Community Impact Grants, Budget Meetings, Affordable Healthcare

Prince George's County Maryland sent this bulletin at 01/30/2017 11:14 AM EST

"The Affordable Care Act is critical to thousands of families in Prince George’s County and millions of Americans who need affordable health care. With the help of ACA, we have been able to reduce the number of uninsured residents in Prince George’s by 50% over the last 3 years. We remain focused on continuing to drive the number of uninsured people down, which is why we are urging residents to get enrolled before January 31st.

Our goal is to increase enrollment in ACA as well as step up our fight to maintain it for the people who really need this coverage. Since 2013, the first year of open enrollment under ACA, Prince George’s County has enrolled an estimated 175,000 people in qualified health plans and expanded Medicaid through Maryland Health Connection, reducing the number of Prince Georgians without health insurance coverage to approximately 7 percent. To sign up for health insurance coverage or to make sure that you will maintain your health coverage, contact Prince George's Health Connect at 301.927.4500.”

More than 2,000 people rallied in Bowie to save key provisions in the Affordable Care Act.

County Executive hosts budget 'listening sessions'

Each year, County Executive Rushern Baker hosts a series of public meetings to hear residents' input as he develops his FY2018 budget. The meetings are held at locations around the county. The 2018 Fiscal Year starts on July 1, 2017 and ends on June 30, 2018. Here are the locations, dates and times.

Tuesday, January 31, 7 PM

Oxon Hill High School, 6701 Leyte Drive in Oxon Hill.

Find the other dates and times here.

Apply now for $250,000 in 'Community Impact Grants'

The Redevelopment Authority of Prince George's County has $250,000 in Community Impact Grants to award to county civic/neighborhood associations or community based organizations that are incorporated at 501(c)3 entities. Community Impact Grants provide small capital grants to community based organizations to help implement innovative projects within priority areas. Eligible applicants must be located within Prince George's County and be in good standing.

Grants must be used for capital purposes such as the purchase of equipment and materials. Grants cannot be used for operations, salaries or personnel. Proposed projects must fall into one of two categories: Neighborhood Beautification or Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainability. Grants can only be used for capital expenses related to the implementation of a community based project.

Total funding for FY 2017 for this program will not exceed $250,000 and the maximum grant amount is $50,000. Applications are due by Friday, March 31, 2017 at 12:00 noon EST. For more information, contact Tanya Diggs at (301) 883-5300 or TDiggs@co.pg.md.us

County schools are graduating students at record levels

Surrattsville High School is leading the way toward a new record for the graduation rate in Prince George’s County Schools.

Surrattsville’s graduation rate jumped 10.6% in 2016 to 90.8%, according to an analysis by the Maryland State Department of Education.

The overall graduation rate in Prince George’s County is now 81.4%, the highest level since state officials began collecting the data in 2010.

The countywide graduation rate has risen 7.3% since School’s CEO Dr. Kevin Maxwell took over the struggling school system in 2013. Read more...

Baker to Hogan: Keep your promise

County Executive Baker issued the following statement recently to implore the governor to keep his commitment to the new Regional Medical Center: "Governor Hogan is clearly reneging on his commitment to the Regional Medical Center project, a hospital that will serve the residents of Prince George’s County and Southern Maryland. I am concerned that Governor Hogan continues to be hesitant to fully support bringing the University of Maryland Medical System-affiliated Regional Medical Center to fruition.” Read more...