Prince George's eyes bigger Enterprise Zone
Camp Springs, Suitland added to boost investment, jobs
An expanded Prince George's County Enterprise Zone could spur $100 million in capital investments and 150 new or retained jobs during the next five years, according to state officials.
Camp Springs and Suitland are the most recent additions to the county's Enterprise Zone, Lt. Gov. Anthony M. Brown announced Monday after meeting with business leaders, government officials and military personnel.
"We want to emphasize and focus the need for development in Camp Springs and the surrounding areas," Brown (D) said, speaking at the leasing office of Tribeca, a mixed-use development in Camp Springs.
The expansion is about more than tapping into the business opportunities presented through the Pentagon's shifts from Virginia to Maryland under its Base Realignment and Closure program, he said: It is about tapping into Maryland's continued growth.
Camp Springs and Suitland will join the areas included in the county's proposal for renewing the zone in December. The zone already includes areas along the International Corridor/Gateway Arts District; the Port Towns and Annapolis Road Corridor; the Cabin Branch and Central Avenue area; and the Southern Area, which includes Branch Avenue and Marlboro Pike.
All told, the renewal could result in $20 million in capital investment in the area during each of the next five years and 150 new or retained jobs, according to state information.
"Jobs, jobs, jobs that's what this is all about," said Christian S. Johansson, secretary of the state's Department of Business and Economic Development.
Since the state's Enterprise Zone program began 25 years ago, it has produced nearly $2 billion in capital investment and more than 1,700 jobs, Johansson said. Maryland has 28 Enterprise Zones.
Before Brown's comments, Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Dist. 25) of District Heights met with state officials, lawmakers, business leaders and officials of Joint Base Andrews to discuss opportunities in Camp Springs.
Kwasi G. Holman, executive director of the Prince George's Economic Development Corp., praised the event for informing the public and described it as the "trifecta at Tribeca."