HAGERSTOWN – Washington County celebrated numerous achievements and set forth an ambitious vision in the areas of infrastructure, public safety, economic development, human services and education, officials said at the 2025 “State of the County” presentation.
More than 200 people attended the event at the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. Hosts included the county Chamber of Commerce, M&T Bank and Comcast.
“Today’s presentation is an opportunity to reflect on progress made in the previous year and explore the county’s goals in the year ahead,” County Administrator Michelle Gordon told the audience at the outset of the event.
In 2024, the county saw some changes in leadership, including the appointment of Brandi Ketner to head the purchasing department, Sean Harbaugh to direct transit and Maria Kramer to oversee grant management.
Of the approved fiscal 2025 budget of $434.01 million, 42 percent will fund education, and 28 percent public safety, indicating a primary focus on community welfare and public service, officials said.
Projects like the Halfway Road extension were the centerpiece of the county’s infrastructure development, in addition to resurfacing 40 miles of roadway. Improvements at the Hagerstown Regional Airport included a $5.25 million grant for expansion of the facility’s terminal.
Other road construction included widening part of Eastern Boulevard and completing the final phase of Professional Boulevard.
Road construction projects, the continued expansion of Washington County’s Division of Emergency Services and a well-known company applying for a local foreign trade zone were among other highlights.
The county invested in public safety with the purchase of new ambulances and firetrucks, as well as enhancing and expanding curricula at the Public Safety Training Center. The sheriff’s office hired 20 new staff members and introduced a new mobile app for community engagement. Emergency services handled nearly 250,000 calls with an average emergency response wait time of less than eight seconds.
Economic initiatives in 2024 included supporting local agriculture with the Farm of the Year award and leveraging foreign trade zones for business growth. Specifically, Stanley Black & Decker is working to establish a foreign trade zone at its distribution center, the county’s third such zone under an updated model.
Engagement with the community took the form of events like the Explorers Challenge that encouraged support for local businesses. The County Gaming Commission distributed in excess of $2.4 million to support local charities and fire and rescue services.
The County Board of Education saw a $1.1 million budget increase and boosted local engagement with outreach such as the Aviation Career Expo in addition to sustainability and historic preservation efforts.
Highlights of the year’s environmental stewardship included the removal of over 1.8 million pounds of debris from roadways and stormwater management systems. The county’s Black Rock Golf Course had a robust year, hosting numerous tournaments, while parks and recreation programs engaged thousands of community members throughout the year.
Looking ahead to 2025, officials said they will maintain focus on these same areas and expand educational and environmental initiatives to ensure the county remains a safe and vibrant home for its citizens. Its commitment to infrastructure, sustainable development and community service will continue with further courthouse renovations, airport upgrades and educational enhancements.
Work is expected to begin later in the year to widen Eastern Boulevard from Security Road to Jefferson Boulevard so there will be two lanes in each direction, with a special emphasis on redesign of the intersection of Eastern and Jefferson boulevards.
Closing the presentation, Chamber of Commerce President Paul Frey noted the Chamber has a comprehensive Strategic Plan that works to safeguard the county’s rural ambience and which includes more construction of local housing.
