Funds to Support Design and Engineering of Flood Prevention Measures
Annapolis, MD – On Wednesday, Senator Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Departments Economic Development Administration has awarded the City of Annapolis $3.2 million in grant funds for the design and engineering of a new City Dock incorporating flood prevention measures. The grant is paid for out of American Rescue Plan (ARP) monies.
Mayor Gavin Buckley and County Executive Steuart Pittman toured City Dock with Sen. Van Hollen on August 17, 2021 to showcase the need for resiliency efforts at the City’s historic downtown harbor.
“When County Executive Pittman and I toured with Sen. Van Hollen, we showed him a shovel-ready project that was worthy of federal infrastructure dollars. Our flood mitigation efforts will make a tangible difference for residents and businesses dealing with the immediate impacts of climate change,” said Mayor Buckley. “It was our hope that we could make a strong enough impression to move federal infrastructure dollars our way. In the months since, we have continued our conversations with Sen. Van Hollen’s staff and I couldn’t be more pleased to see the funding heading to Annapolis. Our City will be a nationwide model for resilience work.”
“For small businesses and the folks who live in Annapolis, flooding is a constant concern, with costly consequences. When I visited the Annapolis City Dock last year, I heard these concerns directly from business owners and residents and saw first-hand the impacts. That’s why we fought to secure funds in the American Rescue Plan to improve our infrastructure and harden our defenses against flooding to ultimately create jobs and boost our local economies,” said Senator Van Hollen. “This federal investment will do just that by helping to bolster City Dock against flooding and the effects of climate change. I’ll keep working to deliver federal resources to Maryland that strengthen our economy and our communities.”
“Raising the City Dock will strengthen its resilience against the effects of climate change and transform it into greenspace for the Annapolis community. This revitalization project is an economic, environmental, historical and cultural priority for the entire region,” said Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03). “By funding projects like these across the country, the American Rescue Plan serves as a powerful engine to rebuild our communities, boost our economy and secure a stronger future.”
This federal government funding will be added to $10 million that was secured in the State of Maryland’s budget for FY 2023 and the $25 million concession payment from the rebuild of the Hillman Garage. All of these funds together will be used to cover the estimated $40 million cost to raise City Dock, install flood gates, and create a world-class park for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Annapolis’ flood mitigation work at City Dock will create barriers to flooding that will eventually need to align with the United States Naval Academy’s future resilience efforts.
