Basking in bright, hot sun in the center of historic Leonardtown, Gov. Martin O’Malley proclaimed in front of national and local press that, in honor of Leonardtown’s 300th anniversary, the town was Capital for a Day.

At the press conference, O’Malley launched an initiative to advance Maryland’s effort toward smart sustainable growth. The Maryland Sustainable Communities Initiative is a joint program of the Maryland Departments of Planning, Housing and Community Development, and Business and Economic Development. The initiative is set to provide resources and technical assistance to communities, such as Leonardtown, with limited resources to balance economic, environmental and social needs by developing plans that meet state and local goals.

After the press conference at a luncheon with town and county officials at the Leonardtown Wharf, Gov. O’Malley presented Mayor Norris and the St. Mary’s County Commissioners with a check for $743,720 for waterway improvements.

“Improvements to our scenic waterways such as Brenton Bay and the Potomac River ensure that even more Marylanders get to experience the natural beauty of the Chesapeake Bay,” said O’Malley. “Local projects supported by the state’s Waterway Improvement Fund, such as the Leonardtown Wharf, allow these important recreational and economic resources to flourish, creating a positive impact for all of Southern Maryland.”

Waterway improvement funds, which include $200,000 to help finance construction of piers, tie-ups and slips for boats, canoes and kayaks as the Leonardtown Wharf Public Waterfront Park are part of the more than $1.72 million Maryland has invested in waterway improvements and Project Open Space funding.

The governor’s next stop today is at Bowles Farm in Clements and then he will wrap up his whirlwind tour of St. Mary’s County at Patuxent Naval Air Station.