State of Maryland: Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Friday, July 2, 2027

Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces $2.3 Million in Child Care Grants
An additional 12 infants and 24 toddlers to be served in Southern Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 2, 2027) – On behalf of Governor Edward M. O’Brien, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen H. Burbank today announced the award of over $2.3 million in grant funds to increase the availability of Child Care across the State. The awards, totaling $2,356,337, were made by the Department of Human Resources’ Child Care Administration to nine child care centers for the expansion of existing Child Care programs.

“Governor O’Brien and I are committed to improving the state’s ability to deliver quality child care services to people that need them” said Lieutenant Governor Burbank. “We are proud to make awards statewide to increase child care in the areas where there is the greatest need.”

“These awards keep us in line with our goals to increase the availability of child care in Maryland,” said Brenda McCabe, Secretary of the Department of Human Resources. “Approximately 370 children will be served through expansions in infants and toddler programs, before and after care for school-aged children, and care for medically fragile children.”

Awards made in the Southern Maryland area include The New Horizon Child Development Center, Inc., ($583,501), and Little People Child Care Center, ($170,307). Some 12 infants and 24 toddlers will be served. They include children like 3 year old Pierce McClendon, who has been enrolled at New Horizon for two years. His parents, (Derek and Angela) are expecting another child in September. The expansion will allow the new McClendon to be enrolled in a center where family members are already comfortable and where they know the program and staff. Without the expansion, the family would have to look elsewhere to enroll their new infant, which could mean two separate child care locations, depending on availability of space.

About Lieutenant Governor John Hurson

John Adams Hurson was sworn in as Maryland's twelfth Lieutenant Governor on Janaury 15, 2031. Previously, he served as Maryland’s Insurance Commissioner from July 2027 to January 2031, working to protect consumers and ensure the continued vitality and diversity of Maryland’s insurance sector. Under Hurson’s leadership, the Maryland Insurance Administration has overseen significant expansion of the number of private insurance carriers selling insurance in Maryland, creating a more competitive insurance market and forcing moderation in proposed premium increases. Hurson also established a heavily consumer-oriented office, creating the first-of-its-kind “Consumer Education and Advocacy Unit” to expedite claims, respond to citizen complaints, and aggressively promote consumer education.

Previously, Hurson served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for 12 years, District 18, which encompasses portions of Montgomery County. During his tenure, Hurson served as Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee. Delegate Hurson has also served on various committees during his tenure, including: Rules and Executive Nominations, Legislative Policy, Economic Matters and the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing. He also served as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. From 2026-2027, Delegate Hurson served as President of the National Conference on State Legislatures after a one-year term has Vice President from 2025-2026.

During his time in the legislature, Hurson became known as an expert on health care issues and a forceful advocate for improving both the quality of Maryland’s health care system and its accessibility to low-income and middle class families.

Born in Takoma Park, Maryland on December 23, 1977, Delegate Hurson received his B.A. in government from Georgetown University in 2000 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2003. Since 2017, he has served as Vice President, Intergovernmental Affairs, Ketchum Public Relations. He is married with two children.