This July, I had the opportunity to enjoy all that Maryland has to offer, from touring parts of Western Maryland and visiting the beautiful mid-shore region to enjoying the Tawes Crab & Clam Bake in Crisfield and tasting the delicious food grown all across Maryland at our annual Buy Local Cookout.

To kick off the month, I joined Marylanders in celebrating our nation’s freedom at several Independence Day parades across the state. This is one of my favorite activities of the year because I get to meet so many Marylanders in one day!

Throughout the month, we continued to work tirelessly to change Maryland for the better. We furthered our commitment to ensuring every Marylander receives a world-class education with the launch of a comprehensive college affordability initiative; we brought our regional cabinet meeting to the Mid-Shore where we visited more than 100 local businesses, schools, and community centers; and I visited Hagerstown to discuss our administration’s efforts with workforce development, communities roles in assisting those with substance use disorders, and more. Read about these stops and more below.

The First Lady and I also enjoyed hosting the 11th annual Buy Local Cookout at Government House, with the First Lady serving her delicious Kimchi burgers. (Have you checked out her new cooking series Yumi Cooks!yet?) Every year, I look forward to this event because it is an opportunity to recognize our farmers, producers, and watermen for the valuable role they play in Marylanders’ lives every single day.

July also marked a significant achievement for Maryland on the national stage as I was elected to serve as Vice Chair and Chairman-elect of the bipartisan National Governors Association. I am proud and humbled that our administration can serve as an example to state governments across the country when it comes to enacting common sense policy solutions that improve the daily lives of our citizens, and I look forward to serving as the NGA’s Vice Chair.

Governor Larry Hogan held a Mid-Shore Cabinet Meeting at American Legion Dorchester Post 91 in Cambridge, Md. The governor was joined by Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford, Cambridge Mayor Victoria Jackson-Stanley, Deputy Chief of Staff and former Talbot County legislator Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, as well as dozens of Maryland cabinet secretaries and directors representing agencies across the state, and state and local officials.

“Four years ago, when I was running for governor, I said that the Eastern Shore would no longer be ignored, forgotten, or neglected,” said Governor Hogan. “We have made it a priority to make sure that people on the Eastern Shore know that they have a voice in Annapolis, a seat at the table, and a governor who is working and fighting on your behalf each and every day. Today, we are bringing the entire leadership of the state government directly to you – on the Eastern Shore.”

This day-long visit, which included over 100 stops by the governor, Lt. Governor, cabinet secretaries, and administration officials, brought together elected officials, senior county leadership, local business owners, community leaders, and public service personnel to discuss county specific issues and ensure direct engagement and communication with Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot County constituents.

The governor’s cabinet meeting was the first public event held at American Legion Post 91 since it was damaged by fire in 2016 and rebuilt. The governor participated in an official ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony following the meeting.

Encouraging economic development and new job creation on the Eastern Shore has been a top priority of the Hogan administration; and this past legislative session, the More Jobs for Marylanders Act was expanded to incentivize and encourage manufacturers to create jobs where they are needed most. Additionally, the Mid-Shore counties have just received approval for six new opportunity zones, bringing the Eastern Shore total to 24 opportunity zones to attract even further investment and energize development. Recently, 50 new jobs were added in Cambridge with the expansions of Egide USA, Inc. and Cambridge Federal, as well as 100 new jobs in Talbot County with the expansion of Talbot Commerce Park. In Caroline County, 126 new jobs at Crystal Steel and 100 new jobs at Choptank Transport were added recently.

Governor Larry Hogan announced a comprehensive series of initiatives to make a college education more affordable and provide relief to Marylanders burdened by student debt. Governor Hogan made the announcement at the Universities at Shady Grove campus in Rockville, Md.

“In Maryland, nearly 60 percent of all of our college students are graduating with thousands of dollars in student debt. This financial burden is preventing young Marylanders from achieving financial security and has become a roadblock to home ownership and saving for retirement,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “That changes today, as we provide real and pragmatic solutions for our students and continue to invest, a record $7 billion, into making college affordable and relieving crushing student loan debt.”

Governor Hogan announced that he will reintroduce the administration’s Student Debt Relief Act as emergency legislation on the first day of the 2019 legislative session, allowing Marylanders to deduct 100 percent of the interest paid on their student loans from their income tax return.

Governor Larry Hogan, together with Seema Verma, Administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), signed and officially enacted Maryland’s Total Cost of Care All-Payer Model, known as the “Maryland Model,” in a signing ceremony at the Maryland State House.

Governor Hogan and Administrator Verma were joined by Maryland Department of Health Secretary Robert Neall, Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller, Speaker of the House Michael Busch, as well as numerous healthcare industry representatives and advocates. The Maryland Model is an innovative approach to healthcare provider payment that is unique to Maryland and made possible via a contract between CMS and the state. The new model contract is expected to provide an additional $300 million in savings per year by 2023, totaling $1 billion in savings over five years.

“We are thrilled to be here to officially execute and enact our unique and innovative Maryland Model, which is the only one of its kind in the nation,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Today, we are taking another major step forward in our efforts to ensure that every Marylander has access to quality healthcare. It is my hope that these actions will be an example to the nation that when both sides of the aisle and all levels of government come together to develop innovative solutions, we can make real progress toward addressing our healthcare challenges and making care more accessible and more affordable.”