FY 2026 Community Project Funding Requests

Below are the 15 requests I made to the House Appropriations Committee for Community Project Funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. The projects are listed alphabetically by project name, by subcommittee, and not in any ranked order.

Commerce, Justice, Science

Annapolis Mobile Command Unit

Requesting Entity: Annapolis Police Department
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Agency and Account: Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services, Technology and Equipment

Project Description: If awarded, this funding would be used to purchase a new Mobile Command Unit, to be used for critical incidents, weather-related emergencies, special events, and where crime is spiking to act as a base of operations. This unit would replace the current aging unit. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will allow the police department to proactively coordinate response to events and crime when and where needed.

Invasive Species (Blue Catfish) Mitigation

Requesting Entity: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Agency and Account: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Operations, Research, and Facilities, Coastal Zone Management

Project Description: If awarded, this funding would be used to perform research and data collection to better understand holistic ecosystem impacts from various methods of blue catfish harvest, and to monitor and minimize ecological and economic impacts of blue catfish on the bay. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because this species preys upon native aquatic species (like the blue crab) that have a high ecological value to the Chesapeake Bay and a high economic value to the State of Maryland.

Joint 911 Public Safety Center Technology

Requesting Entity: Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Requested Amount: $3,500,000
Agency and Account: Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services, Technology and Equipment

Project Description: If awarded, this funding would be used to equip the Joint 911 Center with Call Handling Equipment, Computers, Network Equipment and UPS’s, Radio Consoles, A/V systems, ESInet Dual Circuits and more. This is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will improve coordination, communication, and interoperability with both local and state law enforcement and emergency services.

Rapid Rehousing & Abuser Intervention for Victims of Domestic Violence

Requesting Entity: YWCA of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
Requested Amount: $696,590
Agency and Account: Department of Justice, State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance, Byrne Justice Grants

Project Description: If awarded, this funding would be used to provide support to individuals (mainly women and children) fleeing from known domestic violence situations. The funding will also be used for education, job skills/readiness, and re-housing and relocation assistance. Funding will also support a 28 week court mandated program for known abusers. This is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will reduce the long-term strain and dependence on police and the criminal justice system by providing support and services to victims and rehabilitation to known abusers.

Reentry and Rehabilitation Initiative

Requesting Entity: Anne Arundel County Community Action Agency, Inc.
Requested Amount: $1,500,000
Agency and Account: Department of Justice, State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance, Byrne Justice Grants

Project Description: If awarded, this funding would be used to offer resources that address employment, family reunification, financial services, cognitive decision making skills, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, transitional housing, vocational training, peer support, and prosocial networks for justice-involved residents. This is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will reduce the long-term strain and dependence on police and the criminal justice system by offering resources in an effort to reduce recidivism. This project was previously included in the FY 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

STEM Forward

Requesting Entity: Chinese American Parent Association of Howard County
Requested Amount: $1,046,265
Agency and Account: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Safety, Security, and Mission Services

Project Description: If awarded, this funding would be used to expand STEM education efforts in Howard County, MD, by connecting young students to educational programming around coding, earth-sciences, robotics, and engineering. This is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will expand opportunities for science education and research for students, and expose students to some of the most important scientific infrastructure around the country, including NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Workplace Violence Prevention Training Program

Requesting Entity: Sheppard Pratt Health Systems, Inc.
Requested Amount: $1,759,824
Agency and Account: Department of Justice, State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance, Byrne Justice Grants

Project Description: If awarded, this funding would be used to create and deliver a comprehensive training program for behavioral healthcare professionals who face significant safety challenges, and typically encounter individuals with complex mental health needs, substance use disorders, and histories of trauma. This project is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will train these professionals in personal safety and de-escalation, lessening the strain on the criminal justice system and improving the efficacy of offered mental health programs.

Homeland Security

Holly Beach Farm Resiliency

Requesting Entity: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Requested Amount: $1,593,750
Agency and Account: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Pre-Disaster Mitigation

Project Description: If awarded, this funding would be used to conduct Environmental Assessment, Conservation Planning, and Public Access Development of nearly 5 miles along the Holly Beach Farm waterfront. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because these flood mitigation measures will ensure public safety during floods, storms, and other natural disasters. This project was included in the FY 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill as well.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development

Artists Flats Apartments

Requesting Entity: Howard County Housing Commission
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Agency and Account: Department of Housing and Urban Development, Economic Development Initiative

If awarded, this funding would be used for construction of affordable housing units that will provide low-income and workforce housing in Howard County. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer money because building these units will help provide affordable housing in the county and continue to contribute to economic and community development in the area. This project was previously included in the FY 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

Crownsville Meyer Building

Requesting Entity: Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Requested Amount: $5,000,000
Agency and Account: Department of Housing and Urban Development, Economic Development Initiative

If awarded, this funding would be used for blight removal in order to remediate and rehabilitate the Meyer Building, a structure at the Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park. This building is the staple building on the grounds, and potential partnerships after this initial blight removal process could be the County’s Office of Veteran Affairs or for future veteran housing, as well as many other services spanning community and economic development or substance use intervention. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer money because removing the blight will kick-start the county’s ability to utilize the building for economic and community development needs.

Ensuring Public Safety During Storms

Requesting Entity: Howard County, Maryland
Requested Amount: $1,250,000
Agency and Account: Department of Housing and Urban Development, Economic Development Initiative

If awarded, this funding would be used to renovate a community center in North Laurel and a Senior Center in Elkridge so they can serve as warming/cooling centers or emergency shelters during disasters and power outages. The project would focus on energy efficiency and independence in the form of solar arrays and battery storage. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because its renovation will lead to community safety and security in the event of natural disasters while reducing the strain on the power grid during peak times.

Establishment of Leadership Offices in Annapolis

Requesting Entity: University of Maryland Center of Environmental Sciences
Requested Amount: $800,000
Agency and Account: Department of Housing and Urban Development, Economic Development Initiative

If awarded, this funding would be used to renovate the new consolidated headquarters of UMCES, with a focus on layout changes to accommodate office and programming needs, as well as cyberinfrastructure. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because renovating the new HQ will allow for partnerships with business and nonprofits leaders, as well as research programming focused on water quality, invasive species, fisheries, and more. All of this will lead to sustainable and increased economic and community development.

Guilford Road Pedestrian/Bicycle Improvements, Phase 3

Requesting Entity: Howard County, Maryland
Requested Amount: $3,000,000
Agency and Account: Department of Transportation, Highway Infrastructure Grants

If awarded, this funding would be used to construct a 1.1 mile length of shared use path along Guilford Road, between Oakland Mills Road and Carroll Height Avenue. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because Guilford Road is a vital corridor for pedestrian and bicycle activity in Howard County, and the shared use path will address significant safety concerns.

MD-99 Pedestrian Connectivity Improvements

Requesting Entity: Maryland Department of Transportation
Requested Amount: $800,000
Agency and Account: Department of Transportation, Highway Infrastructure Grants

If awarded, this funding would be used to complete design of pedestrian connectivity improvements in Ellicott City, which seeks to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility along the MD 99 corridor from Rogers Ave to Mount Hebron High school. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because its completion will ensure pedestrian (namely, students) safety along the road. This project was previously included in the FY 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

Saving the Flat Iron, Phase 2

Requesting Entity: Town of Mount Airy, Maryland
Requested Amount: $2,700,000
Agency and Account: Department of Housing and Urban Development, Economic Development Initiative

If awarded, this funding would be used to stabilize and update the Flat Iron Building, enabling the Town to offer expanded uses. Once the renovations are complete, the Town would be able to use the building for a myriad of services, including community events, educational showcases, local heritage programming, small business and retail shops, and much more. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because its renovation will lead to significant economic and cultural returns for the Town and County.

Financial Disclosures

Linked below are the Financial Disclosure Letters required with each project submission