Maryland Secures $42 Million in Federal Funding for BRAC

By Daniel J. Sernovitz, Baltimore Business Journal
This article originally appeared in the Baltimore Business Journal May 1, 2009.

Maryland’s congressional delegation has lined up an additional $42 million in federal funds to help Greater Baltimore’s major military installations prepare for a massive infusion of new government workers.

Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced the additional funds in a press conference in Aberdeen May 1.  Ruppersberger was joined by Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown at the announcement. The additional money, from the federal budget and stimulus bills, includes $35 million for Aberdeen Proving Ground to upgrade buildings at the Harford County military base, $7 million for on-base building improvements at Fort George G. Meade, and $2.4 million to improve bus service across Central Maryland, including at the Central Maryland Facility at Fort Meade.

The preparations are in advance of a federal Base Realignment and Closure plan slated to bring an estimated 25,000 military workers to Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving Ground by fall 2011.

“The tens of thousands of new jobs and families moving to Maryland are both a great opportunity and a great challenge for our state,” Ruppersberger said in a statement.  “Especially in these trying economic times, additional high-paying jobs are always great news, but we need to make sure that we preserve the great quality of life that existing residents experience across the state.”

Maryland is in line to receive $65 million in federal funds as part of the BRAC initiative, including money from the federal budget and stimulus bills.