New Montgomery Business Develpment Corporation

This week I introduced a bill to form a new Montgomery Business Development Corporation (MBDC) that will have the County’s Department of Economic Development join with the influence of private businesses to promote business development in the County.

This proposal evolved from my pledge to make economic development the top priority during my term as Council president. Councilmembers Roger Berliner, Valerie Ervin, Mike Knapp, George Leventhal, Nancy Navarro and Duchy Trachtenberg are co-sponsors of the bill.

The nation, and the Washington region, are currently in an economic era unprecedented in our lifetimes. Throughout this downturn, Montgomery County has remained one of the nation’s economic engines, and we have to send out the word that we are open for business. It is one thing for government to send that message, but when we team with some of the nation’s, and the world’s, top companies to roll out the welcome mat, it becomes quite an inspiring invitation. That is what we are creating with the MBDC.

The bill sets the mission of the MBDC to “develop the vision for the County’s economic future and to recommend and advocate for legislative and regulatory changes that move the culture and regulatory environment so that business success can create that vibrant and growing economy.”

Through the MBDC, we are going to be deferring to the business community on how to handle important issues. I am not going to tell this group what to do. I am going to listen to what it recommends.

I’m glad that business leaders throughout the county joined me on April 26 at Discovery Communications World Headquarters to announce the program.