Figure 9. Density of General Services Administration Offices

Figure 9. Density of General Services Administration Offices

According to the Washington Business Journals, Maryland Lawmakers have historically discussed three options with the GSA: eliminating the caps all together; creating one cap for the entire region; and, creating separate rent caps for existing buildings versus built-to-suit or renovation opportunities.101

The identified strategic actions pose several opportunities to strengthen the federal government cluster in Prince George’s County. For example:

• Workforce quality and availability is critical to the

County’s ability to attract and retain federal employers and the County’s large base of out-commuting federal workers is a key asset to attracting more federal agencies and office buildings. Enacting the actions laid out in the strategic priority area around cultivating talent can help ensure that Prince George’s County is meeting the needs of the federal government, as well as employers in the

County’s other targeted industry sectors.

• Increasing the presence of the federal government helps encourage the proliferation of federal contractors, especially those in technology-oriented sectors which can encourage innovation and entrepreneurship through their spillover effects.

• There are opportunities to engage workers at technology-oriented federal contractors, as well as other technology-oriented government employees, in value-added networking events to support the

County’s innovation economy.

The development of transit-oriented districts creates more sites suitable for GSA and other knowledge/professional services workers.Increasing placemaking and developing amenities at these sites can help increase the competitiveness of the County in attracting federal leases.

Hospitals and Health Services

Build on Strengths and Opportunities

• Growth exceeding nation • Investments in medical anchors have catalyzed ancillary development • Offers range of low- and middle-skill jobs

Address Weaknesses and Gaps

• County not specialized in employment • Wages lower than County average

Hospitals and Health Services, another cluster identified as one of the four core target industries identified in the 2013 Economic Drivers and Catalysts strategy, has experienced strong, sustained growth from 2001 through 2018. Since 2013, the completion of the University of Maryland Medical System project in Landover and major investments by regional medical systems serving the County has driven continued employment growth in the health care sector.

Employment growth in both the County and Washington DC Metropolitan area outpaced the nation, yet both have a relatively low level of employment concentration in this cluster (Table 8). The County’s LQ for the cluster (0.84) and for hospitals (at 0.63) remains less than the national average, signifying that there is continued room for growth in this cluster, simply to meet County needs. Cluster average wages of $53,098 slightly lag the County private sector average of $53,248, and the cluster offers a mix of employment opportunities across the low-middle-to-high-skilled levels.