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County seeks MEDCO site-improvement grant to ready AeroPark West End for commercial hangars
Summary
County economic development staff said they will apply for up to $500,000 from Maryland Economic Development Corporation to support infrastructure and site improvements at AeroPark’s West End to prepare five runway-access hangars and commercial buildings for development.
Saint Mary’s County economic development officials told commissioners July 22 they will apply for a Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) Business Site Improvement Grant of up to $500,000 to advance preparation of a roughly 14‑acre county-owned parcel in the AeroPark Innovation District.
Director Chris Casalemas and Deputy Kelly Henkel said the county’s ongoing site-characterization work with MEDCO makes the West End parcel eligible for the second-stage site-improvement grant, which covers infrastructure upgrades, environmental remediation, utility extensions and transportation improvements required to make a site "shovel ready." The county’s concept plan shows five hangars with runway access and two commercial buildings without runway access.
The grant requires a 3-to-1 match; staff said previously incurred AeroPark expenses are expected to qualify toward the local match and that no new county funds are being requested at this time. Casalemas said private-sector interest exists from at least three developers who have discussed long-term leases of improvements and construction of hangars.
Commissioners asked about utility extensions and the airport master plan; staff said water is adjacent to the site and MEDCO’s site-characterization work has identified where utilities and extensions will be needed. The board voted to authorize the county to pursue the MEDCO application and to have the commission president sign related documents.
If awarded, MEDCO grants will be used to complete site improvements so private firms can build hangars and other industrial/commercial facilities with runway access. Staff said MEDCO’s business-ready sites program is competitive and statewide funding is limited, but that the AeroPark site is a strong fit because the county has completed much of the site-characterization work already.
