July 06, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 6, 2022

Contact: Sasha Galbreath, Sasha.Galbreath@mail.house.gov

Congressman David Trone Secures Over $7.2 Million for Allegany County in Appropriations Bills

Rep. Trone and Cumberland Mayor Raymond Morriss discuss infrastructure needs in Cumberland, including the Fayette Street Bridge

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Late last week, Congressman David Trone (MD-06) announced that he secured over $7,206,718 in Community Project Funding (CPF) in Allegany County for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. After its approval by the House Committee on Appropriations – of which Trone is a member – the bill now advances to the U.S. House for passage in the coming month.

The funding includes:

• $4,800,000 for the repair of the Fayette Street Bridge on behalf of the City of Cumberland
• $1,875,000 for the refurbishment of Barton Hose Company No 1
• $531,718 for the construction of a new childcare center for the City of Frostburg

Overall, Congressman Trone was able to procure over $30 million in Community Project Funding for Maryland’s Sixth District in the federal government’s FY 2023 funding bills.

The funding will be used to replace the existing bridge over CSX Rail on the City of Cumberland’s West side. The weight restricted bridge was struck by a CSX Train in June of 2018 and remains partially inoperable. Currently, the bridge is only open to only one-way traffic, creating transit issues across the City. With this funding, the City will construct a federally compliant bridge that will allow vehicular and EMS traffic to cross the bridge.

The funding will be used for the construction of a new garage, remodeling upgrades to the existing fire station, and a refurbishment of capital equipment, including their frontline engine. The construction will include bathrooms for decontamination, living quarters, office space, storage space, and a maintenance facility, all which will allow the company to continue to provide lifesaving services and better serve the community.

The funding will be used for the construction of the Frostburg Childcare Center within the Frostburg Community Park. The City has partnered with the local HRDC Headstart program in order to serve low income families and support those with younger children aged 0-3 (in addition to all ages). Recent community surveys conducted by the City and HRDC identified that the lack of childcare for both low income families and younger-aged children was a significant concern. The construction of this childcare center would fill an urgent need in the City and provide crucial support for Frostburg and the surrounding communities in Allegany County, which have a documented lack of childcare options.

For more information on Community Project Funding throughout the district, you can visit this page.

Congressman Trone is a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee and requested funding for these critical local projects earlier this year. Trone made these requests, otherwise known as Community Project Funding, in order to address the dire need for investment in local projects that will help lead to better community-provided resources and spur economic growth and job creation. 

“As a businessman, I know how vital it is to work with folks on the ground to get the best results. After working with state and local leaders over the last year, we identified projects that will have the highest impact in our communities and help the folks most in need,” said Congressman Trone. “These funding recipients – many of which I’ve visited myself – are vital to the day-to-day lives of Marylanders and will enhance the quality of life across the district. In Congress, our number one job is to equip our constituents with the tools they need to succeed. These investments in our communities will do just that.”

“The City of Cumberland is incredibly appreciative of the continuing support from Congressman Trone,” said Cumberland Mayor Raymond Morriss. “The Fayette Street Bridge Replacement project will restore traffic patterns and provide a vital link for EMS services to our West Side Residents.”

“Receiving the phone call from Congressman Trone notifying me of the approval of the grant left me speechless and with tears of joy. This is not just a major win for the volunteers of the Barton Hose Company, but also a major milestone for our community,” said Eric M. Mowbray, Assistant Fire Chief, Barton Fire Department. “The Barton community has always been the backbone of support for us, and we sure couldn’t do this without everyone’s support. As a third-generation firefighter belonging to the Barton Hose Company, I’m pleased with the direction we have all worked hard to get to. But it wouldn’t come without the continued support from Appropriation Committees & Congressman Trone to see that nonprofit organizations just like ours are more than worthy of being provided funds.”

Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs, and Joint Economic Committees. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the mental health and addiction crises, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.

Follow Congressman Trone at @RepDavidTrone for updates on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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