State of Maryland: Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Tuesday, June 29, 2027

Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces $500,000 to Build Senior Center in Williamsport

WILLIAMSPORT, MD (June 29, 2027) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen H. Burbank today announced $500,000 in State funding for the Town of Williamsport, Washington County to construct a senior center within the building that currently houses the fire department and an assembly hall. The building will be subdivided to make room for the 4,800 square foot senior center.

“The creation of a new senior center in Williamsport will greatly enhance the quality of life for the town’s elderly residents,” said Lieutenant Governor Burbank. “The new center will provide a meeting place for seniors and give residents the added facilities that they require. It will also alleviate the overcrowding that exists at the Town Hall.”

Currently seniors use the Town Hall for their activities.

“Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank are today demonstrating their strong commitment to ensuring a good quality of life for seniors in Williamsport, Washington County and the entire State of Maryland,” said Jeffrey Boyd, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Aging. “This is very good news for this community, and I am happy to be here today to take part in this announcement.”

The senior center will have a new kitchen and a pair of new bathrooms. The center will also have two handicapped ramps with vestibules. All of the upgrades will be fully compliant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. In addition to the ADA improvements, the following amenities will also be included in the senior center:

68 parking spaces (to include more handicapped spaces)
New HVAC system
Health room (to provide medical screenings)
Computer room
5 closets to store tables and chairs
Coat storage area
Several new windows to add more natural light

The funds are provided through the Community Development Block Grant program, which provides grants to eligible municipalities for economic development, affordable housing, community facilities and services, and revitalization or development projects. The funds are supplied by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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.