Gov. Hogan tours Hagerstown, visits local businesses and Meritus Medical Center

Gov. Larry Hogan made his way through Hagerstown on Wednesday, checking out the city's local businesses, stopping by Meritus Medical Center and ending his day at the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County.

Wednesday's visit was meant to highlight projects and programs his administration has helped champion during his nearly eight years in office. It was also part of a trip through Western Maryland that took him to Greenbrier State Park and Allegany County on Tuesday before returning to Washington County the next day.

During a lunch inside 28 South's ballroom, Hogan said he was excited to be back in Hagerstown and to see the progress the city has made.

Hogan recalled when he visited Hagerstown and other parts of Western Maryland seven years ago — while he was running for governor.

"I made a commitment in the areas of our state that have been ignored and neglected, that they would no longer be forgotten," Hogan said.

While Hogan toured downtown Hagerstown, he visited local businesses that have been funded under the $25 million Project Restore initiative — an economic recovery program that Hogan spearheaded last year.

So far there have been 17 businesses in Washington County that have benefited from the program, with an additional 14 businesses announced Tuesday that will receive funding.

The local businesses Hogan visited Wednesday included Alpine Plant Bar, The Collegium and The Foundry Pop Ups.

"These grants were really great for us because we did have a lot of empty storefronts," Mayor Emily Keller Told the Herald-Mail on Wednesday. "And some of these places have been empty for quite some time."

Keller added that Washington County, behind Baltimore, got the highest amount of grants through Project Restore.

More on Hogan's visits: Gov. Hogan hints at new state parks while touting $75M proposed investment in 2023

More on Hogan and Washington County: What Hogan's budget proposal means for Washington County

'An endemic'

Hogan visited Meritus Medical Center on Wednesday morning to tour the hospital and thank health care workers from various departments.

When asked about the Omicron BA.2 variant, Hogan said the state is in the "best place it's been in quite some time." He added that state officials aim to keep it that way, but that they will continue to follow any new variants that pop up.

"But the immediate spike and crisis has really come to an end," Hogan told The Herald-Mail. "And we're trying to get back to some sort of normalcy while also continuing to protect public health."

Maulik S. Joshi, president and CEO of Meritus Health, told the Herald-Mail that the hospital is prepared should a spike occur.

"We are becoming an endemic, which means this is going to be around for a while," Joshi said. "We're ready to turn on any plan we need."

The positivity rate for COVID-19 in the county was 6.76% as of Monday while the positivity rate for the state of Maryland was 2.87%.

The Boys and Girls Club

Hogan also visited the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County in the afternoon to talk about funds dedicated in his proposed capitol budget — currently awaiting approval — toward a new facility for the club.

Hogan dedicated $2 million in his 2023 Fiscal Year Capitol Budget towards the new facility, which has a price tag of $8 million.

Addie Nardi, executive director of the county Boys and Girls Club, said during a Hagerstown City Council meeting this month that she hopes to have the new facility starting next year.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Md. Gov. visits Hagerstown; stops at local businesses and hospital