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This monthly e-newsletter is where you will learn what's new and exciting in the business and economic development world of Prince George's County. You'll discover why Prince George's County is the best place to do business in the National Capital Region. WE HAVE IT ALL!
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U.S. EDA Invests in University Centers to Promote Economic Growth,
Including University of Maryland
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The U.S. Economic Development Administration announced that 21 universities will receive $12 million in awards from the Administration's University Center Economic Development Program to develop regional economic development tools for practitioners that expand opportunity and create jobs. The University of Maryland at College Park received a $500,000 grant to promote job and economic growth.
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EDC Incubator Company Wins Award
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 The Prince George's County Citizen Corps Council presented the "Uniting Communities, Preparing the Nation" award to TransGlobal Business Systems for setting up the Metropolitan Police Department's situational awareness solution during the activation of the Prince George's County Emergency Operations Center in response to Hurricane Irene. In addition, TransGlobal hosted a public safety event of the latest in homeland security technology to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. TransGlobal Business Systems provides increased public safety communications between Prince George's County and Washington, D.C., allowing additional responses to all potential threats within the National Capital Region.
TransGlobal Business Systems is a Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation Technology Assistance Center (TAC) success story.
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County Executive Announces Sale of
General Obligation Bonds
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County Executive Rushern L. Baker III
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On September 15, 2011, Prince George's County sold $280,965,000 in General Obligation Bonds at an interest rate of 2.24%. $98,590,000 of this amount was for new projects and $182,375,000 was to refund prior bonds.
"We are very proud of the fact that the bond investors continue to place a high premium on Prince George's County securities as evident by the successful bond sale and refunding bond sale yesterday," said County Executive Rushern L. Baker. "The new bond sale will allow us to continue our critical infrastructure investments in our K-12 schools, highways and roads, community college, libraries, and stormwater management systems."
Before the sale, the three rating agencies, Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch, confirmed the County's 'AAA' bond rating, the highest possible rating.
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Vocation Station Receives 2011 CAM Award
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 | Vocation Station Team:
(l to r): Tina Sinclair, Tanya Anderson, Hasan Majied |
On September 29, 2011, CTV's 14th Annual Community Access Magic (CAM) Awards and Scholarship Presentation held its "Night With the Stars." The county's access community came together to honor and recognize the "shining stars" among producers, volunteers, and CTV interns. Vocation Station, a talk show produced & hosted by the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation's One-Stop Career Center, was the recipient of the 2011 CAM Award in the Government Affairs category. Congratulations Vocation Station! Continued success as you enter your second year of programming. |
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Coastal International Security
Relocates to Prince George's County
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County Executive Baker welcomes Coastal President, Curtis Wrenn, to Prince George's County
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The Prince George's County EDC is pleased to announce the relocation of Coastal International Security from Lorton, VA to Prince George's County. The business development staff of the Prince George's County EDC and the County Executive's Economic Development team assisted Coastal in qualifying for the State of Maryland's Job Creation Tax Credit Program. More than 100 construction jobs will result from the renovation of the facility, and 40-50 permanent jobs will be created with future growth potential. County Executive Rushern Baker, said, "This speaks directly to our mission to facilitate the development process, so that we can enlarge our commercial tax base to provide jobs, jobs, and more jobs!" |
ATO Holds a Roundtable Discussion:
South Sudan |  On September 26, 2011, U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Dist. 5), in conjunction with The Africa Trade Office and the Association of Maryland African Societies, Inc., held a roundtable discussion on "What's Next for Southern Sudan" at the EDC offices. This meeting, aimed toward the emerging business opportunities in the newly-formed South Sudan, is part of the ongoing effort to increase Prince George's County's economic presence in Africa.
Congressman Hoyer and a panel of subject matter experts briefed attendees on the climate for trade and investment opportunities. "Africa is going to be an emerging continent; and, as the South Sudanese people develop and seek to become a first-world economy, they are going to rely on and have opportunities for our people here in Prince George's County..," said Hoyer.
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County Executive Discusses EDI Fund
|  On August 31, 2011, County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, held a discussion with more than 150 small and minority business owners about the Economic Development Incentive (EDI) Fund at the EDC offices. The EDI Fund will assist in expanding the county's commercial tax base, creating additional jobs and increasing the county's income tax base.
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EDC Hosts Chattisgarh Delegation
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On September 22, 2011, The Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation hosted a delegation from Chattisgarh, India. EDC President, Gwen McCall, welcomed the delegation, it's host company, Sheladia Associates, Inc., and their President, Manish Kothari. Remarks were given by Eric Brown, Director of the Prince George's County Department of Housing and Community Development; Matt Neitzey, Director of the Prince George's County Conference and Visitor's Bureau; and, Roger Venezia, Director of Operations and Special Projects at Maryland DBED. The Chattisgarh delegation visit also included a tour of the County's facilities. |
ATK Spacecraft Systems Create More Jobs
in Prince George's County |  ATK Spacecraft Systems and Services, a division of ATK Aerospace Systems Group of Arlington, has invested $1.5 million in their expansion efforts, and added 11,000 square feet to their existing Beltsville, MD location.
The grand opening of 2 new facilities will result in the addition of up to 50 new manufacturing positions and could yield an additional 150 jobs in the next 12-18 months. Tom Wilson, Vice President and General Manager for the Beltsville location, said, "These new facilities are just symbols of the real growth that comes in the form of innovation capability, production, and jobs."
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This Month's "Tid-Biz"
15,400 businesses in the County
employ 218,000 workers
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Coming Up:
- October 24: MDOT Quarterly Information Technology (IT) Vendor Day, hosted by the Prince George's County Minority Business Development Division (MBDD), Prince George's County Government, Conference Room at 1801, 1801 McCormick Drive, Largo, MD 20774. For more information, contact Denise Roberts, Outreach Program Manager, 301-883-6480
- October 25: Branding Your Business: From the Inside Out, hosted by the Prince George's County Minority Business Development Division (MBDD), Oxon Hill Library, 6200 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, MD 20745. This interactive workshop is designed to teach business owners how to maximize their branding potential by understanding what branding is and what it is not. For more information, contact Denise Roberts, Outreach Program Manager, 301-883-6480
- November 16: Small Business Initiative Procurement Day with WMATA & PEPCO, Prince George's County EDC, 1100 Mercantile Lane, Suite 115A, Largo, MD 20774, 9:00-12:00pm. COST: Free
- SAVE THE DATE - December 8: Prince George's Financial Services Corporation (FSC First) Annual Meeting and Brunch, Newton White Mansion, 2708 Enterprise Road, Mitchellville, MD 20721, 8:30am-11:30am
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B2B: Baker to Businesses
On September 19, 2011, County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III met with more than 150 small, medium and large minority suppliers to discuss his proposed EDI Fund. The forum was hosted by the Prince George's County Minority Business Development Division.
The standing room only event was held at the Marlboro Ridge Equestrian Clubhouse by Toll Brothers on Marlboro Ridge Road.
The MBDD supplied evaluation sheets which were filled out by 70 of the attendees.
Of the 70 surveys, 66 (94%) of the suppliers indicated that after the presentation, they had a better understanding of the EDI fund. There was a wide range of small, medium and large minority suppliers in attendance ranging from a 1 employee company to a 2,100 employee company (Gaylord National) to a 10,000 employee company (Constellation Energy-publicly held). An overwhelming majority of the companies had not bid on a County procurement in a year or longer.
Many of the MBEs felt that the EDI Fund would be beneficial to their business in providing flexible access to capital that wouldn't require immediate repayment.
Many of the suppliers identified several challenges that they've experienced or continue to experience in doing business with the County, including lengthy times around permitting process and not understanding the procurement process.
County Executive Baker held a second forum on September 20 at the Bowie Chamber of Commerce.
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