Growing our Neighborhoods: Tapping into Existing & Emerging Opportunities

1. Utilize current assets to promote economic growth in tech industries.

The 44th District is home to the University of Maryland Hospital System, University of Maryland Baltimore, and the Johns Hopkins Medical Campus that are incredible and unique assets in both the education and biomedical sectors. Few districts in the country, let alone Maryland, have such comparable foundation upon which to build. This is an important determining factor in the 44th’s future since universities and medical parks often form the basis of high-tech clusters, but we have only scratched the surface of that potential. Our business climate that supports young technology start-ups is not as strong as sit should be, and Baltimore has, as a result, been unable to leverage its higher educational institutions into the high-tech assets that they can be.

I am committed to changing that. I will submit legislation to develop “smart” tax incentives to promote the growth of research and development in Maryland.

2. Support Smart Growth.

Maryland and a number of other states have adopted Smart Growth as a policy guiding public investment and economic development. Smart Growth works by investing infrastructure dollars in areas where development already exists, and reducing the amount of infrastructure development in rural areas. This is an important initiative for Baltimore’s future since it means that the state is likely to invest additional resources in the city’s supporting infrastructure.

The shifting patterns of economic development present unique opportunities for Baltimore. If we work to address our city’s poor business climate, we can reemerge as a national leader in job creation, entrepreneurship and prosperity.