CEO Note: Looking Ahead Post-Election

CEO Note: Looking Ahead Post-Election

Following last week’s election, the insights unearthed in the Baltimore Metropolitan Council’s inaugural  are worth a second look.

With themes relevant to the post-election reflections and conversations, the survey of residents across the Baltimore Region expressed insightful views on the state of our local economy, housing affordability, and investments in growth and quality of life issues. The survey finds a strong belief that investing in the Red Line, rebuilding the Key Bridge, and the  are all necessary right steps that are essential to strengthening our economy. 

Residents also shared that we should do much more to attract investment and jobs to the region, echoing the findings of theand the research that shaped GBC’s 10-Year Plan,.

Congratulations to the new members of the Maryland Delegation, including Angela Alsobrooks, Johnny Olszewski, Jr., and Sarah Elfreth. Within the region, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott and incoming City Council President Zeke Cohen will join Cecil County’s new CEO Adam Streight.

It’s a lot to tackle. This shouldn’t all fall on the hands of our region’s policymakers. Rather, our region’s success depends on the continued activation of the private sector, philanthropy, and the civic community as partners and thought leaders on these complex economic issues.

We’ve heard from many of you with questions and inquiries on how the election results have a direct impact on many of GBC’s , including our  designation and critical infrastructure projects in the region.

The short answer to that question is: We really don’t know right now.  

But one thing we are sure of is that our collective voice on behalf of the private sector will be even more important in championing the Baltimore Region as the dynamic hub of opportunity that it is. We invite your organization and your employees to follow GBC closely and engage in . Your organization and your employees should follow GBC closely. 

Our work must continue and plugging into our work will enable you to:

  • Develop a deeper understanding of the assets and economic development opportunities in our region. Just this last month, we toured Aberdeen Proving Ground with our regional partners and public officials to collectively witness the technology and biomanufacturing innovation happening there. We also launched an Air Service Advisory steering committee to aid BWI Thurgood Marshall in positioning our region for flight expansions, and toured and discussed Annapolis’ creativity and tourism sector, one of the three opportunity areas called out in our Regional Plan.  > 
  • Better understand the business environment in which our region competes.  to our second annual  in the next week. We are also partnering with  to amplify additional regional opportunities. 
  • Strategize for next year. We’ll convene our multi-year agenda steering committees and continue to engage in key public-private partnerships, focusing on such as  and the .
  • Engage with our national and regional peers. On December 16th, GBC will host a , CEO of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The Council recently established the , which will convene our peers in the major American markets to have a shared voice on policy and investments to catalyze regional growth

Change in Washington, D.C. is inevitable and can bring both new opportunities and new challenges. With your partnership and engagement, we will work to ensure that the Baltimore Region continues to move forward.