County Executive Craig Briefs House Appropriations Committee on BRAC Preparations

From Harford County government:

Visit includes tour of APG

(Aberdeen, MD) – – Harford County Executive David R. Craig with representatives from the Harford County Office of Economic Development and the Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor regional BRAC office, hosted a tour of the Aberdeen Proving Ground to members of the Maryland House of Delegates, House Appropriations Committee. The tour and briefing were conducted Monday, September 28.

The tour commenced with a briefing at the HEAT Center in Aberdeen by county and military officials followed by a tour of the Aberdeen Proving Ground. The purpose of the visit by the House Appropriations Committee was to gain first-hand information as to the progress Harford County has made in preparation for BRAC and the challenges to the county which lie ahead.

Also attending the tour were several legislative staffers to the House Appropriations Committee, as well as the Chief of Staff for the Speaker of the House, John F. Favazza, Jr.

“We appreciate the visit and interest from the House Appropriations Committee in BRAC and its impact to Harford County and the State of Maryland,” remarked County Executive Craig. “Hopefully they will help provide the much needed funding to improve our roads and transportation infrastructure to meet the challenges BRAC brings to our regions,” stated the county executive.

Joining County Executive Craig during the briefing with members of the Maryland General Assembly were, Delegate Mary-Dulany James from District 34; Colonel Orlando Ortiz and Colonel Andrew Nelson from the United States Army at APG; Jim Richardson, Director of the Office of Economic Development for Harford County; Mike Kelly from the Baltimore Metropolitan Council and Karen Holt, Director, Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor Regional BRAC office.

Among the highlights of the tour and briefing was a presentation on the history of the Aberdeen Proving Ground and BRAC background; visits to some of the business projects underway on APG, including the GATE project, C4ISR Complex and the North Gate Business Park – COPT project. Additionally, legislators were briefed on the Aberdeen Train Station multi-modal project, the MTA/MARC rail yard site and the Waste-to-Energy expansion site.

“BRAC presents Harford County with a myriad of opportunities for our future,” remarked County Executive Craig. “However, we must have the support from our federal and state partners in government if we are to successfully meet the challenges that also come with BRAC,” Craig commented.