Finksburg Planning and Citizens' Council Inc.
Next General Membership Meeting

Who: All residents of Finksburg and its environs are invited
When: ?
Where: Finksburg Branch Carroll County Public Library

MDOT SHA Route 91 Bridge Replacement, Route 91 Closure in Finksburg Begins April 15th 2024: THE ROAD IS REOPENED!

Westminster, MD, Tuesday, March 26, 2024 – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will close a portion of Maryland Route 91 in Finksburg to complete its bridge replacement project. Detours will affect Carroll County roads, with signage on site.

The MDOT SHA recently received right-of-entry approval from the Maryland Midland Railroad and will move forward with closing the MD 91 (Emory Road) bridge over the north branch of the Patapsco River and the Maryland Midland Railroad in Finksburg on Monday, April 15th at 5 a.m. The closure is necessary to safely replace the bridge and is expected to be in place for about nine months. Traffic will be detoured using MD 30 and MD 140. Please see the graphic below.

SHA will post the closure date and information on its website and social media pages. The contractor and project crew are currently working on public notifications and sign installation to alert motorists about the upcoming closure. This project has a webpage found here.

According to MDOT, “the bridges were originally constructed in 1967, and while safe for current use, both are nearing the end of their useful service life. Replacing the bridges will save money on future maintenance spending and support safety and mobility as a part of MDOT SHA's goal of keeping Maryland's transportation system in a good state of repair.”

More details on the MD 91 Bridge Replacement Project, including updates and contact information, can be found on the state’s Project Portal page here or https://mdot-sha-md91-brg-over-nb-patapsco-and-rr-cl1725180-maryland.hub.arcgis.com/.

Small Business Grant Applications Are Open: Wednesday, March 13, 2024

The application portals for Business Boost and Project Restore 2.0 are open. Project Restore 2.0 will provide grants of up to $300,000 to designated Main Streets, Arts and Entertainment Districts and other economic development organizations in a designated Sustainable Community. Training sessions and technical support will be offered throughout the application process.

Business Boost grants will be awarded directly to eligible small business owners in amounts between $20,000 and $50,000 for businesses that are new or expanding and located in designated Sustainable Communities.

To learn more and apply, go to https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Business/Pages/Small-Business-Grants.aspx.

CALL FOR 2025 NOMINATIONS:
We are entering election season for the Finksburg Planning and Citizens' Council, Inc! Please email us at mail.admin@finksburg.org if you are interested in exploring a term on our board. Participation is as little as one meeting a month and you can make a difference in our community. We hope to hear from you! Thank you, FPACC Board.

Membership Dues:
A reminder that it’s time to pay 2025 membership dues. To join or renew with our group, it only costs $10 per family and $25 for businesses. We accept online payments and checks. Please use the membership page. Business members are welcome to schedule a short presentation about their business at a general membership meeting. Dues are optional, but appreciated.
Thanks for your help and support.

Bridges on Route 91 To Be Replaced (RT 91 Closure in early 2024)
Project meeting at the Finksburg Library 3/9/2023 from 6-8 PM.
More Information: https://www.facebook.com/events/556183746359007

More information is available here: https://ccpl.librarymarket.com/event/md-91-bridge-replacement-project-meeting https://www.baltometro.org/sites/default/files/bmc_documents/committee/presentations/tc/TC220405pres_MD-91-Bridge-TIP-Amend.pdf and https://mdot-sha-md91-brg-over-nb-patapsco-and-rr-cl1725180-maryland.hub.arcgis.com/

State Highway RT 140 and RT91 Intersection:
The State Highway Adminstration is considering changes at this important intersection. See information at the links below for information and way to make comments.
https://mdot-sha-md140-at-md91-cl1825187-maryland.hub.arcgis.com/
https:Images/20230914-MD140atMD91MVANewsletter.pdf

Intersection of Rt 91 and Rt 140: Good news - Not Exactly 100% Good News:
The Good: Finksburg is on the draft maximize 2045 transportation plan: https://www.baltometro.org/newsroom/maximize2045-plan-you-future, https://baltometro.org/sites/default/files/bmc_documents/general/transportation/long-range/2045/max2045_s09_ch7_major-capital-projects.pdf. Specifically the intersection of Rt 91 and Rt 140 is listed for full replacement with enhancements from the county line to Kays Mill Rd, at a cost of $170 Million. Not so good news, it is planned to happen between 2035 and 2045, with a minor upgrade in 2024.

BGE Has a Big Project to Enhance Transmission Lines From Finksburg and Westminster
They have information on their web site at: https://www.bge-tsrep.com/projects/finksburg-westminster/

PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release - Program improvements have been made December 2022
Carroll County to Begin Accepting Applications for the Finksburg Facade Improvement Program April 1st

Westminster, MD, Tuesday, March 15, 2022 –Carroll County is pleased to announce it will begin accepting applications for the Finksburg Facade Improvement Program (FIP) on Friday, April 1, 2022.
The Carroll County Department of Planning, in conjunction with the Finksburg Planning and Citizens’ Council, was awarded $50,000 from the State of Maryland for a Facade Improvement Program. FIP offers matching grant funds to eligible property and business owners in the Finksburg Sustainable Community to improve the appearance of building facades and signs.

Goals of the program are to:
»Encourage renovation of building facades and signs
»Improve the appearance of the Finksburg Corridor
»Leverage private improvements by making revitalization efforts affordable and community based
»Preserve and enhance economic vitality of commercial services

FIP offers an incentive dollar amount of up to 80% of the total cost of building facade and sign improvements.
For more information about the program, including application deadlines, eligible applicants and improvements, and how to apply, visit www.FinksburgFIP.org or contact the Carroll County Department of Planning at (410) 386-5145.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact: Chris Winebrenner, 410-386-2043

Finksburg awarded Sustainable Community designation by Maryland

The planning staff of Carroll County government invited Finksburg residents and local area businesses to participate in a work group to apply for Finksburg to be designated as a Maryland Sustainable Community. The work group met for the first time on June 12, 2017.
The final application was submitted to the state in January 2018. On April 10, 2019 Finksburg was awarded the Sustainable Community designation by the state of Maryland.

The Sustainable Communities Program is an initiative of the State of Maryland that offers various benefits to designated communities. The program seeks to improve the quality of life in designated communities by offering a toolbox of financing programs and tax credit incentives. There is no downside to the Sustainable Communities designation – it does not limit business or property owners in any way – and it can help provide partial funding for various projects. All incorporated towns in Carroll County already have this designation. Once designated, businesses and residents in a small area of Finksburg (a 600-acre region surrounding the old village of Finksburg) would be able to access a variety of state programs including:

• Support for projects that make the community more attractive to businesses
• Grants for renovation, energy efficiency, and acquisition for public benefit
• Support for businesses, including job creation tax credits
• Homeowner incentives to reduce vacancies
• Green improvements, lighting, streetscapes, and signage
• Strategic demolition of derelict buildings
• Financing to rehabilitate older properties

The work group was asked to assist with elements of the application, including quality of life, economy, transportation, and housing issues, and coming up with ideas for improving the community over the next five years. More information on the plan and program is here: http://dhcd.maryland.gov/Communities/Pages/dn/default.aspx

https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/residents/county-news/county-news-releases/finksburg-awarded-sustainable-community-designation/

Attention Finksburg Residents and Businesses!
A gateway tax credit has been enacted for the Maryland Route 140 Corridor through Finksburg from the Baltimore County line. This proposal is important to the future development of the Finksburg Community. FPACC is a strong proponent of a Gateway Renovation Tax Credit. In a letter addressed to Lawrence (Larry) F. Twele, Director, Carroll County Department of Economic Development, we recommend that the proposed ordinance only be for improvement to existing businesses for facade, layout, signs, etc., that adhere strictly to the design guidelines. Furthermore we strongly urged them to consider the inclusion of the Planning Dept., the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Rt. 140 Design Guidelines. Full Letter. The final approved ordinance was modified from what was originally proposed and addressed some of our concerns.

Additionally a program called Reinvest Maryland can assist with property improvements: https://apps.planning.maryland.gov/reinvestmd/

To view the meeting on the FPACC YouTube channel click: https://youtu.be/sV6O18K3iDo

Be informed!  Attend the Next Meeting!