Q&A With HCEDA CEO Dick Story

By Mark R. Smith, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF



What are the Howard County Economic Development Authority's (HCEDA) key accomplishments for 2009?

We're all feeling the effects of the recession, but Howard County's basic economy, our excellent geographical location in the Corridor and our unparalleled quality of life always make us fare better than most. 2009 was a pretty good year.

In terms of major business successes, the nearly 200,000-square-foot lease signed by SAIC with The Trammel Crow Co. in Columbia Gateway ranks among the biggest Class A office deals in the Baltimore region all year.

We also worked with manufacturer idX in moving into 435,000 square feet of space in one of the former GE Buildings on Snowden River Parkway. Rhee Brothers, importers of Asian food products, elected to keep its world headquarters in Howard County, leasing 215,000 square feet of warehouse and distribution space on Coca-Cola Drive. Finally, Integral Systems moved into its new 130,000-square-foot headquarters in Gateway about nine months ago. Those four companies absorbed approximately 1 million square feet of space in the county last year - not bad in a difficult economy.

We're also proud of the role we have played in helping to shape the vision for a new Columbia. In April, we worked with the Howard County Library, Howard Community College, the Howard County Chamber of Commerce and The Horizon Foundation to bring noted author Richard Florida to the county to elaborate on his thoughts about the "Rise of the Creative Class."

In October, we followed Florida's presentation by conducting an extensive economic impact study of the plan submitted to Howard County to revitalize downtown Columbia. The economic impact study was our effort to add value to the debate about the new Columbia plan.



How has Howard County weathered the recession?

Howard County has not escaped the severe recession that still grips the nation. While economists have proclaimed that the recession was over many months ago, recovery is imperceptively slow. While signs of life are being seen in home building and home sales, automotive sales and other durable goods, both consumer confidence and corporate confidence continue to be bleak.

Still, the presence of Fort Meade in the Corridor is a tremendous stabilizing factor for us. While Fort Meade is located in neighboring Anne Arundel County, its impact on our economy is worth billions of dollars each year. Our BRAC (military Base Realignment and Closure) office estimates that some 8,500 Howard County residents commute to jobs on post every day, most at the National Security Agency.

At the same time, our largest private sector employer in Howard County is The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), which continues to add new buildings to house a growing workforce of nearly 5,000 scientists and engineers.

Together, APL and Fort Meade have buffered us from the worst of the recession; with the impacts of BRAC to be felt in 2010 and 2011. Through it all, our unemployment rate ranks well below state and national levels and among the lowest in Maryland.



Aside from dealing with the bad economy, what are the key challenges your office faces at present?

Dealing with the bad economy is the key challenge we face. The small business sector is particularly hard hit.



What's next on the authority's agenda to attract more foreign businesses?

We rely on the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) to play the lead role in attracting more foreign businesses to the state. As DBED develops prospects, we will get our fair share of the deals. Our proximity to the international resources in Washington, D.C., and our existing base of foreign-owned businesses are favorable factors in their decisions to locate in Howard County. Europeans are especially impressed with Columbia since they find the nature of a master-planned community very appealing.

From time to time, one of the two "sister-city" relationships that the Columbia Association has in France and in Spain will generate a company interested in investing in Howard County.

In the future, we look to our two regional marketing partners - the Greater Washington Initiative and the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore - to expand their focus to the international arena.



What is your assessment of the NeoTech incubator's contribution to the business community?

Our incubator, which has won national awards and has been very successful, has increased in size from 25 to 28 companies in residence (with a number of affiliates). As companies begin to flourish on their own, their departures allow us to bring startup companies into our program.

While not officially a part of the incubator, the Howard Technology Council is also located in the building, which is called the Center for Business and Technology Development. In 2009, the council really came into its own, serving our resident technology companies; having these two functions housed with our Business Resource Center in the same facility generates a synergy that benefits all small businesses.



Does the HCEDA have any new programs in the offing for 2010? Or are you retooling any existing programs?

While we do not anticipate the introduction of significant new programs in 2010, we will be creating a new Strategic Plan. Again this year, we will bring together members of the community, government leaders and our board of directors to create the vision for the economic development of Howard County during the next five years.



What efforts is your office making to train the county's workforce?

Workforce development has always been a key element in our strategic plan and it continues to be "front and center" in our efforts to persuade companies to stay, expand and make new investment in Howard County. Working with our partners at the Howard County Office of Workforce Development, Howard Community College and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, we help businesses to find new workers, train them/retrain existing workforces in keeping up with changing technologies.

Our current strategic plan calls for a more unified way to deliver these services.



What are your observations about progress of the Route 1 Revitalization Program?

The U.S. Route 1 Revitalization Program continues to be a solid foundation for guiding the growth on Howard County's eastern border. Like everywhere else, the evolution of this vital corridor has been slowed by the recession.

Two things will change that: The recession is ending and normal growth dynamics will benefit Route 1; and the full impact of BRAC growth will be felt during the next two years. And remember, the new Cyber Initiative will closely follow BRAC and will generate an additional wave of opportunity for the Route 1 Corridor.



You've been running the HCEDA since it was located in a small white house next to the county's campus in Ellicott City since 1993. You've served under county executives Ecker, Robey and now Ulman. With another election set for late 2010, are you having any ideas about what you might want to do in the future?

I can't imagine doing anything else.



How many boards are you involved with? Whenever you decide to retire, would you like to stay involved with many/any of them?

Retirement is not something that I am thinking about. I guess I will "retire" one day, but I will continue to be involved in this marvelous community. It's one of the better habits I've developed. For me, service on the boards of community organizations is just doing my job. For the authority to be successful, these groups and organizations need to be successful; if they are successful, Howard County will succeed.

There are so many things to be done. The HCEDA will continue to be involved. So will I.



Can you point to any one (OK, maybe three) most satisfying moments during your long run at the HCEDA?

I can't narrow it down to three moments. Every day, every month, every year brings incredible satisfaction.

My "moments" are when a company graduates from the incubator nest to fly on its own. My moments are when a ribbon is cut and a new company begins a new operation in Howard County, providing jobs for our citizens - I guess Dreyer's Ice Cream was one of the most complicated and rewarding projects.

My moments are also when a staff member on our great team achieves a milestone in their career or succeeds in a project they have been working on.