ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today visited Salisbury to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremonies for Salisbury University’s Blackwell Hall renovation and Salisbury Regional Airport’s Runway Expansion Program. The governor’s visit to support two of the city’s largest economic institutions, reinforces the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to supporting rural communities and making Maryland more competitive.
“I’m excited to be back on the Eastern Shore to meet with students from Salisbury University, as well as leaders at the local, state, and federal levels, to celebrate our shared efforts to make Maryland more competitive,” said Gov. Moore. “Together, we will create pipelines to the jobs of the future, grow our economy, and build new pathways to work, wages, and wealth for all Marylanders — from the Western Mountains to the Eastern Shore.”
This morning, the governor took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for Salisbury University’s Blackwell Hall renovation. The site will be transformed from a previous campus library into a student union and resource hub, where financial aid, academic advising, admissions, and career services will be housed; along with serving as a campus health, counseling, and disabilities resource center. The building is also expected to be the first facility in the University System of Maryland to be fully compliant with Climate Solutions Now Act building energy performance standards requirements. The Moore-Miller administration has invested $29.9 million into the project and will include more than $35 million in the administration’s planned FY26 and FY27 capital budgets.
After the groundbreaking ceremony, the governor was joined by Salisbury University President Dr. Carolyn Lepre to meet with students from Powerful Connections, a primarily first-generation, student-led mentoring organization on Salisbury University’s campus. Last year, the governor visited the university and met with this same group of students to discuss their future educational goals and job aspirations here in Maryland.
In the afternoon, the governor was joined by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day, Habitat for Humanity Wicomico County CEO Molly Hilligoss, Salisbury PFLAG Executive Director Mark DeLancey, and local business and community leaders for lunch at Specific Gravity Pizzeria & Beer Joint. During the meal, they discussed ongoing community partnership initiatives in the region and collaborative efforts to support local development.
The governor joined Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano, Salisbury Regional Airport Director Tony Rudy, and regional leaders at the groundbreaking for the Salisbury Regional Airport’s Runway Expansion Program. Funded by federal, state, local, and private sources, the project aims to enhance airline service, create high-paying jobs, and strengthen the aviation sector. The Moore-Miller Administration has allocated $947,676 for runway expansion, terminal upgrades, and airport security. With an additional $581,316 from the Maryland Aviation Administration’s FY24 budget and $366,360 from FY25 budget. Federal funding totals to $5.5 million from the Department of Transportation’s Airport Improvement Program.
The governor also toured the progress of the Aviation Maintenance Technician school hanger. During the tour, the governor met with students and staff in the Aviation Sciences program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the state’s only four-year bachelor’s degree program in aviation. On his 100th day in office in 2023, the governor toured the hangar in its infancy. The Salisbury Regional Airport is the second largest airport in Maryland and serves the public and private sector business travelers as the largest airport on the Delmarva Peninsula.
two thoughts, when I moved here in the 80’s salisbury had a tiny little terminal an two airlines serving the community. that changed not long afterwards and there hasn’t been enough demand to support two airlines. In the 90’s the local airline received state money to put in en engine test cell that was supposed to generate a number of high paying jobs, jobs never appeared. where’s that test cell today? last time I checked the current airlines work force is a shell of what it once was, to save money they stated using unlicensed techs to do the work followed by a licensed mech going behind them and signing for their work, how much does an unlicensed tech make vs licensed mech? think this airline will hire all those newly licensed mechs? a longer runway? why? please do explain who is promising to come here and land anything bigger then a regional jet here? so how many high paying jobs are they now promising? total lies! as for SU, well I have always said it is welfare for the over educated. Using our tax dollars to support a state publicly funded organization that would rather take out of state students to maximize revenue then take in state students. All while sucking off the tax payer tit! stop with the press releases the feel good stories and actually do some research and real journalism on who this is really benefiting. from this largess. How about cutting taxes in this over taxed state? did that ever occur to the dummies in charge?
Did Mike Dunn or Jake Day manage to move their respective chair closer for the prime ass kissing position?
Is that a cartoon picture of people with shovels in their hands ? Neither them has ever used a shovel in their entire life time. Construction worker posers is what they are. None of them know what a real days work is.
Pos governor we have now.
not my governor
Fools are in control of that airport. Know their names because in a short time Wicomico county will learn those millions of dollars that are being spent at that airport will have been wasted and should have been spent on project that benefit all Wicomico county.
Grant money is just circulated and wasted to high up salaries. Andy Harris gives a lot of grant money. Theses nonprofit businesses need to be investigated.Money wasted on painting buildings all over Salisbury lots of waste. No accountability. Got homeless everywhere, roads in need of repair and etc.