News

Gaming Commission Awards over $2.5 million, $42,500 for Hancock area

by Geoff Fox

The Washington County Gaming Commission awarded $2.5 million in allocations in its annual gaming fund distribution to the Washington County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, as well as 56 local charitable organizations.

Three Hancock area organizations received a total of $42,500 from the Commission.

Friends of Fort Frederick received $23,000, Interfaith Service Coalition $17.500, and Hancock Little League $2,000.

The Gaming Fund total of $2,543,030 for fiscal year 2023, which ended June 30, represents a decrease of $47,982 compared to fiscal year 2022 revenues.

State laws require those funds be divided equally between the Washington County Fire and Rescue Association and local charities, and in January the Association received $580,035.

As of August 8, an additional $691,479 has been distributed, bringing the yearly total for Fire and Rescue to $1,271,515.

In May, the Washington County Gaming Commission received 85 separate applications from 73 charitable organizations requesting a total of $2,992,551.

After hosting a gaming hearing in June, and a one-day workshop in July, the Commission was able to either partially or fully fund 63 of the total requests.

Of the 85 received, 29 applications were fully funded, 33 partial funding, and 23 were denied funding. A total of

$1,271,515 of gaming funds were allocated to 56 of the 73 charitable organizations applying.

The Community Free Clinic received the largest award of $170,000 followed by The Salvation Army receiving $105,000 and R.E.A.C.H. of Washington County receiving $100,000.