A portion of land adjacent to Frostburg State University  (FSU) is available for a mixed-use development project, according to a new Request for Proposals by the local city government.

The City of Frostburg is seeking proposals from developers and project firms interested in purchasing and redeveloping the highly-visible property, which consists of eight vacant parcels totaling approximately one acre.

The mixed-use construction should be between two to four floors, with the upper floor spaces dedicated to providing much-needed housing for the local workforce, including employees of FSU. The ground floor will focus on retail and office spaces, offering commercial opportunities for those residing and doing business in Allegany County.

The revamped site will enhance the entrance into the Frostburg community and the college campus, and the potential for commercial opportunities should complement the town’s campus and its surroundings. The site is located within both an Opportunity Zone  and Enterprise Zone , as well as near the site of a new possible transit hub for the university and the county.

Those interested in the development opportunity can find the official 37-page proposal document on the city’s website . Proposals are due December 17, 2021.

This initiative is one of several efforts underway in the City of Frostburg to advance economic development throughout the region.

The university is also working to complete the Western Maryland Advanced Technology Center  at the institution, which will focus on preparing the state’s workforce for the future of technology in several Maryland sectors, including renewable energy, life sciences, transportation, cybersecurity, and more. The project has received financial support from local, state, and federal government entities and continues to grow.

While the Advanced Technology Center welcomed its first tenant  in its Innovation Park last year, the project is expected to be finished with construction in 2022. The timing couldn’t be better, as the university just announced it was awarded nearly $1.5 million  to support education, entrepreneurship, and a number of industries through the tech center.