Maryland invests $280M in public works; officials remind taxes fund state projects

ANNAPOLIS, Md (7News) — Governor Wes Moore and the Board of Public Works approved $280 million in state spending on Wednesday to fund infrastructure, economic development and community investment across Maryland. This money goes towards 141 infrastructure projects and grants that invest in small businesses, minority owned businesses and veteran-owned businesses.

Here is a list of initiatives funded in the meeting:

• Approved grant agreements for 58 recipients for 72 projects located in 16 counties and Baltimore City, with a total value of $26,508,677
• Seven items awarding $3,160,617.80 to certified small business primes
• Three items awarding $1,275,135.80 to certified minority business enterprise primes
• Two items awarding $1,247,929.18 to Employment Works Program providers
• Five items awarded with established participation goals for minority business enterprises
• One item awarded with an established participation goal for veteran-owned small business enterprises

For state infrastructure improvement projects, the work is contracted out to in-state businesses.

In the meeting, Comptroller and member of the Board of Public Works, Brooke E. Lierman, brought up worries about the process for choosing winners of the government contracts for highway maintenance projects. According to Lierman, clearer framework would help meet goals for the state’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) program that ensures more small businesses and minority owned businesses get contracts equitably.

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“I hope the State Highway Administration (SHA) will work to ensure that identical scopes receive consistent MBE analysis or that more details are included in agenda items on how the items are different… If we want MBE goals to increase over time, then we also need to ensure that the State is helping more small and minority owned businesses scale up so they can actually enter this market and compete for this work,” said Lierman.

As the 2026 tax season ends on April 15, Lierman also reminded Marylanders to file their taxes to help support state infrastructure. The Office of the Comptroller offers help to residents filing taxes and has fraud-detection systems to help the state save money.

“To me, this time of year is a reminder that our communities thrive because each of us plays a part in sustaining them. When Marylanders file their returns, they contribute to the collective effort that supports our infrastructure, our classrooms, and the public services that hold our communities together. It underscores just how interconnected we are and how each person’s contribution helps build a more resilient, more prosperous Maryland,” said Lierman.