Economic Development

Due to a problem in typesetting, there was a garbled line in the Friday editorial "Brady for Maryland's Economy." The line should have read that a top priority for James T. Brady's economic-development team is persuading Dr. Robert C. Gallo "to locate a world-class virology laboratory at the University of Maryland instead of Virginia."The Sun regrets the error.Gov. Parris N. Glendening picked wisely in selecting Baltimore business executive James T. Brady as his top economic development aide yesterday.

More restaurant owners in Baltimore County could get liquor licenses under a measure passed in Annapolis that's set to take effect within the next few months. The legislation, sought by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, is meant to gradually open up more licenses over the next five years. Kamenetz pushed for more sweeping changes, but current license holders opposed them. Kamenetz created a task force last year to examine the county's system of issuing liquor licenses, saying that the current set-up is archaic and that reform would help spur economic development throughout the restaurant sector.

One of the biggest knocks against Maryland in its drive for more jobs is its lack of a unified economic-development strategy. Cooperation among counties is minimal; coordination between the state and the counties is modest; regional agreement on a game-plan is lacking and, worst of all, the business community is deeply divided on how to proceed.Into this chaos comes the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, which is trying to craft what it calls "A Strategy for Maryland's Economic Growth." It amounts to a wish-list of steps to propel this state into a pro-business mode.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation and other Baltimore institutions are organizing to help accelerate the growth of well-paying jobs and make sure more residents are qualified to land them, building on the recommendations of a new study that envisions the region's "next economy. " The report, released at a forum in Baltimore Thursday, suggests the region's leaders cooperate on efforts to encourage more entrepreneurship and exporting, as well as more growth in sectors such as manufacturing, bioscience and logistics.

After a seven-year delay, Randallstown residents cheered Monday over an announcement that a Walmart will open on Liberty Road next year. Officials and residents have long hoped that the store — a planned $9 million, 160,000-square-foot supercenter with groceries and a pharmacy — would revitalize the aging commercial corridor, encouraging other national retailers and restaurants to set up shop in the affluent, largely black community....

When Baltimore County officials gathered for a news conference in the fall to reveal plans to revitalize the half-empty Owings Mills Mall, a cheery slogan lit up a screen behind them: "Owings Mills — it's happening!" The mall event was one of three major economic development announcements within six months for an area that has long awaited a makeover. But behind the scenes, a battle is brewing between the prominent developers investing in the projects. Plans for Owings Mills include a $65 million revamping of the mall; a huge, mixed-use development called Metro Centre near the end of Baltimore's subway line; and Foundry Row, an upscale retail complex anchored by a Wegmans grocery store at the Solo Cup manufacturing site off Reisterstown Road.

As a retired educator, I read your article about growing student enrollments at area schools with keen interest ("Growing enrollments, aging schools, straitened finances," Aug. 23). In order to promote successful programs, increasing the tax base that supports public schools should be our number one priority if we are to guarantee our students the kind of education they will need in order to compete successfully with the rest of the world. Quinton D. Thompson, Towson

Janice Posey will be acting CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority starting February 28, the day 17-year veteran in the post Richard W. "Dick" Story retires. Posey has been senior vice president for marketing and business development since January 2006, and will serve in Story's place until a search for a replacement is completed, according to an announcement from the authority. Before coming to Howard County, Posey worked for the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, part of a 20-year business career.

WESTMINSTER — The Board of County Commissioners announced this week that they'll reorganize the county's Department of Economic Development — and won't hire a replacement for former director Larry Twele, who resigned in July 2011. WESTMINSTER — The Board of County Commissioners announced on Feb. 9 that it will reorganize the county's Department of Economic Development — and won't hire a replacement for former director Larry Twele, who resigned in July 2011. On Feb. 9, the commissioners announced that instead of replacing Twele, who left to take a similar post in Howard County, the county will leave the directorship vacant and hire two administrators for the department — one to oversee day-to-day operations and be the coordinator of the new Carroll Business Path project; and other to be responsible for business retention and outreach.

While I am sure that the vast majority of Baltimore residents will be happy with a Grand Prix result of $2 million a year in direct tax benefits to the city or a full $70 million in economic impact ("The Road to a Grand Prix ," Aug. 14), there is always the slippery slope of how much is projected to win the votes and backers needed for an event and the eventual result. Since my tax dollars supported the $7.75 million in road improvements, I would like to know how many city residents received the jobs which repaved the roads or erected the fences for the Grand Prix and if they were they paid a living wage.

A Chinese bank will establish its first U.S. office in Maryland, state economic development officials announced Friday. The Export-Import Bank of China and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development signed a cooperative agreement allowing the bank to open an office at the World Trade Center Baltimore at the Inner Harbor. The bank will focus on business development, project evaluation and building relationships in the U.S. market as well as consider providing funding for Chinese companies looking to invest in the United States.

Few people on the street may be familiar with the World Bank. Yet, it plays a critical role in the U.S. effort to engage the world through its contribution to economic development in poor and post-conflict societies. As current World Bank President Robert Zoellick steps down this summer, the bank will soon have a new leader. In the past, as per an unwritten convention, the U.S. — the largest single majority shareholder of the bank — got to select the president. Although the bank at its core is a development institution, it was, surprisingly, never led by a development professional.

The BWI Business Partnership's breakfast will feature Christian Johansson, the Maryland Secretary of Business and Economic Development, Tuesday, March 20 from 7:45 to 9:15 a.m at the Hotel at Arundel Preserve, 7795 Arundel Mills Blvd., in Hanover. Johansson will speak about critical issues involving Maryland's competitive business climate, both regionally and in the international marketplace; and the work of his department's Office of Military and Federal Affairs and the state's tourism promotion efforts.

When asked 16 years ago to head Baltimore's economic development agency, M.J. "Jay" Brodie really didn't want the job. The 75-year-old Brodie, who will retire from the Baltimore Development Corp. after serving as president under four mayors, is credited with helping to usher in major waterfront redevelopment, strengthen neighborhood commercial districts and attract and retain employers. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said Brodie will leave a legacy as a major contributor to the city's continuing renaissance.

M.J. "Jay" Brodie, who has headed Baltimore's economic development agency under four mayors and helped shepherd projects such as the Harbor East redevelopment, said Thursday he plans to retire. The Baltimore native and former city housing commissioner is credited with overseeing initiatives to create thousands of jobs and to attract and keep hundreds of businesses in the city during his 16 years as president of the Baltimore Development Corp., the city's quasi-public economic development arm. Brodie, viewed as highly influential in city development, also has drawn criticism from residents and business owners who have complained about being pushed out by urban renewal and about the secrecy under which they say his agency has operated.

WESTMINSTER — The Board of County Commissioners announced this week that they'll reorganize the county's Department of Economic Development — and won't hire a replacement for former director Larry Twele, who resigned in July 2011. WESTMINSTER — The Board of County Commissioners announced on Feb. 9 that it will reorganize the county's Department of Economic Development — and won't hire a replacement for former director Larry Twele, who resigned in July 2011. On Feb. 9, the commissioners announced that instead of replacing Twele, who left to take a similar post in Howard County, the county will leave the directorship vacant and hire two administrators for the department — one to oversee day-to-day operations and be the coordinator of the new Carroll Business Path project; and other to be responsible for business retention and outreach.

A former state official with ties to Pennsylvania and New York has been tapped to serve as Baltimore County's next director of economic development. Daniel C. Gundersen, a senior advisor for Philadelphia-based Econsult Corporation, was nominated Tuesday for the position by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. Gundersen would replace David Iannucci, whom Kamenetz declined to reappoint in December. Gundersen served as the state's assistant secretary for business development from 2000 to 2003.

M.J. "Jay" Brodie, who has headed Baltimore's economic development agency under four mayors and helped shepherd projects such as the Harbor East redevelopment, said Thursday he plans to retire. The Baltimore native and former city housing commissioner is credited with overseeing initiatives to create thousands of jobs and to attract and keep hundreds of businesses in the city during his 16 years as president of the Baltimore Development Corp., the city's quasi-public economic development arm. Brodie, viewed as highly influential in city development, also has drawn criticism from residents and business owners who have complained about being pushed out by urban renewal and about the secrecy under which they say his agency has operated.

The personal vehicle of Baltimore's deputy mayor was vandalized over the weekend while it was parked outside of her Baltimore County home, county police said. Baltimore County police confirmed that Baltimore Deputy Mayor Kaliope Parthemos contacted police at the White Marsh precinct Sunday afternoon to report that her 2011 Mercedes E-350 had been defaced with red magic marker and an expletive directed at "Kelly," which is a nickname. The incident occurred sometime between Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, she told police.