, Maryland and Bloomberg Philanthropies announced the State Innovation Team, a group that will test new ways to address childhood poverty. A 2022 report by the Maryland Department of Planning found that one in eight children in the state, or approximately 12%, lives in poverty. State Scoop (July 2, 2024)
Local Historic Buildings Get Grants For Restoration, The Allegany County Historical Society (ACHS) is among several organizations across the state to receive an award from The Heritage Fund, a cooperative effort of Preservation Maryland and the
Maryland Historical Trust. More than $119,000 was awarded to 17 projects including ACHS’s 1845 Canada Hose House, which received $8,000. Cumberland Times-News (June 27, 2024)
Two Children Walk Away With Bikes At Juneteenth Celebration, The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Ricky Cox, attended the NAACP Juneteenth Celebration at Jefferson Patterson Park over the weekend. Two children received new bikes, donated by Sheriff Cox, adding to the day’s festivities. Shore News Network
(June 17, 2024)
Deep Dive: Much Ado About ADUs, During the 2023 legislative session, the General Assembly passed SB382, creating the Accessory Dwelling Unit Policy Task Force. MACo's Conduit Street (June 12, 2024)
Carrying on the wade-in tradition, Cody Fowler, Grandson of Bernie Fowler, Sr. wearing the Senator's signature hat and overalls, leads a contingent of "waders" into the waters during the 37th annual Patuxent River Wade-In on Sunday, June 9, at the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. Southern Maryland News (June 10, 2024)
Maryland Transportation Secretary Wiedefeld Implements New Statewide Complete Streets Policy, The Updated Department-Wide Policy Supports Rapidly Reducing Traffic Fatalities by Creating a Safe Environment for All Road Users.
MDOT Press Release (June 6, 2024)
Historic Preservation Awards Announced by St. Mary’s County, LEONARDTOWN – In celebration of Historic Preservation Month, the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County (CSMC) and Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) presented the annual Historic Preservation Awards. Established in 1999, these awards recognize outstanding achievement and excellence in the field of historic preservation in St. Mary’s County. Southern Maryland Chronicle (May 20, 2024)
Maryland hits land conservation goal 6 years early, The Maryland Department of Natural Resources on Wednesday announced that the state has met its land conservation goal six years ahead of schedule.
NottinghamMD.com (May 16, 2024)
Maryland Meets Conservation Goal Early, The Maryland the Beautiful Act of 2023 established goals of conserving 30% of the land in the state by 2030 and 40% by 2040.
WCBC Radio (May 16, 2024)
Governor Moore Announces Maryland Meets 30% of State Land Conservation Goal Six Years Ahead of Schedule, Governor Wes Moore today announced that Maryland has achieved a milestone goal for land conservation required by state legislation six years ahead of schedule. The Maryland Department of Planning, in the latest update of the Maryland Protected Lands Dashboard, reports that Maryland has already met the 30% mark with more than 1.85 million acres of land conserved as of February.
Governor's Press Release (May 15, 2024)
Planning Practice News, May 14: Reminder: Call for 2024 MPCA / APA MD Joint Conference Session Proposals
Historical Marker Honoring African American Women Who Organized 1938 Crab Pickers Strike Unveiled in Somerset County, Event Marks the 86th Anniversary of the Last Day of a Five-Week Walkout.
MDOT Press Release (May 10, 2024)
Breathing life back into a piece of history in Fells Point, MHT recognized Baltimore’s Ship Caulkers' Houses Project with an award for 'Excellence in Preservation'.
WMAR-Baltimore Scripps (May 10, 2024)
AmeriStar Rail and Others Send Letters to Amtrak and MDE to Halt Historic Bridge Pier Demolition, Amtrak’s attempts to demolish surviving structures dating back to the Civil War violates Federal EIS findings, and the “Historic Bridge Piers are not in the way of the alignment of the proposed Amtrak bridge replacement.” RT&S (May 7, 2024)
John Potvin Honored for Leadership in Preserving Maryland’s Historic Thomas Shoal Point Lighthouse, MHT will honor John Potvin with the “Outstanding Individual Leadership at the Local Level” award during this year’s Preservation Month celebrations in May 2024. Eye on Annapolis (May 6, 2024)
Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse manager lauded for preservation efforts as rising sea levels threaten to undo work, John Potvin, the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse manager, is getting the Maryland Preservation Award from the Maryland Historical Trust for Outstanding Individual Leadership at the Local Level.
The Capital Gazette (May 4, 2024)
Planning Practice News, May 3: MDTA Announces Virtual Industry Forum for the Rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on May 7 ● A Message from MDOT’s Commuter Choice Maryland Program ● Take the Maryland EV and Infrastructure Planning Survey Today! ● Reminder: Call for 2024 MPCA / APA MD Joint Conference Session Proposals
Baltimore’s oddest island: Key Bridge shines new light on abandoned fort, From the Key Bridge, many people spotted the fort and let their imaginations unfold.
The Baltimore Banner (April 28, 2024)
Catoctin Furnace Historical Society wins state award for its work restoring the Forgeman’s House, CFHS was selected for its restoration of the Forgeman’s House, a 19th-century ironworker’s home. The historic cottage, built in the winter of 1820-21, likely using enslaved labor, was owned by the furnace operation and rented to its employees.
The Frederick News-Post (April 27, 2024)
Maryland Historical Trust Presents 2024 Preservation Awards, Eleven Awards Presented Via Live Stream to Honor Heritage Programs, Rehabilitation Projects, Local Groups, and Individual Leadership
MHT Press Release (April 23, 2024)
Dance and cheer at annual Southern Maryland Celtic Festival, Rain or shine on Saturday, April 27, at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum in Calvert County. Southern Maryland News (April 22, 2024)
Planning Pratice News, April 12: 2024 MPCA/APA MD Joint Conference ● Conferences & Workshops:
Smart Growth Summit in Annapolis on May 2 ●
2024 MEDA Annual Conference on April 21 ● ESLC's Sustainable Growth for the Eastern Shore on May 14
African American Heritage Preservation Program Announces FY2025 Grant Workshops, $5 million available for funding capital projects important to the African American experience in Maryland
MHT Press Release (April 11, 2024)
In its race against climate, Annapolis’ future and past are at war, The Annapolis Historic Preservation Commission was considering whether to approve the city’s massive $78 million public works project to lift part of its downtown waterfront, Maryland Historical Trust, which holds easements on that historic waterman’s home at City Dock and a dozen other properties nearby.
Baltimore Banner (April 5, 2024)
Planning Pratice News, March 24: April is Flood Awareness Month ●
Catch 2 Upcoming Sustainable Growth Webinars ● Smart Growth Summit in Annapolis on May 2 ●
Save the Dates! MPCA and APA-MD Host Joint Conference October 20 – 22
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Ocean City planning commission, state agency talk affordable housing, As part of an ongoing update of the town’s comprehensive plan, members of the Ocean City Planning Commission met with Maryland Department of Planning Lower Shore Regional staff, Tracey Taylor and Keith Lackie, to discuss the plan's housing element - now required in every municipality’s planning document.
OC Today-Dispatch (March 7, 2024)
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Brownfields grant aims to spur economic development, A joint effort by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) and Baltimore County is offering free environmental site assessments (ESAs), technical advisory services and access to other grants and tax incentives to property owners looking to remediate and redevelop brownfields. MDP's Jason Dubow interviewed.
NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association, MD Chapter (March 6, 2024)
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Save the Date for Smart Growth from Here: Towards a Sustainable and Equitable Maryland Summit, Maryland adopted a pioneering approach to smart growth more than 25 years ago. In collaboration with the National Center for Smart Growth, MDP, and other sponsoring organizations, join us for this important summit on May 2 in Annapolis to explore how Smart Growth can lead to a more sustainable and equitable Maryland. (February 27, 2024)
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New project aims to connect descendants to lost African American history, A new project aims to honor those whose names and stories are lost in history. "These remains were largely discovered accidentally during the 1970s and 1980s, and they came to the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab for care," said Elizabeth Hughes, Maryland state historic preservation officer and director of the Maryland Historical Trust. WBAL TV11 (February 22, 2024)
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Baltimore County’s master plan inches toward a vote, County officials say the plan addresses the possibility that the county will run out of open, developable land within 20 years. The proposed master plan uses data to target areas of the county that had previously been developed for a retrofit, such as replacing old buildings, like run down shopping centers, with new construction.
Rebecca Flora, Maryland’s planning secretary, told the council the plan reflects the priorities of Governor Wes Moore’s administration.
Baltimore Banner (February 14, 2024) See also WYPR - 88.1 FM Baltimore coverage
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APPLY NOW to the Historic Preservation Capital Grant Program!, The Maryland Historical Trust’s FY2024 Historic Preservation Capital Grant Program application is live! MACo's Conduit Street (February 1, 2024)
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Denton American Legion gets historical preservation grant, Gov. Wes Moore announced this month that the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the Maryland Historical Trust have awarded 24 African American Heritage Preservation Program grants totaling $5,000,000 to Maryland nonprofit groups for fiscal year 2024, including an award to an American Legion post in Denton.
The Star Democrat (January 30, 2024) -
Governor Moore Announces $5 Million in African American Heritage Preservation Grant Awards, Governor Wes Moore today announced that the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the Maryland Historical Trust have awarded 24 African American Heritage Preservation Program grants. Award recipients are listed in the linked press release.
Governor Moore Press Release (January 19, 2024)
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The Friends of St. Clement’s Island & Piney Point Museums Receive $10,000 from Maryland Humanities, Hatza Memorial SHINE Grant Program, These grants are funded by the State of Maryland via the Maryland Historical Trust.
Southern Maryland News Net (January 15, 2024)
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Queen Anne’s County Planning Commission and Chair Recognized, The Queen Anne’s County Planning Commission and its chair, Sharon Dobson, were recognized for the exemplary results of their hard work, time and leadership on the 2022 Comprehensive Plan.
MACo COnduit Street blog (January 11, 2024)
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Food hall, gathering spot planned for historic Reservoir Hill mansion, The secluded mansion on 2 acres, long vacant and owned by the city, is the oldest building in the Reservoir Hill and Mount Royal historic districts. Baltimore Sun (January 8, 2024)
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Maryland beach discovery believed to be from 19th century ship, The piece of driftwood is believed to be a piece of deck timber from a ship from the mid-to-late 1800s.
Fox News (January 6, 2024)
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Restoration Efforts for Historic Henry Hotel get a big Boost from the State of Maryland, Vacant for over two decades, the Henry Hotel is now set to undergo a transformation, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Henry Hotel Foundation and a $250,000 grant from the state of Maryland.
WBOC (January 5, 2024)
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Tracking Native American cultural heritage, Dr. Julie Markin, associate professor of anthropology and archaeology and director of archaeology at Washington College, was recently awarded a $40,000 grant through the Maryland Historical Trust to study the indigenous cultural heritage of Maryland’s Upper Eastern Shore and its inhabitants’ social landscapes prior to contact with European settlers and explorers. The Star Democrat (January 4, 2024)
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Henry Hotel Foundation Scores $250K Grant For Restoration Efforts, A $250,000 grant will allow a local nonprofit to begin the restoration of the historic Henry Hotel, Maryland Board of Public Works approved $5 million in African American Heritage Preservation Program funding to 24 projects and organizations across the state.
The Dispatch, Ocean City (January 3, 2024)
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Governor Moore Signs Executive Order Establishing Longevity Ready Maryland Initiative, Governor Wes Moore today signed an executive order establishing the Longevity Ready Maryland Initiative, directing the Maryland Department of Aging to prioritize the well-being of older people, people living with disabilities, and caregivers across all of state government, proactively addressing the needs arising from a growing older adult population. MDP supports this initiative by developing a forward-facing data tool and dashboard to report longevity ready goals, performance indicators, and progress.
Press release, Office of Governor Wes Moore (January 3, 2024)
