Editing Williamsport, Maryland (section)

==Recent developments==
The town's historic core was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] as the [[Williamsport Historic District]] in 2001.<ref name="nris2008a">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref>

The town in May 2010 secured Michael Sparks, a previous town consultant and writer of a revitalization feasibility study, as Director of Economic and Community Development to revitalize downtown and attract tourism.<ref name="test">[http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=247293&format=html Williamsport Budget], Andrew Schotz June 14, 2010.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.williamsportmd.gov/docs/minutes/minutes030110.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=August 26, 2011 |archive-date=May 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520175335/http://www.williamsportmd.gov/docs/minutes/minutes030110.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mr. Sparks outlined a revitalization initiative with the acronym of C.A.R.E. 
* C-Connecting the various assets of the Town both physically and aesthetically. 
* A-Align and inform the merchants with the needs and demographics of tourists. 
* R-Rebuild through improving building conditions with Code Enforcement and Ordinance changes. 
* E-Entertainment and how to create excitement to pull tourist activity into the town so that it can be built upon and capitalized on by a revitalized Town Center.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.williamsportmd.gov/docs/minutes/minutes080910.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=August 26, 2011 |archive-date=May 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520175326/http://www.williamsportmd.gov/docs/minutes/minutes080910.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Over a one-year experiment{{when|date=March 2013}} with having a full-time economic development employee<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald-mail.com/news/local/hm-391-million-budget-proposed-for-williamsport-20110605,0,7634158.story |title=$3.91&nbsp;million budget proposed for Williamsport |publisher=herald-mail.com |date=June 5, 2011 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> hundreds of thousands of grant dollars were secured for projects including handicap accessibility for town buildings,<ref name="herald-mail1">{{cite web|url=http://www.herald-mail.com/news/local/hm-williamsport-briefs-20110315,0,424361.story |title=Williamsport briefs |publisher=herald-mail.com |date=March 15, 2011 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> reconstruction of sewage pump stations,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://your4state.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=171226 |title=Town Gets Grant to Help Update Sewer System |publisher=Your4State.com |date=March 10, 2011 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> a possible bike-and-boat rental facility,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald-mail.com/news/local/hm-bikeandboat-rental-facility-in-williamsport-tops-list-of-federal-grant-requests-20110504,0,3407647.story |title=Bike-and-boat rental facility in Williamsport tops list of federal grant requests |publisher=herald-mail.com |date=May 4, 2011 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> and the town was approved as a [[Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area]] Target Investment Zone.<ref name="williamsportmd1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.williamsportmd.gov/docs/minutes/minutes071210.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=August 26, 2011 |archive-date=May 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520175328/http://www.williamsportmd.gov/docs/minutes/minutes071210.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bike lanes,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canaltrust.org/trust/news.php?ac=post&id=7&cat=2&m=0&y=0 |title=Canal Trust |publisher=Canal Trust |date=June 15, 2010 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> bike racks<ref name="williamsportmd1"/> and directional signage were installed to better direct tourists and connect the town with the [[Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park]].<ref name="herald-mail1"/> A new permit process was set up with the [[Washington County, Maryland]] permit office, building code enforcement<ref name="williamsportmd1"/> and heavy truck traffic were addressed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald-mail.com/news/local/hm-williamsport-considers-restricting-truck-weight-20110307,0,7098318.story |title=Williamsport considers restricting truck weight |publisher=herald-mail.com |date=March 7, 2011 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> Events were coordinated that emphasized revitalization and the downtown merchants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://your4state.com/fulltext?nxd_id=135985 |title=Williamsport Overtaken by Pirates |publisher=Your4State.com |date=September 19, 2010 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://your4state.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=135635 |title=Pirates Set to Take Over Williamsport |publisher=Your4State.com |date=September 17, 2010 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.herald-mail.com/2010-09-19/news/25195088_1_town-officials-pirate-s-plunder-pirate-day |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329043058/http://articles.herald-mail.com/2010-09-19/news/25195088_1_town-officials-pirate-s-plunder-pirate-day |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 29, 2012 |title=Pirates plunder Williamsport – Herald-Mail |publisher=Articles.herald-mail.com |date=September 19, 2010 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> Additionally local youth were honored for community involvement,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.herald-mail.com/2010-08-12/news/25197481_1_destination-imagination-students-international-youth-day |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329043106/http://articles.herald-mail.com/2010-08-12/news/25197481_1_destination-imagination-students-international-youth-day |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 29, 2012 |title=Williamsport students honored for International Youth Day – Herald-Mail |publisher=Articles.herald-mail.com |date=August 12, 2010 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> events were coordinated for town youth<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.herald-mail.com/2010-08-15/news/25198144_1_reptile-crib-springfield-farm-barn-balloon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329043109/http://articles.herald-mail.com/2010-08-15/news/25198144_1_reptile-crib-springfield-farm-barn-balloon |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 29, 2012 |title=Williamsport gives youths Last Blast of summer – Herald-Mail |publisher=Articles.herald-mail.com |date=August 15, 2010 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> and a [[Boys & Girls Clubs of America|Boys and Girls Club]] was created.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bgcwc.com/Images/Images/williamsport%20gets%20a%20boys%20%26%20girls%20club.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-date=March 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331065747/http://www.bgcwc.com/Images/Images/williamsport%20gets%20a%20boys%20%26%20girls%20club.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The changes increased business in Williamsport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herald-mail.com/news/hm-business-owners-williamsports-plan-to-attract-tourists-is-working-20110215,0,5889244.story |title=Business owners: Williamsport's plan to attract tourists is working |publisher=herald-mail.com |date=February 15, 2011 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://your4state.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=127245 |title=Small Change Creates Big Boom in Business for Cafe Owner |publisher=Your4State.com |date=August 3, 2010 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> The town is part of a regional initiative known as the Canal Towns Partnership.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.potomacheritage.net/2011/04/williamsport-md/ |title=Williamsport, MD – Potomac Heritage Explorer |publisher=Potomacheritage.net |date=April 11, 2011 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref>

[[FirstEnergy]] corporation closed the [[R. Paul Smith Power Station]] in Williamsport on September 1, 2012.<ref name= "MDE">Maryland Department of the Environment, Baltimore, MD (April 5, 2013). [http://mde.maryland.gov/programs/regulations/air/Documents/RP_Smith_NPA_MD_Reg_4-05-13.pdf "Notice of Proposed Action: 26.11.27 Emission Limitations for Power Plants."] ''Maryland Register,'' Vol. 40, Issue 7. pp. 626-7.</ref>

[[File:2019-06-07 10 52 56 View north along Interstate 81 at Exit 2 (U.S. Route 11, Williamsport) in Williamsport, Washington County, Maryland.jpg|thumb|right|I-81 northbound at the exit for US 11 in Williamsport]]