\n Updated: Friday, May 8, 2026<\/p>\n
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ANNAPOLIS, MD \u2014\u00a0Governor Wes Moore today continued his statewide \u201cDelivering for Maryland\u201d tour with a series of engagements in Washington County, highlighting vital investments in local transportation infrastructure, manufacturing job growth, and early childhood education. The governor emphasized state contributions to modernize the Hagerstown Regional Airport, toured the state-of-the-art Hitachi Rail facility, and celebrated the opening of a new child care center in the South End of Hagerstown funded by the administration\u2019s historic ENOUGH Initiative.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom investing $1.5 million to update Hagerstown Regional Airport\u2019s aging control tower to supporting 1,300 jobs at Hitachi Rail, the Moore-Miller administration is delivering for Hagerstown, Washington County, and Western Maryland,\u201d\u00a0said Gov. Moore. \u201cThrough our administration\u2019s ENOUGH Initiative partnerships and investments, we\u2019ve tripled child care capacity in the South End of Hagerstown \u2014 because no parents should be forced to pick between staying in the workforce or securing quality care for their kids.\u201d<\/p>\n
The governor began the day at the Hagerstown Regional Airport, touring the Air Traffic Control Tower and airport grounds. During the visit, Governor Moore highlighted the State\u2019s $1.5 million Fiscal Year 2027 investment to complete the design for a critical replacement of the airport\u2019s aging air traffic control facility. As a primary airport in the Maryland Aviation System Plan, the Hagerstown Regional Airport is a vital economic engine for Washington County, supporting more than 1,800 jobs and generating over $140 million in local business revenue.<\/p>\n
Following the airport tour, Governor Moore visited the Hitachi Rail STS facility alongside Congresswoman April McClain Delaney, Senator Mike McKay, Senator Paul Corderman and state transportation leaders. The governor toured the factory floor and rode a test train to observe the manufacturing process.\u00a0Opened in September 2025<\/a>\u00a0with the support of a $1.6 million state conditional loan, the 307,000-square-foot, carbon-neutral facility is a $100 million capital investment by Hitachi. The factory supports 1,300 jobs \u2014 including 460 newly created jobs \u2014 and is actively manufacturing railcars for both the Maryland Transit Administration and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.<\/p>\n \u201cHitachi Rail has built a cutting-edge model for advanced manufacturing here in Western Maryland which is focused on delivering clean, safe, efficient regional transportation across our state and the rest of the country,\u201d\u00a0said Congresswoman April McClain Delaney. \u201cThis facility is powered by Maryland\u2019s second-to-none workforce and world-class innovation environment. I\u2019m proud to work with Governor Moore and our public, private, and philanthropic partners to drive global investment that supports jobs and economic growth along our I-270 Tech Corridor.\u201d<\/p>\n Governor Moore concluded the day at the Children\u2019s Learning and Empowerment Center in the South End of Hagerstown, where he met with parents, children, and community leaders. During the visit, the Governor highlighted the administration\u2019s\u00a0ENOUGH Initiative<\/a>, which provided critical support for the center\u2019s opening. The new facility is a major win for the community, tripling local childcare capacity with 24 new slots and generating six new early childhood education jobs.<\/p>\n The Children\u2019s Learning and Empowerment Center\u2019s opening was accelerated by a $100,000 investment from San Mar Family & Community Services, the ENOUGH grantee in Hagerstown. ENOUGH grant funding was also supplemented by a $100,000 philanthropic contribution from the Bainum Family Foundation \u2014 a member of the\u00a0ENOUGH Alliance<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 to complete necessary facility upgrades. The center\u2019s completion underscores the strength of the ENOUGH Initiative\u2019s public-private partnerships to deliver on community priorities and work towards ending child poverty.<\/p>\n![\"Governor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/aws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260509T062857Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=600&X-Amz-Signature=.webp\")
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