ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Today, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball thanked Maryland State Senator Katie Fry Hester and Maryland State Delegate Courtney Watson, and the entire Howard County Delegation for helping to secure a total of $8,996,230 in the State of Maryland FY22 Capital Budget for Historic Ellicott City. The budget includes funds for the following projects in the Ellicott City Safe and Sound Flood Mitigation Plan:
- $5 million of newly allocated funds for the H4 project, a 15.6-acre-foot retention facility west of the intersection of Frederick Road and US 29 that takes 34 units out of the development pipeline
- $2.4 million for the H7 project, a 13-acre-foot retention facility located in the US 29/US 40 interchange
- $370,000 for the Maryland Avenue Culvert project
Our Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan continues to move forward thanks to our incredible State partners and advocates Senator Hester and Delegate Watson. We’re also grateful to Senator Guzzone, who as the Chairman of the Senate Budget and Taxation committee has remained a dedicated partner in prioritizing millions of dollars in funding for capital priorities in Howard County. We’re pursuing every avenue to fully fund these flood mitigation projects and ensure that Ellicott City can thrive for many years to come. This State funding is important progress to ensure that these projects come to fruition.
This year’s funding also includes $500,000 for facade improvement at the county-owned property located at 8125 Main Street known as the Caplan’s building, as well as $500,000 for renovations of other county-owned buildings on Main Street. In addition, $126,230 in planning money for the new Tiber Park is included. Finally, the state budget includes $100,000 for the renovation of the Quaker School located in Historic Ellicott City, a project of the Howard County Historical Society.
“We are tremendously proud to bring home this unprecedented funding for Historic Ellicott City, especially as we celebrate our 250-year anniversary,” said Maryland State Senator Katie Fry Hester. “Thank you to Senate President Bill Ferguson, Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones, and our colleagues in the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates who recognize the value of Historic Ellicott City to our state.”
“This funding is significant not only because it will fund critical projects to keep people and the town safe from flooding, but also because the amount can be doubled by federal programs such as the Water Infrastructure Financing Act (WIFIA),” said Maryland State Delegate Courtney Watson. “The state funding helps the county meet the match requirements to qualify for federal programs for the overall financing of the Ellicott City Safe and Sound Flood Mitigation Plan.”