LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Board of County Commissioners did not advance a request on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, to support a $1 million federal funding application connected to Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA) after a motion failed to receive a second.
Angelica Jackson, co-founder and chief executive officer of Phoenix International Incorporated, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit charter holder for PISOTA, Charles County’s only public charter school, submitted the request seeking a county letter of support for the proposed Live Work Create housing and cultural arts development project.
Jackson did not attend the meeting to present the request.
Funding Request And Project Details
The letter asked the county to support a Congressionally Directed Spending request for fiscal year 2027 submitted through the offices of U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks.
According to agenda documents, the funding would support the pre-development phase of the proposed Live Work Create project, described as a mixed-income workforce housing and cultural arts center development.
Jackson wrote the funding would support “a comprehensive feasibility study that will establish the foundation for a mixed-use development integrating approximately 150 units of mixed-income workforce and intergenerational housing with Charles County’s first professional-grade cultural center.”
The proposal also stated the project aligns with the county’s Public Arts and Cultural Master Plan and Affordable Housing Strategy.
Cost And Timeline
County documents stated the $1 million federal earmark would represent about 80% of pre-development costs, with the remaining approximately $250,000 expected from county, state or private sources. The feasibility phase is expected to take about 18 months if funding is secured.
Meeting Outcome
Commissioners present were President Reuben B. Collins II, Vice President Thomasina Coates, Amanda Stewart and Gilbert “BJ” Bowling. Commissioner Ralph E. Patterson II was not present.
Because the motion did not receive a second, the board could not proceed to discussion or a vote. No further action was taken.
PISOTA And Nonprofit Structure
PISOTA operates as Charles County’s public charter school in partnership with Charles County Public Schools and is managed by Phoenix International Incorporated, a Maryland-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that holds the school’s charter.
Watch the Board of County Commissioners’ March 10, 2026, session on CCGTV.
Phoenix International Responds To Commissioners’ Decision
In a statement provided after the March 10 meeting, Angelica Jackson, co-founder and chief executive officer of Phoenix International Incorporated, said the Charles County-based nonprofit has operated youth arts and leadership programs since 2018 and became a 501(c)(3) organization in 2020.
Jackson said the organization later applied to open PISOTA in 2021 to expand access to arts education through a public charter school model within Charles County Public Schools and emphasized the nonprofit continues to operate community arts programming beyond the school.
She described the proposed Live Work Create project as an effort to address affordable housing challenges and the need for arts and cultural space for artists, educators and small businesses in Charles County.
Jackson also said the organization is continuing its FY2027 federal funding application with support from individual legislators and nonprofit partners.
“Fortunately, individual local and state legislators have recognized the need for affordable housing in our community and reached out to us with letters of support,” Jackson said. “Our community deserves these opportunities.”
Jackson added she hopes local and federal leaders recognize the nonprofit’s efforts to support families, artists, business owners and youth through its programs.
Jackson’s full statement and the submitted Letter of Support request are included below:
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