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Prosperity gets closer in region than in U.S.
Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by EMILY BARNES
Members of the audience listen Tuesday as U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Millard Firebaugh speaks about the development of energetics technology facilities at the 12th annual Charles County Economic Development Summit at the Jaycees center in Waldorf.
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Because of an educated workforce and resilient economy, the Southern Maryland jurisdiction has clearer skies than most when it comes to future economic development.
On drizzly morning Tuesday local business men and women in Charles County learned that Charles has fared better than other places around the country during the 12th annual Charles County Economic Development Summit.
A panel of speakers ranging from county officials to regional CEOs to leaders on a national level, offered advice and observations to the audience — including the cable Channel 95 audience — about what could be done to promote community-wide cooperation to ensure a smooth climb out of recession at the event at the Jaycees center in Waldorf.
"What's interesting about economic development is that it's not done by accident, but by choice," said Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Secretary Christian Johansson. "Charles County has made some significant choices … while going through some unprecedented times."
"We have the people it takes to make a great future together," said George L. Robertson, economic development director for the county. "We don't have to wait for someone else to make a great recovery."
Fortunately for the county, the climb out of the red isn't as bad as others are finding it.
While the country suffers from a nearly 10 percent unemployment rate, the state of Maryland is at 7.2 percent and Charles County is more than a full percentage point under that figure.
In contrast, the state of Michigan anchors the 50 states with the highest unemployment rate at 15 percent.
"It's hard to talk about the economy getting better when people are still losing their jobs," said Anirban Basu, CEO and chairman of Sage Policy Group.
"Generally speaking, Charles County and Southern Maryland have held up extraordinarily well, and that has everything to do with economic and demographic attributes," Basu said. "There's an elevated presence of federal activities; the government continues to expand which has allowed Charles County and Southern Maryland the enjoyment of employment stability. Many people in Maryland just know residents are higher educated and have high income in Charles County and this … has allowed the county to weather the storm better."
One of the key sources for successful employment of residents starts at the level of higher education, an opportunity not lost on Bradley M. Gottfried, president of the College of Southern Maryland, who spoke to the crowd about inspiring and creating a local energetics workforce.
"We really can't be all things to all people," Gottfried said. "But jobs are out there and you don't have to look all that hard to find them."
Gottfried said the college — with the help of county and community partners — continues to introduce students to defense, energy, hospitality and construction careers, and is beginning to launch into a new direction of developing partnerships in industry and science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, initiatives.
No stranger to defense and the energetics field, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Millard Firebaugh encouraged his audience to be cognizant of the history and future of the county's largest employer, the Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center.
Though the center's initial task was to serve as a manufacturing facility, thanks to changes in the weapon design process it's more a research and development site, Firebaugh said.
What Charles County can do to help is support modernizing the facilities — $150 million from the Department of the Navy is already in the pipeline — work toward securing a new power plant and developing its energetics center.
"Indian Head is at least as successful as it was any time in its 100-year history," Firebaugh said.
Robertson said he wasn't sure what the turnout was going to be for the summit, given the 300 participants last year — before the recession hit. At the end of the day, he said the 240 people who had registered were joined by 60 more who signed up at the door; testament, he said, to the commitment business leaders have for supporting the county and moving forward.
"This gives the community an opportunity to view what's going on in the county and understand what we're trying to do with economic development," said Charles County commissioners' President F. Wayne Cooper (D).
"Charles County is in a good position; better than most. We're planning for the future, looking at things 20 to 30 years out."
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