ANNAPOLIS, Md. (TIP): Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman joined Governor Wes Moore and Chief Deputy Treasurer Jon Martin in approving more than $787 million in state expenditures during Wednesday’s Board of Public Works meeting. Contracts and spending approved included $24,250,000 for 25 projects through the Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative, National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund, and Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Fund for Fiscal Year 2026. Comptroller Lierman applauded the investment that will support increased housing and community development opportunities.
“These are the kinds of investments that build safer cities,” Comptroller Lierman shared, pointing to decisions by the Maryland General Assembly to create the Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative after the unrest in Baltimore in 2015, and other funds soon after. “Statewide leaders recognized that for Baltimore to reach its full potential, it needed this kind of investment after years of disinvestment. Revitalizing properties, rehabbing the vacant homes, rebuilding wealth in the city, is a much better use of our precious tax dollars than deploying armed forces. This work creates a broadening tax base, housing for middle-income families and workers, and long-term prosperity.”
Comptroller Lierman voted against one-year temporary extensions for three capital grants and loans, citing the ample time provided to encumber the original funding and present funding restraints. The extensions were approved with a vote of 2-1.
Comptroller Lierman also voted against a request from the Department of Information Technology to award eight firms a work-order-based contract to provide digital services and agile development support to modernize Maryland’s digital infrastructure. Comptroller Lierman acknowledged the importance of the work covered by the contract but cited concerns about the contract vehicle and decreased opportunities for businesses headquartered in Maryland to compete for the same work. The contract was also approved with a vote of 2-1.
In all, the Board of Public Works approved 116 items, totaling $787,696,527.03, including:
- Grant agreements for 17 recipients for 17 projects located in nine counties and Baltimore City, with a total value of $8,102,823.
- 10 items awarding $7,538,738.15 to prime certified small business primes.
- Six items awarding $20,370,604.64 to certified minority business enterprise primes.
- 11 items awarded with established participation goals for minority business enterprises.
- Four items awarded with established participation goals for veteran-owned small business enterprises.
- The next meeting of the Board of Public Works will be held on September 10, 2025.
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