During the past year, the Anne Arundel County economy continued its recovery from the effects of the 2007–08 recession. Positive economic activity included the following highlights.
• 94 new companies announced openings and 43 existing companies announced expansions, resulting in the absorption of 2,067,588 square feet of commercial space
• 4,053 new jobs were announced
• 5,695 new jobs were added as the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process at Fort Meade was completed
• 15 defense contractors located or expanded to be close to DISA at Fort Meade, bringing nearly 1,000 new jobs to the county
BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, a major asset in attracting new business and keeping existing business, announced a $100 million terminal expansion that will further secure the airport’s reputation for passenger security and convenience.
Also this year, 27 Anne Arundel County firms were recognized as being among the fastest growing companies in America by the Inc. Magazine 500/5000 List (www.inc.com/inc5000) and the Deloitte 2011 Technology Fast 500 (www.fast500.com).
To achieve this kind of success is remarkable, especially during these challenging economic times, and it underscores the strength of the business environment in Anne Arundel County.
While these activities have contributed to our resilience, we continue to face challenges as the national economy recovers from the recession. Balancing our budget continues to require extraordinary measures of fiscal constraint and the use of reserve funds. Unemployment, at 6.2% with 17,797 people unemployed in Anne Arundel County (as of October 2011), is a major concern.
Building upon our transportation assets, our highly educated workforce, our strategic location and a major federal presence, we will continue to focus on growth that brings high paying jobs to our citizens.
Infrastructure, Special Financing
Anne Arundel County continues to focus on infrastructure and special financing to support growth. Greenberg Gibbons’ new Village South at Waugh Chapel, a 1.2 million-square-foot, mixed-use project in west county, will be fully open in late 2012. This development was able to move forward with the help of a $14 million TIF (Tax Increment Financing) to help fund infrastructure. The development will feature 650,000 square feet of retail, with 125,000 square feet of Class A office space and 380 residential units.
The National Business Park, a key location for the nation’s top defense contractors, was approved in 2010 for a $30 million TIF to support infrastructure for its 204-acre expansion. The road extension of National Business Park Way has been completed, two buildings have been completed and ground will be broken on a third office structure shortly.
Odenton Town Center is moving forward with the help of a public/private partnership with The Halle Companies and other developers to cover the cost of road, sewer and water. Halle is beginning the pre-construction process for the building of Odenton Town Center Boulevard, creating a roadway and sidewalk from Route 175 though the Route 32 underpass to Town Center Boulevard in Seven Oaks. This critical linkage will be the spine of Odenton Town Center.
Anne Arundel Department of Public Works is expected to advertise the sewer interceptor contract in early 2012. Other development activity in the town center includes the following.
• Seven Oaks Office Building (The Halle Companies; 68,753 square feet) has been completed and is open for leasing.
• Flats 170 at Academy Yard (Stonebridge Carras; 200,000 square feet of retail, 200,000 square feet of office, 600,000 square feet of residential/373 apartments) has completed demolition.
• Odenton Gateway, featuring The Johns Hopkins Health System and Anne Arundel Medical Center (16,000 square feet of retail, 60,000 square feet of office, 300,000 square feet of residential/252 apartments), is under construction.
• The Village at Odenton Station (The Dolben Co.; 60,000 square feet of retail, 340,000 square feet of residential/235 apartments) is under construction and will be completed in May.
Arundel Gateway, a mixed-use development in Hanover that will feature 1,600 residential units, 300,000 square feet of office space and 128,000 square feet of retail, is awaiting approval of a $30 million Special Taxing District designation to fund infrastructure needed to proceed with development.
Cedar Hill, a proposed 1,600-unit residential development in Brooklyn Park, has been approved for a $23 million Special Taxing District. Ryan Homes is close to settlement on the purchase contract for this development’s first 400 lots.
Major Development/New Business
Arundel Preserve, one of the region’s premier mixed-use developments, continued toward completion with the addition of The Hotel at Arundel Preserve and its apartment component. When completed, the project will include more than 2 million square feet of office space, 250,000 square feet of retail space, a hotel, 440 single-family homes and townhouses and 1,050 luxury apartment homes.
Maryland Live!, the Cordish Companies’ $500 million, 300,000-square-foot casino at Arundel Mills, will open Phase One with slot machines and electronic gaming tables in June 2012, with completion expected by Winter 2012. Including the restaurants within the casino, Maryland Live! will add 1,500 jobs to the county.
Annapolis Junction Business Park, a 210-acre development with Class A office space, retail and a hotel, is continuing construction of its second building.
Other major new business includes defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton’s announced expansion at The National Business Park into 90,000 square feet; engineering and marine hardware company Oceaneering’s expansion into 67,000 square feet at Hillside Business Park; Boeing’s new Cyber Engagement Center at National Business Park; manufacturer Chesapeake Bay Candle’s first U.S. factory for scented candles at Baymeadow Industrial Park; IT giant Hewlett Packard’s first Anne Arundel County location at Baltimore Commons Business Park; and DISA Contractor Delta Resources’ first Maryland location on Veterans Highway in Millersville.
Defense
Anne Arundel County’s defense industry continues to be an economic driver, with nearly $2 billion in contracts on the books for fiscal 2010 (U.S. Census Bureau). With the BRAC process complete, we continue our aggressive outreach to contractors seeking proximity to Fort Meade and its DoD agencies will continue to help grow this important industry.
On the horizon, the National Security Agency is planning the construction of a new, 1.8 million-square-foot Cyber Security Facility inside Fort Meade to begin in fiscal 2013. This new facility will eventually employ 6,000 workers and is to be completed in 2015. An influx of some 1,800 cyber jobs have already been located at Fort Meade, with more to come.
Cybersecurity and Small Business
Cybersecurity has become one of the most important issues confronting our nation. Many of Anne Arundel County’s leading defense contractors have established a cyber focus. Within the private sector, the majority of the cyber technologies to protect our nation and critical infrastructure are built by small, innovative businesses.
Public-private partnership organizations, such as the Chesapeake Innovation Center (CIC), in partnership with county, state and federal agencies, can, in turn ,support small businesses. The CIC is an initiative of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp. (AAEDC), which serves as a business incubator and accelerator. The CIC, along with its partners in the region, offers a bridge by which small businesses can present innovative cybertechnologies to the market.
Education
In 2011, my administration secured county council approval for continued support of STEM programs (science, technology, engineering, and math) in Anne Arundel County high schools, as well as at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC).
Leveraging county support, AACC was able to win a $19.7 million grant to develop training for high-demand STEM-related jobs to help put displaced workers back to work. The college is leading the National STEM Consortium of 10 community colleges in nine states. Encouraging our young people to pursue STEM careers is key to economic growth and moving the country forward. This will remain a top priority for the county.
The Future
We have successfully financed infrastructure in strategic growth areas that will allow development and ultimately provide new jobs. We have supported the curriculum expansion in our high schools and community college to meet future workforce demands.
With some of the fastest growing companies in the nation already here, a growing international airport and a steady flow of new companies locating here, Anne Arundel County is actively pursuing new employment opportunities for our citizens in the coming year.
John Leopold is county executive for Anne Arundel County.
