Williamsport Gets $275K Grant For Visitor Center

WILLIAMSPORT, Md. (AP) -- The town of Williamsport has received a $275,000 grant to build a visitor center near the C&O Canal National Historical Park.

The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown reports the grant comes from the Appalachian Regional Commission. The town has said it will contribute the rest of the funding for the project, estimated to cost a total of about $672,260.

The town council is expected to discuss next month whether to accept the grant and move forward with the project. Mayor James McCleaf II says the town could then seek bids on the project in October or November, and the center could open by next spring.

Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin said in a statement that the visitor center is expected to bring an additional 310,000 visitors to the area annually.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)