ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. — Governor Wes Moore launched his statewide “Delivering for Maryland” tour on Monday in St. Mary’s County, the state’s first county, to spotlight economic progress and investments made during the first three years of the Moore-Miller Administration.
The tour opened at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, Maryland’s only state-operated veterans facility. Moore met with residents and joined them for a morning game of bingo. The visit celebrated the home’s rise from a 1-star to a 4-star overall rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In March 2023, the administration ended a long-term contract with a prior operator after reports of neglect and shifted to an emergency contract with PruittHealth plus increased state oversight. The facility now holds a 5-star staffing rating.
“The ‘Delivering for Maryland’ tour is about visiting the communities where our policies are making a real, tangible difference in people’s lives,” Moore said. “We chose to start here in St. Mary’s because it reflects the grit and the promise of our entire state. From the improved care being provided to our veterans at Charlotte Hall to the historic investments we are making in the next generation of leaders at St. Mary’s College and the revitalization of our main streets, we are showing what happens when we work together to move Maryland forward.”
Federal lawmakers joined in support. Senator Chris Van Hollen said, “Federal Team Maryland’s top priority is securing investments that support our communities. We’re proud to work together with the governor and local leaders to bring critical funds to St. Mary’s County, including to grow educational opportunity, strengthen local infrastructure, support our veterans, and much more.”
Senator Angela Alsobrooks added, “Team Maryland is working together to deliver for our entire state—from federal and state investments to fighting for legislation that lowers the cost of housing, protects our veterans, spurs economic opportunity, and ensures communities in Maryland can remain safe. St. Mary’s County is critical to our national defense—being home to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, as well as being home to top-tier education and thriving communities.”
Congressman Steny H. Hoyer noted, “Charlotte Hall Veterans Home is a critical outpost for veterans’ health care in Southern Maryland. Today, Governor Moore and I witnessed the profound impact of our collective action to deliver on our promise to veterans care. I’ve been proud to work with our state leaders over the years to help Charlotte Hall Veterans Home evolve to meet the changing needs of Fifth District veterans.”
Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families Secretary Ed Rothstein said, “Charlotte Hall Veterans Home represents what’s possible when we focus on accountability, quality, and doing right by our veterans. This transformation—from one star to four—is the result of strong partnership, dedicated staff, and a clear commitment to improvement. We are grateful to the Moore–Miller Administration for their leadership and decisive action to ensure Maryland veterans receive the care, dignity, and respect they have earned.”
Moore then visited St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the state’s public honors college and a top-five public liberal arts institution nationally. He highlighted a $2 million increase in operational funding in the FY 2027 budget, raising the college’s total operating budget to $92.9 million. The administration also committed more than $3.2 million in capital funding this year for infrastructure needs and the renovation of Montgomery Hall to address space shortages in the arts and English departments.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland President Rhonda Phillips said, “We are so proud to welcome Governor Moore and his team to St. Mary’s College. It’s been almost a decade since a Governor visited the state’s public honors college, and we’re grateful for Governor Moore’s dedication to highlighting the progress we’ve made through sustained partnership and state investment in our students, programs, and facilities right here in Maryland’s first capital city.”
The tour ended in Leonardtown with a walking tour of the historic downtown. In 2023, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development named Leonardtown a Main Street Maryland community. The state has since invested more than $911,000 through 13 grants to support revitalization.
Moore visited grant recipients including Rucci’s Italian Kitchen & Grille and the historic Rex Theatre, which used facade improvement grants to restore its landmark marquee. He also stopped at the Duke Building, a 1920s structure renovated with Project Restore 2.0 and facade grant support. The building now houses businesses such as The Social Coffeehouse and New View Fiber Works.
“Leonardtown is pleased to welcome Governor Wes Moore to our ‘Most Exceptional Place!’” said Leonardtown Mayor Dan Burris. “A strong partnership with the State of Maryland has been key to continuing our efforts of economic vitality for our downtown. Strengthening our businesses and increasing the quality of life for our residents and visitors is our number one priority. Programs like Main Street and the Façade Improvement Program for small businesses are important tools in that effort.”
St. Mary’s County Commissioners President James R. Guy said, “We are honored to welcome Governor Moore to St. Mary’s County—the Mother County of Maryland. Starting this tour here, where our state’s story first began, is fitting, and we appreciate the opportunity to highlight some of the people, places, and partnerships that make our community special.”
Rucci’s Italian Kitchen & Grille Owner Mynor Hernandez stated, “We are grateful for the state’s important support to Rucci’s Italian Kitchen & Grille, these grants allowed us to make crucial improvements that helped elevate the view of our building and have made our business stronger and more successful. Having the governor’s visit today confirms his commitment to continued partnership by funding the preservation of our historic main street, his administration is helping to protect the unique character that makes Leonardtown special.”
New View Fiber Works Owner Misti Dayton added, “These grants were a wonderful investment in our future, allowing us to make crucial improvements that have made our business stronger and more successful. We were thrilled to help welcome Governor Moore to New View Fiber Works today, and we’re grateful for his recognition and investment into the town we all love.”
The one-day visit in Southern Maryland underscored the administration’s focus on veterans care, higher education, and downtown revitalization through targeted state investments and local partnerships.
