If Maryland is to shed its reputation as a state with a less-than-positive business climate, it will be up to the Economic Development Commission named last week to turn things around.
This group of 21 business leaders has its share of corporate home-run hitters -- such as RTKL's Harold Adams, Mercantile Bank's H. Furlong Baldwin, Bell Atlantic's Fred D'Alessio and McCormick's H. Eugene Blattman -- who gave the group an early boost by accepting a state incentive package to build a $20 million spice distribution center in Harford County instead of Pennsylvania. But the panel also has its share of corporate singles hitters. Its task is two-fold, with the second objective by far the most important.
First, the panel is supposed to draw up a strategic plan for the state's economic development efforts. The outlines have already been sketched by Gov. Parris Glendening's transition task force headed by his new business development secretary, James T. Brady. In all likelihood, Mr. Brady will flesh out his strategic objectives for the commission to modify and then ratify.
The panel's second goal is to take the lead in attracting new businesses and holding on to companies already located in Maryland. In other words, the commissioners must be the most vocal private-sector boosters for Maryland business.
It is their responsibility to reverse Maryland's poor image in the business world. That can be done through such steps as insisting on sharp cuts in duplicative and time-consuming regulatory hurdles and pushing hard for selective tax reductions to spur new investments. But the group can also improve Maryland's corporate environment by uniting business leaders behind their effort.
One of the biggest problems is the lack of a unified pro-business, pro-Maryland corporate community. This state commission must start rallying private-sector leaders behind a common goal regardless of whether they work in Gaithersburg or Bowie or Columbia or Hunt Valley or Salisbury or Baltimore.
Governor Glendening is betting heavily on economic development. He sees it as the key to lifting Maryland out of its doldrums -- and as the key to generating more jobs and tax revenue so he can improve education and crime-prevention. But for that to happen, the Economic Development Commission will have to galvanize the private sector. It's a big job, but it is crucial to the state's future growth and prosperity.