Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce $200,000 in Funding for Boonsboro Water Distribution System

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $100,000 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), along with $100,000 in local matching funds for the Shafer Park Well Replacement project in Boonsboro, Maryland. The project is designed to improve water service for 60 businesses and 1,240 households. 

“This investment is critical to the local community and will benefit thousands of Marylanders,” said the lawmakers. “For years, residents of Boonsboro have put up with an inadequate water supply. Currently, the reservoir loses roughly 30% — about 450 households’ worth — of its drinking water every year. This funding will substantially improve the performance and reliability of the town’s water infrastructure.” 

The funding will be used to help develop a new, higher-yield well for Boonsboro, which currently shares a distribution system with Keedysville, a nearby town. The Keedysville Spring provides Boonsboro with nearly 50% of its water. 

The ARC is a regional economic development agency that represents a partnership of federal, state, and local governments. Established by Congress in 1965, ARC is comprised of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a federal co-chair, who is appointed by the President. Local participation is provided through multi-county local development districts. This past December, the congressional members helped secure a $5 million increase in funding for ARC, which will help boost the amount of federal funding available to support Western Maryland’s regional economies and improve residents’ lives.

In addition to these funds for the Shafer Park Well Replacement, Senator Van Hollen recently secured $1 million towards the replacement of the Boonsboro Drinking Water Reservoir, included in the FY 2022 funding legislation that each lawmaker supported and helped pass into law.