Maryland is guaranteed to receive at least $7.8 billion in federal infrastructure funding over the next five years. The money will be used to deploy broadband, rehab roads and bridges, upgrade water and sewer systems, and bolster mass transit.
Counties across the nation also will be eligible to compete for approximately $100 billion in additional funds. With so much money ready to flow, a panel discussion that included the head of Gov. Larry Hogan’s “infrastructure sub-cabinet” was one of the most highly anticipated events of last week’s Maryland Association of Countries summer conference, reports Maryland Matters.
Chris Trumbauer, Anne Arundel County’s budget officer and a top advisor to County Executive Steuart Pittman, said: “We know these [federal infrastructure] bills were passed. We know there’s a lot of money out there,” said Trumbauer. “We want to know: how does that money come to us?”
Funding criteria for the American Rescue Plan and the bipartisan Infrastructure Law are still being developed. Localities will apply to the federal government for some of the money, while other funds will flow through Annapolis. Mayer said that Hogan has directed that shovel-ready projects be given priority, according to Maryland Matters.
While Maryland can count on nearly $8 billion based on a federal formula, Sen. Chris Van Hollen said, other monies will be doled out on their merits. Preparation and understanding the process are key, he advised. “Counties and the state need to be ready to compete for that money,” said Van Hollen. “That’s a big part of the conversation here. Those are not guaranteed funds.”
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