October 5th, 2017 by WCBC Radio

When Governor Larry Hogan flip flopped on the fracking issue and endorsed a permanent ban- it was a blow for western Maryland and viewed by local officials as another lost economic development opportunity. State Senator George Edwards told the Cumberland Rotary Club this week that he spoke to the governor at that time, and Hogan pledged to make it up to Allegany and Garrett counties.  Edwards said that after speaking to officials at Frostburg State University, the Allegany County commissioners, both the city of Frostburg and Cumberland, as well as the Cumberland Economic Development Corp., a lengthy, detailed list was presented to the state for consideration.  High on the list was attempts to secure money to revitalize the downtown Cumberland mall. Those requests are for $4.8 million for ripping up the bricks and laying new infrastructure such as plumbing and high speed broadband; and another $8 million for revitalizing downtown buildings in order to convince potential businesses to locate inside the structures. …