Sudlersville Middle School moves closer to reuse with new grant application

CENTREVILLE — New life for the former Sudlersville Middle School marches forward as Queen Anne’s County Commissioners approved Queen Anne’s County Economic and Tourism Development’s application for another Rural Maryland Council Grant for up to $50,000 July 9.

The grant application through the Rural Maryland Council seeks to fund predevelopment consulting costs up to $50,000 for the adopted reuse of the former school, according to Economic Development Director Heather Tinelli.

Currently owned by the Sudlersville Volunteer Fire Company, both parties have had a great working partnership as they take the planning and pre-development steps needed to develop a feasibility study and adaptively reuse the former Sudlersville Middle School building, she said.

A request of $50,000 will fund consulting fees for developer outreach, identification of anchor tenants/users, and issuance of request for proposals to bring on an established development partner via a Master Developer Agreement.

A community laundromat currently operates out of the facility with several part-time employees and is doing well, she said.

The fire department will supply the match to this grant so there will be no out of pocket funding required from the county, according to Tinelli.

A Community Development Block Grant was completed in early 2023 to conduct a feasibility study of the property, and determined that the building is an ideal candidate for reuse.

The goal is to create a regional facility that will be an economic driver for the area, according to Tinelli.

Through the CDBG, the first part of the project explored what the building could potentially be used for and a study identified the facility in great shape and gauged community interest in 2022, she said.

Through the second phase of the project, the county received a $30,000 award from Rural Maryland Council in FY2024 to complete a market analysis that includes a financial model and redevelopment strategies; all of which are on track to be completed in partnership with the Maryland Economic Development Corporation and identify affordable lease rates and uses are needed for the area.

Phase Three is the final initial component that includes assistance with the state to identify developer relationships and funding opportunities, Tinelli said.

The former middle school has gained visibility through recent bus tour stops with the Secretary of the Department of Housing & Community Development, and Maryland Association of Counties as the county lays the groundwork for awareness and future state support of the project, Tinelli said.

“There are all kinds of entities that have looked at it to say, how can we support the community,” she said.