Western Maryland Economic Development Fund extension wins support from local leaders

Delegates and local officials asked the House Ways and Means Committee on March 4 to extend the Western Maryland Economic Development Fund and preserve a predictable stream of state project support for Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties.

Delegate Jason Buckel said the fund, initially capitalized with $50 million, has supported grants and projects that have generated private investment and preliminary job commitments. Troy Shade and local government witnesses presented the fund’s annual report and described roughly $36 million in grants that have helped enable about $290 million in economic impact and more than 1,100 projected jobs in the region, figures they submitted in the roundtable materials.

Supporters said the fund’s local board and application process allow quick, bespoke investments tailored to regional needs — including site readiness, infrastructure and catalytic projects such as a proposed school of osteopathic medicine in Hagerstown. Testimony from city and county officials in Cumberland, Frostburg and Hagerstown stressed that the fund leverages state dollars to attract private investment that otherwise would not occur.

Sponsors proposed tightening project criteria to emphasize job and wage thresholds tied to local standards and to change board membership to reduce potential conflicts of interest. Buckel indicated an amendment (referencing a forthcoming staff amendment) would set a wage threshold at 120% of the state minimum wage for certain job thresholds rather than a higher figure originally proposed in the draft.

County commissioners and local staff asked the committee for a favorable report. Committee members did not take final action at the hearing and requested further technical drafting and fiscal details.