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County eyes USDA biofuel opportunity and bond funding to clear Loop Mill site
Summary
County staff said they will pursue a USDA biofuel grant (up to $125,000) to add a biofuel designation for the Loop Paper Mill site and asked the delegation to consider a bond-bill to remove the mill's smokestack, estimated at $600,000–$1,000,000 to clear the site for redevelopment.
County economic development staff and the commissioners discussed redevelopment steps for the Loop Paper Mill site during a work session.
Staff said the county will pursue a USDA grant opportunity — presented as Resolution 25-13 — to obtain up to $125,000 toward pursuing a "biofuel designation" for the site. As staff put it, the grant "is just sort of 1 extra tool that we have in our tool belt" and "it doesn't mean this is what we're doing; it just means this was an opportunity."
Separately, county staff requested consideration of a state bond-bill to fund demolition of the Loop Mill smokestack. They estimated removal costs "anywhere from 600,000 to $1,000,000 to take that stack down," and said removing the stack would clear a major barrier to redevelopment.
Commissioners and the county's lobbyists agreed to raise the smokestack demolition and any required redevelopment support with the local delegation as they prepare for meetings in Annapolis.
The transcript does not record a formal appropriation or vote; the items were discussed as requests to be advanced in the coming legislative session.
