Stakeholders to consider empty store for new ag center

Instead of constructing a new building, the stakeholders in a plan to establish a regional agriculture center may be eying an empty grocery store in the centrally located area of Charlotte Hall.

During the June 27 meeting of the Tri-County Council, Kathy Bosin, via a virtual Zoom meet, presented an update on Rural Maryland Economic Development Funds projects in Southern Maryland.

Referring to the proposed regional agriculture center as a “long-awaited project,” the report from the entity, which is aligned with the Maryland Department of Commerce, stated, that the project “has taken a circuitous path and now appears to be moving in an entirely new direction with the potential to adapt a vacant grocery store in Charlotte Hall for its use.”

Previously a Shoppers grocery store and a McKay’s grocery before that, the existing building is in a developed shopping center in northern St. Mary’s County.

“The now empty building has meat processing equipment in place as well as twice the cold storage planned for the (regional agriculture center) already up and running,” according to the report. “This opportunity presents considerable cost and time savings and adapts a vacant building into a compatible new use.”

A report issued in May indicated approvals from the St. Mary’s Health Department and the Maryland Fire Marshal’s Office were pending and a bid for construction of a new building could go out during the summer.

State economic development officials now report a project extension will be requested.

In 2020, the Southern Maryland Agriculture Development Commission awarded a $1 million grant to St. Mary’s County to develop the regional center, which would be run as a public/private partnership.

In some other agriculture-related news, Mary Wood a Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission board member, reported that the statewide Buy Local Week observance is scheduled for July 19 — 31.

A regional celebration event will be held July 29 at Serenity Farm in Benedict. The event, which will include vendors, live music and children’s activities, will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, with children under 6 admitted free.