Subsidy

The Washington County Department of Social Services is offering a wage subsidy program to local employers who hire their temporary cash assistance customers. This 16-week program will reimburse participating employers for up to 100 percent of the gross salary that they pay to participants (some restrictions apply). Employment must be for a minimum of 30 hours per week and a maximum of 40 hours per week. Social Services offers supportive services for wage subsidy program participants by providing transportation assistance, child-care vouchers, work uniforms and work equipment as well as case management services.

HAGERSTOWN - For the first time in 76 years, Hagerstown Regional Airport does not have passenger airline service. The airport's only commercial carrier, Air Midwest, left Monday after its contract to fly US Airways Express flights to and from the airport expired. Air Midwest officials had said the carrier would not continue its twice-daily flights between Hagerstown and Pittsburgh without federal funding. Although President Bush signed into law Saturday a spending bill that includes temporary funding for the Essential Air Service subsidy program, Air Midwest did not renew its contract.

HAGERSTOWN - Commercial air service at Hagerstown Regional Airport would be preserved through at least Nov. 15 under a federal funding bill awaiting President Bush's signature. Without the funding, Air Midwest, the only carrier serving the airport, has said it will leave when its contract expires Sunday. Maryland senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski said a measure to extend the Essential Air Service subsidy program was part of a stopgap spending bill that Congress passed Thursday night.

Commercial air service at Hagerstown Regional Airport would be preserved through at least Nov. 15 under a federal funding bill awaiting President Bush's signature. Without the funding, Air Midwest, the only carrier serving the airport, has said it will leave when its contract expires Sunday. Maryland senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski said a measure to extend the Essential Air Service subsidy program was part of a stopgap spending bill that Congress passed Thursday night.

HAGERSTOWN - Local residents likely will no longer be able to book flights through Hagerstown Regional Airport starting Monday. Air Midwest, which has flown US Airways commuter flights between Hagerstown and Pittsburgh for the last three years, has said it will leave the airport when its contract expires Sunday. Airport officials had not found a carrier to replace Air Midwest by Wednesday evening, according to Greg Larsen, Business Development Manager for Hagerstown Regional Airport.

Thumbs up to the Washington County Commissioners, for their decision to hold up approval of a Clear Spring housing development until some of the school crowding issues have been worked out. Because of the state regulation and approval process, it's not as easy to build or enlarge a school as it is to build single-family dwellings. If the next wave of homebuilding has started, by golly, let's get it planned correctly. Thumbs up to the Franklin County (Pa.) Commissioners, for their decision to ban open burning, starting Sunday.

HAGERSTOWN - Hagerstown Regional Airport's only provider of commercial airline service will be leaving the airport in September. Air Midwest will discontinue flights at Hagerstown Regional Airport on Sept. 30, when the company's $650,000 annual federal subsidy to provide service at the airport expires. Tom Bacon of Mesa Air Group, which owns Air Midwest, said it would not be profitable to continue flying to Hagerstown after the subsidy ends. "We've done the calculations, and it just doesn't make sense," Bacon said.

HAGERSTOWN - U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin introduced legislation Wednesday to help Hagerstown Regional Airport keep a federal subsidy to provide commercial air service through 2012. The Washington County airport is designated as an Essential Air Service facility, which means it is eligible for the subsidy so it can maintain a minimum level of passenger service. A US Airways Express carrier at the airport receives the $650,000 annual federal subsidy to provide that service.