WAMU 88.5 : News

Filed Under:

Pr. George's County Exec. Delivers First State Of The Economy Address

By: Elliott Francis // March 30, 2011
Play associated audio
comments
Business leaders from Prince George's County listen as Executive Baker makes his case for the economic health of the region.
Elliott Francis
Business leaders from Prince George's County listen as Executive Baker makes his case for the economic health of the region.

Baker gave a full assessment of the county's economic health and expectations for the future in his first state of the economy address.

"This is a difficult time in our nation's economy," he said in his speech, given on the University of Maryland, College Park campus. "But ladies and gentlemen, I'm hear to tell you that in Prince George's County the state of the economy is good!"

Speaking to approximately 400 local business leaders, Baker put a positive light on the county's projected $77 million shortfall for 2012, by pointing out the lack of any tax hike and the county's AAA bond rating. He also took the opportunity to resell his proposed Economic Development Initiative, designed to expand the county's commercial tax base.

"This will attract developers and big companies but it will also nurture small businesses that are so fundamental to our economy and society," Baker says.

The $50 million EDI investment is part of the county executive's $2.6 billion spending plan which is currently under consideration by the County Council.

Arts & Culture

NPR

Fictional 'Mothers' Reveal Facts Of A Painful Adoption Process

After years trying to conceive, novelist Jennifer Gilmore and her husband decided to adopt. What they thought would be a relatively simple process was instead a long and painful one. In her latest novel, Gilmore channels these autobiographical experiences into fiction.

Food

NPR

How Genomics Solved The Mystery Of Ireland's Great Famine

Although scientists have known that a funguslike organism caused the potato blight that triggered the Great Famine in Ireland in the 1840s, they didn't know which strain was the culprit. But they do now, thanks to the genes in some 19th century potato samples.

Politics

NPR

Scandal Politics: The Downstream Effect

The trio of scandals that have engulfed the White House may not be big news by 2014, but now is the time when prospective candidates must decide if they want to be on the ballot. Is the news of the moment hurting the effort?

Technology

NPR

How That 'Nigerian Email Scam' Got Started

You've probably seen it in your inbox before: Someone who claims to have come into a fortune needs your help. You can share in the profits — if you send along a deposit or your bank account number. Boston Globe correspondent Finn Brunton talks about the history of the "Nigerian prince" or "419" scam, which actually got its start long before email.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.