County seeks state site‑readiness funds for 43 acres at Hagerstown Regional Airport

Jonathan Horowitz, director of the Department of Business and Economic Development, asked the board for permission to apply for the Maryland Business Ready Sites implementation grant to prepare 43 vacant acres in the northwest quadrant of Hagerstown Regional Airport for future industrial development.

Horowitz said the county previously won a site‑characterization grant and now seeks an implementation award of up to $500,000 to fund grading and site‑preparation work. He explained the program requires a 3:1 match and that prior investments the county has already made into terminal expansion satisfy the match requirement so the application would not require additional county funding beyond existing commitments.

Commissioners asked about site location and matching mechanics; Horowitz said the planned grading would remove stored construction tailings and level the parcels to make them attractive for private investment, and that the county and MEDCO have discussed match eligibility. The board moved, seconded and approved permission to apply and to accept any awarded funds.