Via Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks
Dear Prince Georgians:
At the start of this year, I introduced our legislative priorities for the 2023 Maryland General Assembly Session, and promised to work with our County Delegation and leaders in Annapolis to deliver on these priorities for Prince Georgians. Through the work of our Intergovernmental Affairs Team and our County Delegation, I’m proud to say that we had an extremely successful legislative session where we brought home $2.1 billion in State aid and passed several key pieces of legislation that will benefit Prince Georgians.
As I mentioned when I released our FY 2024 proposed budget for the County, this year we are navigating a tight budget. We are focused on improving key government services while growing the commercial tax base, so we can increase revenues and take the tax burden off of homeowners long-term. Our accomplishments during the 2023 legislative session will help us build on the people-centered investments we are making in our FY 2024 proposed budget.
Economic Development
We have focused on making New Carrollton the premiere transit hub on the eastern seaboard, securing a federal RAISE grant to build a new train hall at the New Carrollton Metro Station. This legislative session, we secured $50.7 million to continue supporting transit-oriented development in New Carrollton. This State funding will support pedestrian and bicycle-friendly infrastructure improvements, stormwater/environmental infrastructure improvements, and modernization of the train station.
As you know, we are also working to bring the new FBI headquarters to Prince George’s. The two sites in Prince George’s are superior in virtually all of the GSA criteria, including access to transit, cost, and equity. To help support this effort, $100 million in State funding is authorized to help with relocation costs should the FBI choose a final site in Prince George’s.
I often say that greatness grows in Prince George’s, and we want to leverage our history of generating professional athletes. That’s why we secured $20 million to help build a Next Level Sports & Entertainment Innovation Center, a one-of-a-kind facility that will promote the local economy while providing training and educational opportunities to residents.
Finally, we will continue supporting the efforts of our new Returning Citizens Affairs Division and Employ Prince George’s with $500,000 to help employ returning citizens through the Re-entry Employment Incentive Program. To support our growing film industry and new film festival, we also secured $100,000 for the Film Office in the Prince George’s Arts & Humanities Council. Our film industry will also be supported by new legislation that expands the tax credit for film production activities and increases the total amount of funding available.
Infrastructure & Housing
Last year, we announced a $1 billion mixed-use development opportunity in Cheverly at the site of the old Prince George’s Hospital. This would include new housing, retail, and other amenities for residents. I’m proud to say we secured $12 million from the State to help demolish the old hospital, with $5 million preauthorized for next year. The demolition will help unlock this $1 billion opportunity for smart growth in Cheverly. We were also able to build on the funding we secured in previous legislative sessions for the Blue Line Corridor, securing $8 million this year to create developable parcels in Largo.
Education
We value our higher education institutions in Prince George’s County, and this year we were able to help them secure critical State funding. In our FY 2024 proposed capital budget, we continued our support of the Marlboro Hall Renovation project at Prince George’s Community College. We secured $17.5 million from the State to further support this project. In addition, we helped secure $1.1 million for the new Thurgood Marshall Library and Commons building at Bowie State University.
Healthy & Safe Communities
We understand the critical need for greater access to healthcare in our community, which is why we supported funding requests of County hospitals. $27 million will help continue construction of the new cancer center at the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center, the County’s first freestanding cancer center. Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center is receiving $6 million for the construction of a new tower for obstetrical (pregnancy) care and $500,000 to renovate the Behavioral Health Emergency Department. MedStar Southern Maryland is receiving $2 million to support the construction of additional floors and bed space.
To continue building healthy and safe communities, we secured $5 million for the renovation of the Shepherd’s Cove Homeless Shelter for Women and Children. We were also able to secure $100,000 for Prince George’s County Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Legislation
As you may recall, last year we were successful in securing $400 million in bonding authority through the Maryland Stadium Authority for five signature projects along the Blue Line Corridor. To ensure Prince George’s County has a seat at the table with the Maryland Stadium Authority as these dollars are being spent, we were able to successfully advocate for legislation that allows the Prince George’s County Executive to appoint a member to the Maryland Stadium Authority.
We also focused legislatively on smart growth and development. We passed legislation to establish the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund, which will provide key support to TOD zones like the Blue Line Corridor. We also passed legislation that authorizes the County to establish business improvement districts that focus on equity, which will have immediate positive benefits for the City of Hyattsville and neighborhoods along the Blue Line Corridor.
In addition, we passed legislation that authorizes the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) to contract with the DC Water and Sewer Authority for the construction, maintenance, and operation of a water supply, sewer, or drainage system along Southern Avenue. This will allow a mixed-use, transit-oriented development project at Southern Avenue Metro Station to move forward, bringing housing, retail space, and a grocery store to that area.
As we grow and develop, we know that we need to preserve housing affordability and our environment. We worked to pass legislation that allows us to enter into a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement with certain housing developers, which will incentivize private investors to build new affordable housing units in the County. We also supported legislation that will help us protect forest lands and our environment as we work to center new development around our metro stations.
We will also have new tools to attract the best and brightest to some of our critical public service positions. We supported legislation to establish a Teacher Development and Retention Program, and a second piece of legislation that will give counties new tools to attract, support, and retain firefighters and EMS personnel. Finally, we will be able to double the number of speed cameras on Route 210, from three to six total.
As we celebrate a successful legislative session, I want to thank our County Delegation, who worked closely with our team to ensure we could deliver results for Prince Georgians. I also want to thank State House and Senate leadership, as well as Governor Wes Moore, for their partnership and support of Prince Georgians during the 2023 Maryland General Assembly Session.
I’m Prince George’s Proud of the results we were able to deliver for Prince Georgians. The funding we secured and legislation we passed build on the people-centered investments we are already making at the local level, helping us grow our commercial tax base and raise the quality of life for our residents.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive
