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Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) called on community members and military representatives from Joint Base Andrews to "keep the vision" alive for a thriving business corridor around the Camp Springs military installation despite the tough economic climate.

Addressing the Andrews Business and Community Alliance in Clinton today, O'Malley cited the federal Base Realignment and Closure process, which will expand operations at Andrews and several other bases in Maryland, as a bright economic spot for the state.

"The base is ... a mighty micro-economy," he said, adding BRAC, which is projected to bring 60,000 jobs to Maryland by September 2011, is a key component of the state's efforts to expand employment opportunities.

The luncheon came on the heels of a highly publicized announcement this week that former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) plans to challenge O'Malley for the state's top job this fall, but O'Malley did not directly reference the election nor did attendees ask him about it.

Speaking to reporters afterward, O'Malley said he is "looking forward to the debate" with Ehrlich and said he would not speculate on the state's political climate.

Ollie Anderson Jr. of Fort Washington, one of the founders of the Alliance and president of Anderson International, a business management consulting firm in Fort Washington, said he has been pleased with the support for BRAC-related economic development around Andrews coming from O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who is chairman of the Governor's Subcabinet on BRAC.

"The development is going to go forward," Anderson said after the event. "Our concern is that the residents of the community have an opportunity to participate and benefit from the additional ... services that are going to be brought into the area."

M.H. Jim Estepp, who runs the Alliance and is president and CEO of the Greater Prince George's Business Roundtable, praised O'Malley's support for economic development around Andrews and asked for his continued support in bringing top military leaders and the community together.

Citing a statistic that about 60 percent of Prince George's County's residents commute to other regions for jobs, he said he believed that "what's going on at Andrews will help that."

O'Malley acknowledged during the meeting that the state's financial constraints have made it more difficult to secure funding for community improvements planned in anticipation of BRAC-related growth, such as road improvements for the overcrowded and pothole-riddled thoroughfares around Andrews.

Speaking after the event, O'Malley said it is also up to the county to continue improving the region's quality of life — from school performance to crime rates — to attract new businesses to Andrews as BRAC moves forward.

County Councilman Tony Knotts (D-Dist. 8) of Temple Hills, who attended the luncheon, agreed that as state lawmakers try to secure funding needed to support BRAC-related expansion, it is up to county leaders and the community to "offer a better welcoming mat" to potential new businesses and residents.

E-mail Zoe Tillman at ztillman@gazette.net.