PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY County Executive Angela Alsobrooks: Prince George’s is ‘Healthy and Growing’ William J. Ford WI Staff Writer The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused Prince George’s County to lose 48,000 jobs in four months. County officials proclaimed Tuesday at least 90% of those jobs have recovered as several hundred business owners, executives and other officials applauded that figure at the annual State of the Economy address, held in person for the first time since 2019. “We will recover 100% of the jobs by the end of this calendar
year,” County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said at MGM National Harbor casino and resort. “Our county is healthy and growing.” Alsobrooks summarized how the county’s economic future will blossom with a new cancer center opening in 2024 on the campus of the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center that opened last year in Largo. Hospital and elected officials participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony last month to open a $7.6 million behavioral health unit at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton.
Alsobrooks announced a major grocer will move into the county: Trader Joe's. The company posted on its website it will be coming soon to College Park. One of the county’s biggest economic projects will be along Metro’s Blue Line Metrorail corridor. Thanks to legislation approved this year by state lawmakers, the Maryland Stadium Authority will authorize $400 million to issue bonds to refurbish, construct and open sports and entertainment facilities in the county. More specifically, within communities inside the Beltway along Metro’s four Blue Line stations that include Largo, Morgan Boulevard, Addison Road-Seat Pleasant and Capitol Heights. The plans include a sports fieldhouse, a plaza, market hall and residences. “Those projects don’t depend on the Washington Commanders,” Alsobrooks said about the NFL football team located near the Morgan Boulevard Metro station. “Let me be very clear – we believe that they belong here but we’re working on planning a new cultural center, a library” and other amenities for the community.” Alsobrooks highlighted businesses such as IonQ of College Park which develops quantum computing devices and reported a 300% spike in revenue in one year.
Prince George’s Council Approves $5 Billion Budget ARETHA Half of the Allocated Funds Earmarked for Education DISTRICT24
5 Prince George's County Council chair Calvin Hawkins II, (left) leads a press briefing after council approved a $5 billion fiscal year 2023 budget on June 1. (Robert R. Roberts/ The Washington Informer)
12 JUNE 9 - 15, 2022
William J. Ford WI Staff Writer The Prince George’s County Council unanimously approved a $5 billion fiscal year 2023 budget June 1 that increases spending on education and the police department. The county’s public schools account for more than half of the spending plan at $2.6 billion toward various programs that include a public private partnership (P3) program to build several new schools, increase resources in English language learners and COVID-19 relief grants for summer school and technology services. The school system will also receive millions of dollars from the state’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education including $54 million for schools in high concentration areas of
5 Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said the county “is healthy and growing” at the county’s annual State of the Economy address at MGM National Harbor casino and resort June 7. It marked the event’s first time in person since 2019. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)
The company announced in September its plans to partner with the University of Maryland to create the nation’s first quantum lab. Before the pandemic, Donald Thompson managed 12 employees at his café inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture building in Riverdale Park. While he now runs it by himself he said he could not have remained in business without county support. “With more people coming back into the federal building,
poverty. In addition to the Blueprint program, state aid for the county has been estimated to be $1.3 billion. “What we have done is historic,” said Council member Deni Taveras (D-District 2) of Adelphi, who approved her last budget June 1 due to term limits. “We have fully funded our schools in the highest amount that it has ever been. This is a transformational budget.” The police department budget will increase to nearly $367 million, a 7% increase from the current spending plan. Some of the increased expenditures include general administrative contracts at $2.9 million mostly due to legal fees; vehicle maintenance at $504,500; and five new positions for a deputy director for forensics, two chemists to assist in DNA analysis and two crime scene investigators at $390,600. The county has about 56 traffic
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we’re excited to bring at least two [employees] back in the next two weeks,” said Thompson, who’s owned “Don’s Café” since 2015. “Hopefully things will pick up and I can bring my entire staff back.” One of Thompson’s proudest achievements deals with him hiring blind and visually impaired workers through the state’s Business Enterprise Programs for the Blind. “I love that program. It’s the best thing going,” he said. “I love hiring people with disabilities because you are giving back. I don’t mind hiring anybody if that person is willing to come to work and perform great customer service.” Another small business owner, Tiffany Kelly, opened “House of Ketubah Bridal” in Mount Rainier in October. Kelly manages the business by herself “as a one-woman show” but that will soon change with the help of an intern from Employ Prince George’s who will work about 12 weeks and assist with marketing the business that will include social media content. “What I love about Prince George’s County is [our officials] are really resourceful and really helping businesses,” said Kelly, who owned a similar store in her native St. Louis before moving to Prince George’s about three years ago. “I chose Mount Rainier because it gave me an old-time and artsy feel. We feel right at home in Mount Rainier.” WI @WJFjabariwill
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