Serious questions this week about Maryland's economic development
Change Maryland released a report on Monday raising questions about the state's strategy for economic development saying that the agency responsible for job growth has "mission creeped into a marketing function of the Governor."
Below are highlights of statewide media coverage this week followed by Monday's release.
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Baltimore Sun 11.26.12
Change Maryland argues for change at state's economic development agency
"Anirban Basu, head of Sage Policy Group, a Baltimore an economic policy consulting firm, has worked for DBED, too, and said he thinks highly of the people there. But he doesn't disagree with Change Maryland's main contention. 'I think that DBED in fact could play a more aggressive role in job creation,' Basu said. 'It needs to recognize the weaknesses of [the] state's economic climate and address those weaknesses, both in front of and behind the scenes.'
Daily Record 11.26.12
Report: DBED just a ‘marketing agency’
"In an eight-page report expected to be released Monday, Change Maryland Communications and Policy Director Jim Pettit charges that the Department of Business and Economic Development is a “not a job-creating organization,” but a “politically-driven marketing agency."
"The same could be said of Change Maryland, said DBED spokeswoman Karen Glenn Hood, who called much of the report “blatantly inaccurate.”
“This reality is, quite frankly, the opinion of a political organization that doesn’t have its facts straight or really have a concept of what DBED does,” she said.
Citybizlist 11.26.12
Change Maryland Proposes Major Reforms to Boost Economic Performance, Attract Jobs
"The NGA report highlights “Virginia Performs” which tracks a wide range of data, most notably business climate and employment growth. A performance trend indicator - improving, maintaining, worsening – discloses the strengths and weaknesses in Virginia's economy. Such a system in Maryland would evaluate wide-ranging data, transforming that into actionable intelligence for forging bipartisan policy solutions in the General Assembly and regulatory agencies."
Monoblogue 11.27.12
A Sobering Look at Economic Development
"Yesterday that thorn buried deep in Martin O’Malley’s side known as Change Maryland put out an eight-page report lambasting the state’s Department of Business and Economic Development as a “politically-driven marketing agency (and) not a job-creating organization.”
Daily Record 11.27.12
Larry Hogan: Economic Development Needs Data not PR
"In this scenario, instead of attracting jobs, economic development mission creeps into a marketing function for the governor.."
Red Maryland 11.29.12
Making the Case for Real Job Growth
"Again, I urge you to visit the Change Maryland website and read this report in its entirety. When you do, you will see common sense policy solutions to a real and looming problem in our state. This is not a partisan problem and the solutions proposed are not partisan either. It is refreshing to see intelligent ideas that can solve Maryland's problems. Too bad those in control in Annapolis are beyond such petty concerns."
Annapolis Capital 11.29.12
New Study Criticizes State's Economic Development Department
"According to analysis by Change Maryland, the state Department of Business and Economic Development dedicates too many resources to making O’Malley look good, and spends too little time actually bringing businesses to Maryland."
Change Maryland: Reform Economic Development to Attract Jobs11.26.12
Contact: Jim Pettit
301.704.1363
@jamesmpettit
Annapolis, MD - Change Maryland proposed solutions today to generate jobs, focusing specifically on the state's economic development efforts. The National Governor's Association recently examined what states can do to advance job creation by re-evaluating traditional approaches to economic development, providing much of the underpinnings in Change Maryland's proposed solutions. Developing a performance monitoring system - a key recommendation of the nations' governors - will enhance the state's credibility within the government itself, business community and individuals of all political parties interested in job growth."People demand a modern government that is honest, open and transparent in the way it does things," said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan. "Nowhere is that more important than the critical task of attracting jobs to Maryland."The NGA report highlights “Virginia Performs” which tracks a wide range of data, most notably business climate and employment growth. A performance trend indicator - improving, maintaining, worsening – discloses the strengths and weaknesses in Virginia's economy. Such a system in Maryland would evaluate and transform data into actionable intelligence for forging bipartisan policy solutions in the General Assembly and regulatory agencies. Data available to inform such policy decisions range from federal economic statistics to private third-party metrics which Change Maryland has been collecting, reporting and analyzing. "There is no reason that Democrats, Republicans and Independents can't work together on the shared goals of increasing employment," said Hogan. "First we need to get on the same page and provide basic economic information in one place so we can see where we are going and how to get there."The Change Maryland report, "Solutions for Increasing Economic Performance and Jobs," is a candid assessment of the state's current economic development efforts, the focal point of which is Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development. Both culturally and organizationally, DBED is a political marketing agency, not a job creating organization."We need to ramp up our state's economic development efforts and return to our core mission of attracting jobs," said Hogan. "Maryland can become a leader in economic development and attracting jobs."
Another key Change Maryland solution to attracting jobs is to reorganize DBED to emphasize recruiting business facilities - corporate headquarters, warehouses, office space and the like - to Maryland. Currently, department resources prioritize administrative and marketing functions over facilities recruitment.
Change Maryland proposes sweeping reforms to DBED in three broad areas:1. Increase Transparency2. Measure Internal Performance3. Reorganize to Attract Jobs###
Background:
"Solutions for Increasing Economic Performance and Jobs"
