Speech and Testimony
Committee for Montgomery Bethesda North Conference Center
Good morning. I’m pleased to be here with such a distinguished group, including the Governor-elect, our local elected officials, and members of the business and non-profit communities.
In my brief time this morning, I’d like to clear up a big misconception about Montgomery County and expand on something I said at my inauguration.
Somehow, and I’m not sure how, people have formed the impression that Montgomery County is not business-friendly.
That’s simply not so.
We have made major planning decisions to encourage economic activity. Whether it was the approval of the White Oak Lifesciences Village, or the Great Seneca Science Gateway, we are taking steps necessary to speed development – sometimes over very active public opposition – because of the need for growth in our County.
I dedicated my inaugural speech earlier this month to a six-point program – the first six points, but not the last – to spur economic growth and position our County for the future.
It is a mixture of proposals for high-speed fiber optics, new processes to streamline approval of projects, tax considerations and closer relationships between the County, the business community and the non-profit sector.
These are necessary to keep Montgomery County – the economic engine of our State – humming along at full power.
At the same time, we must recognize that investments from the state also will be necessary to keep that engine running.
Chief among them is support for school construction.
While we hear stories about people leaving Montgomery County, the enrollment statistics tell a different story.
Today’s enrollment of 154,230 is expected to grow by 27,600 in the next six years. That’s more than the combined growth of school systems in Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Frederick County and Baltimore County.
If we are to produce a workforce to supply talent and energy to our economic engine, we must have a trained and educated workforce.
We must help our residents reach their jobs in more efficient and environmentally friendly manner. That’s why the Purple Line and the Corridor Cities Transitway projects are so important.
We understand that there will be budget challenges at the State level. I know there will be at the County level.
Working together, our County and our State can achieve the goal we share of continuing to create and nourish a dynamic, vigorous economy that benefits everyone.
Thank you.
Release ID: 14-061