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Glenwood Sewer Extension Project
GLENWOOD SEWER EXTENSION PROJECT
Harford CountyDivision of Water & Sewer
The Glenwood Sewer Extension project is a Harford County Division of Water & Sewer capital project. The project is a private septic system to public sewer conversion which will provide the properties being served with access to public sewer. It includes the construction of approximately 1,200 linear feet of 8-inch public gravity sewer to serve fifteen (15) properties along the 1500 block of Donegal Road and the 100/200 blocks of Duncannon Road in the Glenwood subdivision in Bel Air, Maryland.
The project originated as a sewer petition where the property owners petitioned Harford County for access to public sewer. The petition project was approved by Harford County Council under Resolution No. 027-23 on May 2, 2023, which includes an annual assessment to be paid by the property owners to Harford County to pay for the project. Following the completion of the sewer construction, each property owner will be responsible for hiring a plumber to abandon their septic system and make the connection to the public sewer cleanout. Maryland Department of the Environment, Bay Restoration Grant Funding is available to assist the property owners with costs related to abandonment of the private septic systems and connecting to public sewer.
For more information about the Glenwood Sewer Extension project, please contact the Harford County Division of Water & Sewer at 410-638-3300.
Economic Development
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Harford’s Cassilly Administration Receives $450K State Award to Support Edgewood Revitalization
BEL AIR, Md., (Dec. 19, 2025) - Harford County has been awarded $450,000 in state revitalization funding through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to support housing stability and community revitalization efforts in Edgewood. The funding is part of a larger statewide investment to strengthen local economies, improve housing conditions, and advance revitalization in designated communities across Maryland.
“Harford County will use this state funding to stabilize neighborhoods and strengthen communities in need,” County Executive Bob Cassilly said. “By directing these state grants toward home repairs and economic revitalization we will help make Edgewood a vibrant place to live and work.”
Of the total awarded to Harford County government:
- The Harford County Department of Housing & Community Services received $100,000 to establish the Edgewood Neighborhood Homeowner Rehabilitation Program, targeted exclusively to the Edgewood Sustainable Community. The program will support legacy low-to-moderate income homeowners with critical home repairs, helping residents safely remain in their homes while stabilizing surrounding neighborhoods.
- The Harford County Department of Economic Development received $350,000 for the Revitalization of the Edgewater Village Shopping Center and surrounding community in Edgewood. Funding will support the installation of a security system, the creation of an employment resource center, and efforts to attract new retail tenants, strengthening the area as a community and economic hub.
These investments directly bolster the work of Harford County’s Southern County Taskforce; an award-winning initiative developed under County Executive Bob Cassilly to address the unique opportunities and challenges facing southern Harford County. Through collaboration among residents, businesses, and government partners, the taskforce advances targeted improvements in public safety, infrastructure, neighborhood appearance, recreational opportunities, and small business support. The new funding reinforces these ongoing efforts by improving housing conditions, strengthening commercial centers, and enhancing quality of life in Edgewood.
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Harford County Celebrates $1M Maryland Grant, Advancing Biomanufacturing at CONVERGE Center
BEL AIR, Md., (Dec. 8, 2025) - Harford County is celebrating an important milestone for the region’s growing biomanufacturing sector: a $1 million state award to help build Maryland’s first fully integrated algae-based biomanufacturing facility.
The Equitech Growth Fund award from TEDCO - a state-supported agency that assists technology companies - will go to local biomanufacturer BrightWave LLC. Combined with a $2M match from the venture capital firm Actual VC, the funding will enhance BrightWave’s ongoing work with Early Charm Ventures VC at Harford County’s CONVERGE Center in Aberdeen, located near Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Biomanufacturing uses living systems, like algae, bacteria, or enzymes, to make materials in cleaner, more efficient ways than traditional manufacturing: it’s a rapidly expanding $500B industry where Harford County is well positioned thanks to its growing talent pool, strong research partners, and expanding lab space. Building on the state’s earlier $500,000 Build Our Future investment, which helped to establish tools now powering CONVERGE’s biomanufacturing ecosystem, this new award will support advanced production equipment and key facility upgrades, including:
- BrightWave’s patented photobioreactors, enabling high-density, controlled algae growth for consistent biomaterial production.
- Specialized downstream processing tools, such as custom pyrolysis units and dewatering systems, which turn raw algae into usable products efficiently on a mass scale.
- Upgrades to air handling, water processing, environmental controls, and bioprocessing utilities ensuring the facility can operate safely, reliably, and at the level required for commercial production.
These improvements will transform 1,000 square feet of CONVERGE into a state-of-the-art production floor capable of making sustainable materials—from carbon-negative building products to specialty chemicals used in personal care, aerospace, and defense.
“This award, strengthened by Harford County’s continued partnership, accelerates CONVERGE’s emergence at light speed as a premier hub for advanced manufacturing and opens the door to exceptional high-value job creation throughout the region,” said Ken Malone, CEO of Early Charm Ventures.
The investment marks a major step forward in Harford County’s long-term strategy to grow a world-class biomanufacturing hub. Earlier county and state support, such as the wet lab retrofit that enabled the BrightCharm Proving Ground partnership between BrightWave and Early Charm, created the foundation that helped make this award possible. These combined advancements have also contributed to the Greater Baltimore Region’s recent Federal Tech Hub designation in biomanufacturing, positioning the area for substantial federal investment in the years ahead.
“BrightWave’s award is a major win for Harford County and the Greater Baltimore region. It demonstrates the kind of innovation the federal Tech Hub designation was meant to ignite, and it shows how regional coordination and targeted investment can build an ecosystem that supports cutting-edge companies and creates high-value jobs. We’re excited for what this means not just for CONVERGE, but for the future of biomanufacturing in our county,” said Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly.
The Equitech Growth Fund, part of TEDCO’s Cultivate Maryland initiative, supports infrastructure and workforce development projects that help Maryland compete in innovation-driven industries. In the most recent round, the program awarded more than $4.3 million across nine projects statewide. BrightWave’s $1 million award was the largest infrastructure investment, underscoring the growing importance of Harford County’s biomanufacturing cluster.
As new talent pipelines, research partnerships, and production capabilities continue to expand across the region, Harford County is proud to celebrate this award as a testament to the strength of its innovation ecosystem and its commitment to supporting high-impact, future-focused industries.
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Harford County Encourages Residents to Shop Small This Holiday Season
BEL AIR, Md., (Nov. 25, 2025) - With Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday quickly approaching, the Harford County Department of Economic Development is encouraging residents to shop small this holiday season and keep their dollars local. Supporting Harford’s small businesses strengthens the county’s economy, sustains local jobs, and helps entrepreneurs who bring character and charm to every corner of our community.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Harford County,” County Executive Bob Cassilly said. “When we choose to shop local, we’re not just buying holiday gifts: we’re supporting our friends, neighbors, and community members who work hard every day to make Harford a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Harford County is home to hundreds of small businesses offering unique products, handcrafted goods, specialty foods, local art, outdoor experiences, personal services, and more, providing gift options perfect for anyone on your list, at any age. Whether shopping in-store or online, residents can explore a wide variety of businesses throughout the county.
The county’s three municipalities, Aberdeen, Bel Air, and Havre de Grace, each offer vibrant downtowns filled with one-of-a-kind shops, holiday markets, cafés, boutiques, and local artisans, making them ideal destinations for seasonal shopping. Beyond the town centers, small businesses across Harford’s rural landscape and vibrant business districts offer even more opportunities to find meaningful gifts while supporting the local economy.
“Local businesses are what make Harford County special,” said Karen Holt, Director of Economic Development. “The dollars spent in a small business stay in our community, supporting jobs, expanding opportunity, and helping our business districts thrive. This holiday season, we encourage everyone to explore the incredible range of shops and experiences available right here at home. It's a small gesture that can make a big impact.”
For tools, business directories, and resources to help you discover local shopping opportunities throughout Harford County, visit www.harfordcountymd.gov.
Harford County Government News
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Harford Executive Cassilly Statement on Public Attack on County Employee
BEL AIR, Md., (Jan. 29, 2026) – The following is a statement from Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly.
“Earlier today one of our county employees was publicly attacked in a news release laden with falsehoods, issued by Gerald Eaton, president of the Harford County Deputy Sheriff’s Union. Mr. Eaton called for our employee’s immediate termination without due process and falsely and recklessly asserted a risk to public safety from her continued employment.
I can assure our community that despite this desperate and politically motivated attack, public safety is not at risk. This employee does not, and never has, dispatched police – a fact that is well-known to Mr. Eaton.
The employee in question was arrested in November during off-duty hours and pled guilty to a DUI and failure to stop for police. Following her arrest, she placed herself on leave for six weeks. Her case was heard on January 21 and she is awaiting sentencing.
My administration sets high standards for county employees, and every employee is entitled to due process. Upon learning of the arrest in this case, we immediately began an investigation and repeatedly requested from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office the body cam evidence of her alleged incendiary comments to police. Such evidence has been withheld from the county to this day. Instead, we now have a smear campaign attempting to derail our ongoing Human Resources investigation.
Furthermore, it is highly hypocritical that Mr. Eaton, who just a month ago publicly advocated for greater protections for county employees, is now trampling on due process when it suits his political agenda.”
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Harford County Retains AAA Bond Rating; Highest Possible Rating Reduces Borrowing Costs
BEL AIR, Md., (Jan. 28, 2026) - Harford County has retained its AAA bond rating in 2026 from all three major, independent bond-rating agencies. The ratings place Harford among less than 2% of counties nationwide to earn the highest possible credit rating from S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings.
“Harford’s AAA credit ratings matter because they save taxpayer money by lowering our cost of borrowing to fund public safety and school facilities, roads, bridges, and other vital infrastructure,” County Executive Bob Cassilly said. “These highest possible ratings from independent professionals also support my administration’s conservative approach to revenue forecasting, budgeting, and fiscal management. I appreciate the rating agencies’ recognition that we eliminated an inherited, major structural deficit ahead of schedule, and we continue to live within our taxpayers’ means. I would like to thank my Treasury, Budget and Economic Development teams, and all county employees, for contributing to this exceptional achievement.”
Regarding the Cassilly administration’s elimination of an inherited $90M structural deficit, S&P noted, “The county was also able to return to a structural balance position a year earlier than anticipated.”
S&P also commended the county’s approach to the budget: “Management is robust, conservative, and uses several outside sources when crafting the budget … Harford County continues to realize expenditure savings, as it closely monitors expenses, exploring saving through efficiencies and other expenditure-saving opportunities.”
Moody’s cited the county’s “Strong financial management, demonstrated by the ability to stabilize operations through cost containment measures and revenue growth.”
Fitch noted that the Harford County's AAA rating “reflects the county's 'Strongest' demographic and economic level metrics, particularly its high median household income and low unemployment rate relative to the national benchmark.”
Harford County’s next annual bond sale is set for February 3; proceeds will help fund the new Riverside Fire & EMS station, the new Homestead Wakefield Elementary School, Harford Technical High School’s renovation, Harford Community College’s Chesapeake Welcome Center, and a systemic HVAC renovation at Aberdeen Middle School, among other major projects.
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Harford Executive Cassilly Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Winter Storm
BEL AIR, Md., (Jan. 23, 2026) - Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly declared a local state of emergency on January 23, 2026, due to a winter storm forecasted by the National Weather Service. The declaration activates the county’s emergency operations plans and responses and directs county departments to coordinate response and recovery efforts with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management and other agencies. The county executive’s action follows a state of emergency declared earlier in the day by Maryland Governor Wes Moore and will allow Harford County to apply for federal funds to recoup storm-related expenses.
“As Harford County braces for the coming winter storm, I encourage our citizens to stay off the roads and stay inside, if possible,” County Executive Cassilly said. “Our Emergency Operations Center will be activated tomorrow with dedicated staff and first responders working around the clock to support our citizens throughout the storm.”
Citizens are encouraged to call 911 only for emergencies. The Harford County Hotline 410-838-5800 will be open at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, for non-emergency calls and to answer any questions citizens may have.
For more storm-related information and updates, please visit www.harfordcountymd.gov and follow Harford County Government and Harford County Emergency Services on Facebook.
Photo Caption: Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly, right, signs a local state of emergency declaration as Department of Emergency Services Director Rick Ayers looks on, Jan. 23, 2026.