O’Malley and Brown Announce Major Policy Proposals Focusing on Economic Development Opportunities in Prince George’s County

Release MBE policy and Vision for Homeland Security Agency in the County

BOWIE, MD (August 22, 2006) – Over the course of several stops in Prince George’s County today, Martin O’Malley and Anthony Brown unveiled policy initiatives focused on enhancing economic development opportunities and creating sustainable communities in Maryland.

O’Malley and Brown shared their plan to enhance the state’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) program at a “kitchen table talk� at the Carolina Kitchen Restaurant, where he was joined by local small business owners and Petey Green, founder of the Prince George’s County Black Chamber of Commerce, and Kwasi Holman of the Prince George’s Economic Development Corporation.

“In a state with so much capacity for success, more and more of our minority and women owned businesses are falling by the wayside,� said O’Malley. “Maryland’s entrepreneurs deserve leadership that understands how vital they are to our State’s economy.�

According to a study conducted by the National Economic Research Associates (NERA), the utilization of MBEs decreased by nearly 2.29% between 2000 and 2005, despite the fact that there was a 2.70% increase in the overall availability of MBEs. In stark contrast, the value of contract awards to minority and women-owned business more than doubled in Baltimore City under Martin O’Malley’s leadership.

The O’Malley/Brown plan calls for the state to:

  • Set, track, and report transparent goals and outcomes for State spending and contract awards to MBE and WBE firms

  • Work through organizations such as MACO and MML to explore opportunities to standardize MBE/WBE eligibility criteria and certification processes, establish reciprocal recognition agreements, and create a clearinghouse for information regarding certified MBE/WBE firms as well as local, state, and federal procurement opportunities.

  • Work with the state’s federal delegation to bring a federal minority business enterprise center to Maryland

  • Work with Maryland’s major financial institutions to encourage the creation of private equity funds to support talented and experienced minority managers in acquiring established businesses in areas of the economy where there is little or no MBE/WBE ownership.

The full plan is attached and is available at www.martinomalley.com.

At a stop at Bowies State, later in the day, O’Malley and Brown announced their proposal to locate the State Office of Homeland Security in Prince George’s County and their support for creating a homeland security training and research program at Bowie State.

“Because of this strategic location Prince George’s is in a prime position to be the center of the burgeoning homeland security sector,� O’Malley said, alongside State Senator Gloria Lawlah. “We need leadership that will seek to leverage the strengths of each of our regions so we can grow the economy of the whole state.�

The proposed State Homeland Security Office would:

  • Lobby for and capture any untapped federal homeland security dollars

  • Establish a greater federal government presence in the County and the DC metro area

  • Increase the State of Maryland’s presence in the County and the Washington D.C. metro area

  • Boost local economic development with homeland security related businesses

  • Enhance local crime fighting by leveraging the State’s homeland security efforts

The full plan is attached and is available at www.martinomalley.com.

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Friends of Martin O’Malley – 2400 Boston St., Suite 203 – Baltimore, MD 21224 – 410-814-4206 – fax: 410-814-4218
Authority: Friends of Martin O’Malley, Martin F. Cadogan, Treasurer