ANNAPOLIS, MD - The City of Annapolis was recently awarded $3.7 million in federal and state grant funding for four projects involving flood mitigation and storm water control. The Annapolis Office of Emergency Management and the Department of Public Works collaborated on the grant applications.
“I am so proud of our grant writers who are chasing down funding for these projects that have long been on our wish list, but the cost kept them out of reach,” said Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley. “I like to call them our grant writing ninjas because they work quietly on gathering the data, writing the grants and dealing with a sometimes complicated bureaucracy. Their stick-to-itiveness is to the benefit of every Annapolis resident, business, and visitor.”
The Maryland Water Infrastructure Financing Administration (MWIFA) of the Maryland Department of the Environment has approved the award of a $3 million grant. The funding will be used for comprehensive flood management for the Annapolis City Dock Stormwater and Flood Mitigation Project - Phase 2.
The overall City Dock Flood Mitigation Plan has already been awarded funding from Hillman Garage concession payment ($24.5M); State of Maryland grants ($13M); and federal/congressional earmarks ($6M). An additional Federal Emergency Management Agency grant ($33M) is anticipated, totalling $82 million in funding.
The next three grants are from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and are administered through the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM). Those projects include:
- South Southwood Stormwater Management: $245,000 for a watershed analysis, watershed study, concept plans, and recommendations. The scope of the project will include at least two community outreach meetings.
- Eastport Flood Mitigation Design: $290,499 for an impact study of the Eastport district, analysis of mitigation activities, and a cost/benefit analysis. The scope of work includes adding tidal and/or weather monitors, conducting three community meetings, and advertising the City’s georeferenced drainage and flooding citizen complaint system.
- Truxtun Cove Storm Drainage Improvements: $200,000 for design work and to secure necessary property easements. This grant is a follow-up to a concept study that included community engagement. The effort will include additional community meetings.
Office of Emergency Management Director Kevin J. Simmons said, “Leveraging these grant funding opportunities for our flood prevention measures is a cost effective strategy that not only saves lives and reduces damage but also contributes to the long-term sustainability and resilience of Annapolis communities and the environment.”
