County Executive Steuart Pittman Highlights Economic Development, AAEDC in Capital Gazette Column

October 25, 2021

The Capital Gazette published a column by Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, timed with Maryland Economic Development Week, highlighting the importance of economic development in general and the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation in particular:

He began by discussing the current perspective of local business owners, that “government regulation is a tool to be deployed only when significant public benefit is certain,” and that “they can’t find qualified applicants for their jobs, even after raising wages,” before concluding:

“Look at where we stand through the eyes of a business person, a social scientist, an economist, or a county executive. Economic development today in our region and county is workforce development. It’s community college. It’s high school, middle school, and elementary school. It’s kindergarten readiness. It’s quality, affordable child care, public transportation, affordable housing, and health care. It’s performance-tested prison re-entry programs, addiction prevention and treatment, and mental health services. And it’s training.

That doesn’t mean we push aside our Economic Development Corporation. Our EDC has already adapted. It’s the go-to place for business owners, particularly small locally owned business owners, to get the training and the tools to find and retain employees. It’s the home of our new Inclusive Ventures Program where new minority and disadvantaged entrepreneurs start and grow their operations. And it’s the strike team that steps in when local businesses confront challenges, like a pandemic-stricken economy.

As we recognize Economic Development Week, I hope we can look with enthusiasm at the opportunities that this moment offers: higher wages for our most vulnerable residents, a consensus that government can and should play a role in delivering a job-ready and healthy workforce, and a recognition that we are all in this together.

Let’s get back to work.”

 

Read the full column here: Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman: Let’s get back to work

AAEDC President & CEO Ben Birge Discusses All-Things Economic Development with WNAV Radio »