Ellicott City will receive $10 million to help with ongoing flood mitigation infrastructure projects, Gov. Wes Moore announced.
The investment from the Resilient Maryland Loan Fund will support infrastructure projects designed to protect Ellicott City’s historic Main Street and surrounding neighborhoods from the type of catastrophic damage it suffered in the deadly floods of 2016 and 2018.
“When heavy weather strikes in this community, we aren’t just talking about some road closures and bad traffic, but we’re talking about homes damaged, businesses destroyed, and lives lost,” Moore said. “That’s why together, we are investing in mitigation and building a state that is more safe and more sound for generations to come. At a time when the federal government has cancelled grants to make communities safer and more resilient, Maryland is investing. And this funding is about making smart investments, fortifying our infrastructure, and saving lives.”
The Resilient Maryland Revolving Loan Fund provides low-interest loans for governments to pay for projects that reduce vulnerability to floods, severe storms, extreme heat, wildfires, and other disasters.
The funding Moore announced will help pay for the North Tunnel (along Frederick Road) and Maryland Avenue Culvert projects. Both divert excess stormwater from downtown.
The money will also fund projects that will reduce flood depths and help residents and property owners protect their property.
“This funding will help us deliver on a promise: to honor those we lost, protect the community we love, and build a safer, stronger Ellicott City,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “The support from Governor Moore and the State of Maryland demonstrates a shared commitment to long-term solutions. Together, we’re turning tragedy into resilience and creating a model for communities across the country.”
After the second flood event in two years, Howard County acquired 10 buildings on Lower Main Street, demolishing the four at the bottom and renovating the remaining six so that they will no longer have portions that cross the Tiber stream. The Phoenix, the restaurant occupying the corner building that was demolished, relocated to the top of Main Street. Regardless of whether the businesses reopened elsewhere, efforts were taken during demolition of the four buildings to preserve as much of the historic architectural features as possible.
Resilient Maryland Revolving Loan Funding also pays for planning efforts like zoning, building codes, and cost sharing for federal hazard mitigation grants. It invests in projects that support underserved populations during power outages and extreme weather, which include low-impact development, wildland-urban interface management, building code upgrades, and community resilience hubs.
“Today’s announcement is the result of true partnership—from local government leaders to state agencies and our legislative champions in Annapolis,” said Russ Strickland, Maryland Department of Emergency Management Secretary. “Collaboration isn’t just a best practice—it’s a survival strategy. This is what we can achieve when we commit to mitigation before disaster strikes. These two projects are game changers for flood resilience in Ellicott City, and we’re proud to support them through the Resilient Maryland Loan Fund.”
For more information about the Resilient Maryland Revolving Loan Fund, click this link.
