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Smart Business Growth

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• Local business success story

• Why pick Susan?
  

The top issue facing Calvert County in this election is residential growth.  Now that a 2% residential growth rate has been achieved, there is tremendous pressure on the part of some real estate interests and others to return to the era of runaway residential growth.   By talking to many residents in all kinds of settings, I have learned that there are 3 competing visions for Calvert County.  When I ask, “What do you envision that Calvert County should look like 20 years from now?” I get one of three responses.  The first, which is the one I share, is that Calvert County would look similar to what it does now, with viable and distinct town centers interspersed with farms, forests, and open land and with a better transportation infrastructure and a maximum of 37,000 households.  The second vision, which I do NOT support, is that Calvert County would look like an inner suburb with mixed land uses everywhere (including no town center boundaries and businesses strung along Route 4 and the other major roads).  The third vision, which I also do NOT support, is that Calvert County would look like a western shore Ocean City with high rises along the Bay and the Patuxent River and intense development in between.  The voters will determine whether my vision will prevail over the coming four years. 

  I fully support the Comprehensive Plan. By choosing Susan, you choose to continue with  SMART business growth.

Creating
Private Sector Jobs

• Between 2002 and 2004*, 1,419 private sector jobs were created;  9.1% increase

• Between 2003 and 2004*, private sector jobs increased 4% or by 712 jobs

• Civilian labor force increased by 2,292 between June 2002 and June 2005* or 5.3%

• Civilian labor force increased by 1,373 since 2004* or 3%

Increasing the
Business Base

• Between 2002 and 2005*, 1,158 new businesses were created, an increase of 37% from 3,126 to 4,284 businesses**

• Since 2004*, the business base increased by 36% or 1,127 new businesses for a total of 4, 284 businesses**
  

Increasing the
Commercial Tax Base

• Between 2001 and 2005*, the commercial tax base increased by $102.2 million or 23.5%

•  Between FY2005 and FY2006*, the commercial tax base increased 4% or $22.1 million

• Since 2004*, commercial floor area increased 1.1million s/f with an estimated capital investment of $113 million

• In 2005*, commercial floor area increased 612,922 s/f with an estimated capital investment of $62.5 million, an increase of 23.9%

• Between 2002 and 2005*, Calvert County recruited 2.9 million s/f in new floor area
  

• Between 2002 and 2005*, Calvert County recruited $292.8 million in estimated capital investment
  

• Between 2002 and 2005*, Calvert County increased the number of commercial permits issued by 43.4%

Support for
Tourism Businesses

• Between 2002 and 2004*, tourism expenditures increased by $13.7 million or 25.2%

• Between 2003 and 2004*, tourism expenditures increased by 15% or $8.6 million

• Between 2004 and 2005*, state sales tax collected for hotels increased $96,599 or 18.8%

• Between 2004 and 2005*, state sales tax collected for restaurants increased $179,981 or 4.8% 

• Between 2004 and 2005*, state sales tax collected for shopping and amusements increased $62,941 or 36.1%

Support for
Agriculture Businesses

• In January 2005*, Calvert’s agricultural tax base was $179.9 million or 3% of the total real property tax base while farms comprise 30,000 acres or 22% of the total land area of Calvert County

• The number of farms in Calvert County has increased since 2004* (per the MD Agriculture Extension Service)

• The equine industry in Calvert County is growing

• Between 2003 and 2004*, corn, soybeans and hay experienced increases in the acreage planted/harvested while wheat and tobacco remained constant

Support for
Retail Businesses

• Between 2004 and 2005*, retail sales increased by 4.1%

• Between FY 2001 and FY 2005*, total retail sales and use taxes increased 19.4%

Support for
Targeted Industries

• Calvert’s target industries for recruitment are manufacturing, financial services, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality

• The number of businesses in each of these categories has grown in the last four years (see Dun & Bradstreet reports for details)

• The Patuxent Business Park is coming to Lusby, as a location for the target industries and others (see Business Parks below)

Support for
Utility Businesses

• Constellation Energy at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant was the first nuclear power plant re-licensed in the U. S. and will continue to provide jobs and contribute tax income

• Dominion Cove Point LNG’s expansion is critical in meeting energy needs in the mid-Atlantic region

  • In 2004, 2.5 million cubic feet of storage was added, a $28 million investment

  • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved plant expansion and a new pipeline (June, 2006) adding over 300 jobs148 jobs upon completion during expansion and a total of

  • The expansion is a $560 million investment with pipeline construction completed in 2007/2008 totaling $110 million and expanded facility construction to be completed in 2008 adding $450 million in infrastructure

Support for
Workforce Development and Employment

• From early 2003 to June 30, 2006, Susan served as the Chief Local Elected Official (CLEO) for workforce development for Southern MD under the federal Workforce Investment Act, serving on the Executive Board of the Southern Maryland WorkSource, Inc.

• The unemployment rate was 2.5% in March 2006 with the average unemployment rate holding at 3.3% in 2003, 2004 and 2005

• Wages across all private sector industries have increased 0.5%

• In 2000*, the MD Department of Planning reports that 4,915 workers commuted into Calvert County while 14,795 County residents were employed in Calvert County

• In 2000*, 22,761 County residents commuted out of the County to work, or 60.6% of the labor force. The percent of out-commuters has remained between 60 and 63% for over 20 years

• Between 2002 and 2004*, median household income increased 6%, with Calvert ranked 3rd highest in the state

• Voted for House Keys 4 Employees Program (HK4E) Calvert County enhancement to the state program to enable county employees to buy a home in Calvert County and for businesses to retain workers

  • Loans and grants for down payment and closing costs for first-time home buyers and those who have not owned a home for 3 years

  • Lower interest rates over the life of the loan

  • Longer length loan terms (up to 40 years)

  • Partnership among state and local governments and private employers and their employees

Support for
Business and Industrial Parks

• The Calvert Industrial Park on Route 231 in Prince Frederick is sold out and the remaining lots are being rapidly developed

• The Patuxent Business Park on Route 765 in Lusby 

  • Infrastructure and road construction are complete

  • First building breaks ground in summer, 2006

  • Purchases of several lots are in progress

Business Friendly Climate and Services

• Free Business Services

  • Business marketing database

  • Assistance of marketing professional

  • Business surveys to identify key issues and problems

  • Commercial real estate listings

  • Confidential in-house business counseling

  • Employment classifieds

  • Financial referrals and assistance

  • Management of confidential client and prospect information

  • Ombudsman Program

  • On-site business visitation program

  • Small Business Development Center (SBDC) counseling, including assistance with development of business plans

  • Training and educational seminars

  • Workforce development coordination

  • Enhanced business retention program

  • Web based marketing programs including employment classifieds, business database, commercial property listings, Visitors Guide, Calendar of Events and other marketing materials

• Other Business Services

• Calvert County Incentive Fund

• Calvert County Business Incubator

• Virtual Incubator

• Calvert Economic Development Loan Fund

• Fast Track Permitting

• Telecommuting Center

• Annual Business Publications

• Business Resource Guide

• Quarterly Business Newsletter (the Compass)

• Calendar of Events

• State of the Economy

• Strategic Plan

• Visitors Guide

• ecalvert.com

  • Lusby Town Center development information

  • Patuxent Business Park information

  • Web based marketing programs including employment classifieds, business database, commercial property listings, Visitors Guide, Calendar of Events and other marketing materials

• Liaison with the business community

  • Economic Development Authority (EDA)

    • Manages the Calvert Industrial Park

    • Loan authority

  • Economic Development Commission (EDC)

    • Advisory commission appointed by the Board of County Commissioners

    • Susan is the County Commissioner’s representative to the EDC and an active and contributing member

    • Participation in the Annual Leading Edge Awards which recognizes outstanding businesses in Calvert County and in Southern MD

  • Cooperative efforts with the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce, of which Susan is a member, as well as other economic development organizations
    

New Commercial Projects for 2005 and 2006

• 2005 Projects totaled $50.6 million

• $62.4 million in new investment projected for 2006

  • Business Services projects at $21 million

  • Manufacturing at $4.8 million

  • Office/Warehouse at $4.9 million

  • Office at $5.6 million

  • Retail at $20.3 million

  • Warehouse at $5.8 million***

Quality of Life

• Encouraging and enabling businesses to locate in our town centers, industrial areas and business parks

• Keeping our commercial tax rate low (Personal Property Tax)

• Maintaining our rural vistas, quality education, low crime rate, and other quality of life amenities that makes business owners want to live and work in Calvert County 

• Continuing to manage residential growth 

  • Between 2002 and 2004, residential permits decreased -38%

  • Between 2002 and 2004, commercial permits increased 43.4%, providing more jobs for current residents 

  • FY2005 to FY2006, the residential growth rate is 2% and the school enrollment is less than it was in 2001

*Most recent data available

**Known businesses: Many more small businesses are not known nor counted

***Estimated capital investment is based on the following assumptions: retail = $110 s/f, business/warehouse = $60 s/f, and office = $125 s/f. These estimates are conservative and land is not included.