Jones, Taveras and Goldson Present A Picture Into The Agenda For Education, The 2020 Census And Hyattsville Area Living

By Raoul Dennis // Photos: Amir Stoudamire

The Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable’s December meeting provided an unveiling to a few of the topics that will be of high priority in the county in early 2020.

Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable President and CEO Jim Estepp, Sr. at GPGBR Meeting.

Through the keynote speakers for the Nov. 13 meeting, members and guests were introduced to messages that signaled some of the hot button topics and directions for the county in the New Year.

“The Roundtable hosted three very strategically significant officials at this meeting,” says Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable President and CEO Jim Estepp, Sr. “The new Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, Adrienne Jones, County Council Member Deni Taveras and Prince George’s County Public Schools CEO Monica Goldson. Each conveyed timely information about topics critical to our County’s continued economic and social success. They brought perspectives that were better received in an informal, in-person setting. The bottom line being, we face many challenges, but our county and state are prospering and growing. Leadership is stable and innovation is flourishing.”

Jones, appointed Speaker May 1, announced priorities for the next legislative session in Annapolis.

“Education will be a number one issue this session,” Jones said. She cited House Bill #1, the “Built To Learn Act,” which calls for new school construction and renovation across the state. Although questions swirl regarding payment for the $2 billion package and a potential fight with the governor’s office for adequate funding, Jones and her colleagues in Annapolis point to gaming industry set asides as part of the answer to the push back against the efforts.

Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, Adrienne Jones

The Speaker also introduced the “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future,” a plan to review best practices in education around the world and to apply them in Maryland. “Blueprint” ties into the findings and goals of the Kirwan Commission Report.

County Councilmember Deni Taveras (D-District 2) drew a gasp from the audience of business, elected and faith leaders, first responders and military personnel when she announced that the county lost some $300 million in federal goods and services due to underreporting in the 2010 Census.

“We have to do whatever is necessary to make sure that doesn’t happen again,” Taveras said. “I want us to all feel this urgency,” she said as she pushed leaders to engage in the 2020 Census campaign.

The councilmember, now in her second term, presented “Growing District 2,” a highly charged overview of development projects at the Northern Gateway (7 square miles of unincorporated neighborhoods in district 2) and the Gateway Arts District in and around Hyattsville (including Mt. Rainier, Brentwood and North Brentwood).

Prince George’s Councilmember Deni Taveras

Taveras seeks to combines a marketing strategy along with a polished track record of growth accomplishment to reach out for additional economic development in the area using arts and cultural diversity as a magnet. The presentation revealed $55.2 billion in purchasing power within a five-mile radius.

Current projects include The Artisan ($31 million), Riverfront at West Hyattsville (a mixed use development), Magruder Pointe (single family homes and townhouses), Armory Apartments and $1 billion in transit-oriented development around the West Hyattsville metro (mixed-use development to include multifamily homes and retail space).

Taveras also unveiled a $1 billion project in the North Brentwood Opportunity Zone (spanning Volta Avenue to Charles Armentrout Drive).

The ribbon-cutting for the Artisan in December is likely to be the soonest development to come online Taveras says.

PGCPS CEO Dr. Monica Goldson said although unexpected, the 4,000 new students enrolled at county schools this fall is a good sign.

“It means that people’s faith is being restored in our school system,” Goldson said.

The CEO reported that over $165,000 was raised toward student scholarships at the Excellence in Education Foundation's inaugural Prince George's County Public Schools Hall of Fame Gala on October 18.

Goldson drew attention to the new national and now two-time Blue Ribbon award winner Glenarden Woods Elementary school led by Principal Cecelia Jones-Bowlding.

“The Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable is honored to provide a “town hall” type forum, bringing together elected officials, business leaders and members of the community at large to educate, inform and dialogue about important issues. These forums cement strategic connections and foster solutions to some of our most pressing public policy issues,” Estepp says.