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State and federal legislators pitched their priorities before the Prince George's County Business Roundtable Monday, including transit and small-business development.

Del. Melony G. Griffith (D-Dist. 25) of Upper Marlboro, chairwoman of the county delegation, emphasized that commercial development around transit centers is one of the major priorities of the county's residents as roundtable members met at the Colony South Hotel in Clinton.

She talked about the day she could step out of Metro stop and pick up "a bagel, coffee and a nice handbag."

But Griffith also warned that this growth is going to have to be balanced with the financial challenges the county and state face, with Maryland struggling with an almost $2 billion deficit.

"It's going to be the toughest 90 days in our political careers," she said, referring to the upcoming General Assembly session in Annapolis, adding that lawmakers are going to have to cut deeply into various programs.

"The way to create new jobs is to nurture the businesses that are already here," U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D) said at the meeting. He also cautioned that such growth is difficult when most businesses are still holding back out of concern for the future.

Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters (D-Dist. 23) of Bowie said the state needs a proper definition of small businesses, as various bills include different definitions.

Cardin of Pikesville offered some potential economic stimulators for the county, such as its appeal as a growth area for federal facilities and its "ideal" location for the cybersecurity industry.

Prince George's proximity to the nation's capital and the open development space around its mass transit facilities provides numerous possibilities for the industry, said Cardin, who also discussed cybersecurity at an event in Gaithersburg earlier Monday.

Peters also urged that a new owner of the county's health facilities must be decided this year, saying the county has nine bidders for the facilities. Dimensions Health Care currently manages several medical facilities in the county, including Laurel Regional Hospital, Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital and Nursing Center in Cheverly, and the Prince George's Hospital Center in Landover.

"The hospitals want this to succeed," Peters said.

Cardin praised the county, saying Prince George's has seen marked improvements in safety, education and economic ventures, while the majority of the country has suffered.

He referred to the progress referenced in the roundtable's newly released Prince George's County Quality of Life Index, which included sales tax collections growing to $475 million in 2009 from $354 million in 2004; the county's drop in vehicle thefts to 3,495 in 2009 from 15,388 in 2003; and the growth in the county's qualified teachers to 82 percent in 2009 from 48.6 percent in 2004.

The index, which was two years in the making, gathers data regarding the county's progress in the economy, education, safety, transportation, health, and parks and recreation sectors.

"Congratulations on bucking the national trend," Cardin said.

Cardin later visited the Walker Mill Health Center in Capitol Heights, according to his office, to present a ceremonial check for $650,000 to the Community Health Integrated Partnership to implement an electronic patient record system at nine community health centers in the state. The funding was included in the recently enacted omnibus appropriations bill.

"Our health care delivery system of the future will require that patient records be available electronically to ensure accurate and effective medical care without duplication of services," said Cardin in a statement. "Health care reform also depends on expanding the Community Health Center system and these funds will ensure better patient care and outcomes."