One interesting footnote to the Town of Easton Council meeting last Monday was a brief description of how an almost $100,000 grant secured by the Easton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) can make a major difference in a relatively small community.
The Easton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) has efficiently utilized a $99,000 grant from the Maryland Main Street Grant Program. This Hogan administration initiative is revitalizing public spaces and enhancing community spirit.
Using these funds, the EEDC has installed 14 new trash cans and comfortable benches throughout the locale, fostering cleanliness and encouraging community interactions. To further beautify the surroundings, vibrant flowers have been planted in tree wells, offering a refreshing, natural aesthetic.
Significantly, the EEDC has restored and painted wooden kiosks scattered across the area. These rejuvenated kiosks will soon house new walking maps, set to be installed later this month, aiding locals and visitors in navigation.
Notably, $20,000 of the grant remains available for local merchants interested in their own beautification or safety enhancements, marking an exciting opportunity for individual contributions to this community upliftment initiative. Merchants can reach out to the EEDC to express their interest.
Here are Mayor Megan Cook’s remarks.
This video is approximately one minute in length.
Reed Fawell 3 says
Small touches can make big differences, thanks to Larry Hogan.
Carol Voyles says
Relatively few of us may have made it to this Town meeting, and we appreciate this opportunity to be reminded by Mayor Megan Cook that Easton will remain both beautiful and safe. There’s also an opportunity for businesses in this effort.
Communications today are a blessing for knowledge and awareness; but at the same time we’re recognizing that they can be a cause for concern. Students can be stressed by peer pressure and outsized expectations as we’re taking advantage of opportunities to become more knowledgeable and appreciative of governance.
The Easton Economic Development Corporation grant is described by Mayor Cook; and with similar federal and state funding for projects like the purchase of 197 acres of wooded parkland in Town and broadband throughout Talbot County, the intergovernmental aspect of our governance could become as appreciated as the efforts of our Town and County officials and the organizations and departments managing these transactions.
Funding education is generally a county’s largest expense – frequently half of a county’s general fund expenditures. It’s a far smaller share of the State of Maryland’s budget, but direct funding to our schools is close to the amount invested by Talbot County.
We are truly in this together; and in large part due to the Blueprint, counties are now working with our local public schools. This all takes time and effort, but it is clearly worthwhile.
Reed Fawell 3 says
I must say this article flies way over my head.
Best, I can tell our governments on all levels are spending and wasting far too much taxpayer’s dollars, generating excess spending that not only fails to solve existing problems but also aggravates old problems (often started by government decades ago), while at the same time creating new problems with new funding. Take for example: our thoroughly corrupt and bloated secondary and higher education systems that now have left us with kids on average graduating from high school with a 1950s 8th grade education, and from college with a 1950’s 12th grade education on average.
Meanwhile, our governments by their inaction, inattention, and/or ignorance on a current basis allow problems that never should have happened bloom grow and fester, Lakeside and Poplar Hill.