Prince George’s Brings Home Historic $2.5 Billion in State Aid During Single Legislative Session
Dear Prince Georgians,
Today, I held a press conference with Governor Larry Hogan and members of our County’s State Delegation to announce that the County has secured $2.5 billion in State aid during the 2022 Maryland General Assembly Session, the largest sum of State aid ever secured for the County during a single session.
At the beginning of the legislative session, my Administration laid out several priorities that we would work toward during this legislative session, all of which would help us secure a brighter future for Prince Georgians during this time of rising opportunity. I am proud to report back today and say: mission accomplished.
We were successful in working with our Delegation and the Governor to deliver on many of these critical priorities for Prince Georgians. This historic State funding will deliver transformational economic growth and long-awaited entertainment and amenities for our residents. With investments in education, economic development, infrastructure, affordable housing, and healthcare, our County has taken huge steps forward that we can all be Prince George’s Proud of.
One of the biggest accomplishments we celebrated today was the passage of House Bill 897, which the Governor signed into law yesterday. This bill authorizes up to $400 million in bonding authority through the Maryland Stadium Authority that will allow us to begin working on several transformative projects along the Blue Line Corridor, to include an amphitheater, a library/cultural center, a sports fieldhouse, a market hall, and a civic plaza.
I want to sincerely thank Governor Hogan and our State Delegation for their instrumental support in helping us secure this funding. For far too long, the communities along the Blue Line Corridor have been forgotten. We have seen other areas in our State secure these kinds of investments while we were left out, but not anymore. In fact, this is the first time Prince George’s County has been able to benefit from the funds and expertise of the Maryland Stadium Authority, and we are looking forward to working with them.
We were also able to include $20 million in the capital budget for infrastructure investments along the Blue Line Corridor through the support of our Delegation. This critical funding will go towards our overall plan, which includes a “complete streets” project on Central Avenue. We will make the southern end of Central Avenue walkable, bikeable, and pedestrian friendly, providing new options for retail and housing all in one place. At the same time, we’re investing in public art installations, a parking study, and infrastructure improvements which will continue to transform the Corridor.
We were also able to secure a total of $200 million preauthorized in the state budgets for FY24 and FY25 that can be used to go into the area surrounding the new FBI headquarters, should they ultimately choose to locate in Prince George’s County. I can’t tell you how excited we are about the possibility of the FBI coming to Prince George’s County. We have the highest percentage of federal workers living in our County, but the fewest number of federal jobs. The FBI would not only help create the equity we are seeking in terms of the regional balance of federal jobs, but it would also be a transformative development that would add jobs, housing and so much more to our County.
As we work to grow and develop in a smart way, we are committed to ensuring housing remains affordable, because we cannot have quality economic development without affordable housing. I want to thank Governor Hogan for supporting our funding request and allocating $20 million for two of our key affordable housing programs, the Housing Investment Trust Fund and the Right of First Refusal Preservation Fund. Together, these programs help us both protect and expand affordable rental properties.
In terms of healthcare, we were able to secure a total of $67 million for a new cancer center in Largo, thanks to the support of Governor Hogan and our Delegation. The University of Maryland Capital Region Cancer Center is expected to open in Spring 2024 and will initially focus on breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers. On the education front, Delegate Ben Barnes and Senator Melony Griffith helped us secure a $30 million grant that we can use towards construction of a school that has not previously received funding.
A full list of major funding that we secured for Prince Georgians during the 2022 legislative session is below:
Economic Development
- $400 million in bonding authority to create a sports and entertainment destination along the Blue Line Corridor. Projects could include:
- Amphitheater
- Library/Cultural Center
- Market Hall
- Sports Fieldhouse
- Civic Plaza
- $200 million for the FBI to relocate to Prince George’s County ($100 million preauthorized for FY 24 and $100 million preauthorized for FY 25)
- $4 million for an amphitheater (total amount received now $20 million)
- $20 million for Next Level Sports & Innovation Center, with $20 million preauthorized for next year
- One-of-a-kind facility that leverages the County’s history of generating professional athletes to promote the local economy while providing training and educational opportunities to residents
Affordable Housing
- $10 million for Right of First Refusal program
- Program helps preserve affordable housing and protect rental households at risk of displacement from their homes
- $10 million for Housing Investment Trust Fund
- Supports creation of new affordable and mixed-income rental and homeownership opportunities in designated areas
Infrastructure
- $20 million for continued infrastructure improvements along Blue Line Corridor
- Supports a complete streets project, public art installations, and more
- $9.5 million for planning/design of the Arena Drive Interchange
- $5 million preauthorized for next year for the Central Avenue Connector Trail
- $3 million to go towards planning/design for the Greenbelt Interchange
Education
- $30 million grant for new school construction projects
- $26 million in additional Kirwan funding for PGCPS
Healthcare
- $40 million for a cancer center in Largo, with $27 million preauthorized for next year
- Expected to open in Spring 2024, initially focusing on breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers
I am honored to help lead Prince George’s County as County Executive and ensure Prince Georgians get the resources they need and deserve. It’s important that our residents not only hear about the great things we are working on, but they see and feel the kind of transformational progress that will make life better in this beautiful place we call home. Through this historic funding we have secured, I’m confident our residents will see and feel the long-awaited entertainment and amenities they deserve.
As we celebrate a record amount of funding for our County, I want to express my sincere gratitude for our Delegation and our Governor. We took our priorities to them, and asked them for their support. They did not hesitate to partner with us and help us accomplish so much for Prince Georgians during the legislative session.
2022 will be remembered as a truly transformative year for our County at the Statehouse. Due to our great teamwork, we were able to make progress on life-changing projects that will help make sure rising opportunity in our County and region lifts all of us.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive
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