ANNAPOLIS, MD — In a significant move to foster state-wide economic growth, educational advancement, and support for military services, Governor Moore, alongside Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller and the Moore-Miller Administration cabinet, visited St. Mary’s County as part of the governor’s cabinet road tour. The tour included key stops at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, the University System of Maryland at the Southern Maryland campus, and several local businesses and community centers.
Governor Moore emphasized the administration’s commitment to working with county leaders and local communities to make Maryland safer, more affordable, and competitive. “Our administration is dedicated to making Maryland… a state that serves — and in order to make that happen, we must work in partnership with every county leader and our local communities to help each of them thrive,” Moore stated during the visit.
The tour commenced with Governor Moore and Congressman Steny Hoyer’s visit to the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, commonly called Pax River. The base, a cornerstone of aviation technology development and testing, showcased its cutting-edge Aircraft Simulation Division Manned Flight Simulator and Anechoic Test Facilities to the state leaders, highlighting its critical role in supporting aircraft and system flight and ground test activities.
In a parallel series of events, Lieutenant Governor Miller, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day, and other cabinet members participated in the Leonardtown Main Street designation ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event underscored the Moore-Miller Administration’s dedication to invigorating Maryland’s economy by enhancing its downtown areas. “One of the keys to that growth is ensuring we have strong downtowns in each of Maryland’s 157 towns and cities,” said Lt. Gov. Miller, celebrating the potential impact of the Main Street designation on Leonardtown’s development.
Another tour highlight was the governor’s visit to the University System of Maryland Southern Maryland campus, where he toured the new Southern Maryland Autonomous Research and Technology (SMART) building. This 84,000-square-foot facility represents a significant expansion of the campus’s educational and research capabilities, particularly in autonomous systems, and marks a pivotal step towards spurring economic growth in the region. The construction of the $86 million building, state-funded with contributions from the county, is a testament to Maryland’s investment in future technologies and educational excellence.
The day’s agenda also included discussions on economic development opportunities around the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport, visits to local businesses such as Clover Hill Dairy Farm, the Garvey Senior Activity Center, and the Leonardtown Library, among others. These engagements highlighted the administration’s approach to comprehensive community development, focusing on economic, educational, and infrastructural growth across the state.
Governor Moore’s cabinet road tour in St. Mary’s County not only showcased the administration’s proactive approach to state governance but also reinforced the importance of collaboration between state and local entities in achieving mutual goals for prosperity and progress.
