Mayor O'Connor has submitted a request to the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations to support funding for several community projects. The US Senate and House of Representatives solicited Frederick's funding priorities in early March in preparation for the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations process that will include congressionally directed earmarks.
The City of Frederick identified four top priorities based upon capacity to support equitable and sustainable development, catalytic potential to spur economic recovery, project readiness and technical feasibility, and availability of matching funds. The submitted projects have been planned and designed with leveraged local, state, and federal resources.
The priority projects include:
- East Street Rails to Trails – Liberty Road Bridge Crossing
- Maryvale Ditch at West Patrick Street Flood Mitigation
- Rosemont Avenue Intersection Realignment at Baughman's Lane/Military Road
- Frederick Municipal Airport South Apron Improvements Phase I
"To complete large-scale projects, like the ones we submitted for consideration, it takes collaboration with county, state, and federal government partners. Through this opportunity, we will be able to leverage City resources for the benefit of our community and quality of life for our residents,” stated Mayor Michael O’Connor.
The U.S. House of Representatives has reinstated the process of earmarking for local governments and non-profits through a reformed process called “Community Project Funding” requests. While still under negotiation, the Senate is expected to do the same. Funding is planned for transportation, housing, public safety, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development for "shovel ready" and evidence-based projects that already have partial funding sources. Additional opportunities for Congressionally directed funding will likely include the Biden Administration’s American Jobs Act.