Shouldering The Heavy Load

State, Federal Elected Leaders Address Prince George’s County Business Roundtable

By Raoul Dennis

In the first official meeting of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable since July, federal elected officials updated the business group on many of the status points for Maryland on September 9.

Led by Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable President and CEO Jim Estepp, guests included United States Senator Christopher Van Hollen, Maryland Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford, County Council Vice Chairman Calvin Hawkins, and new University of Maryland President, Dr. Darryll Pines. Dr. Felicia Williams, the new president of Prince George’s Community College, also attended the meeting and was introduced for the first time to the Roundtable.

Over 50 established business leaders, elected officials, clergy and education executives attended the virtual meeting.

Sen. Van Hollen continued to look forward to the next round of federal relief funding citing the HEROES Act passed by the House of Representatives in May. He noted that the CARES Act has been completed and pushed 3.2 billion in funding to Maryland. The senator explained that he expected there to be no government shutdown citing that all parties were likely prepared to raise the debt ceiling and avoid any further challenges as the nation continues to struggle with the economic strife caused by Covid-19.

In fact, Van Hollen noted that many of the calls to his office had to do with unemployment compensation by constituents.

Both he and Maryland Lt. Gov. Rutherford acknowledged that Maryland’s close proximity to Washington DC and federal facilities and agencies helped to shield thousands of residents from a worse economic hit by the virus.

GPGBR President & CEO Jim Estepp (left) with Chair Geoff Pohanka. PHOTO: AMIR STOUDAMIRE

“We are fortunate to have so many federal facilities in Maryland that help to employ and shield residents from the brunt of Covid,” Rutherford said. “It has been six months since the state of emergency in Maryland has been declared. Maryland’s unemployment rate is between that of surrounding jurisdictions at 7.6%. Small business and hospitality industries have been devastated.”

Boyd went on to say that the 2021 budget will be a challenge but that the administration is working to lessen the potential harm.

Boyd applauded ongoing development by local and regional investors and cited the growth of several opportunity zones.

County Chief Administrative Officer Major Riddick turned attention to the 2020 Census.

Some $360 million were uncollected by Prince Georges County in the 2010 census due to underreporting by County residents. Riddick, working with Betty Hewlett at the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission and serving as a lead spokesperson for the county’s Census effort, seeks to make sure that the 2020 census is a success for the county.

The deadline for completing 2020 Census is September 30. The county has 37 “hard to count areas.” Plans are being implemented to target those areas and to increase participation.

Doctor Pines of the University of Maryland, was also introduced to the Roundtable for the first time in his new position as president of the University.

“I would add one thing to what Lieutenant Governor Rutherford shared with regard to being safe from the virus,” said Pines who holds an aerospace engineering background. “We should follow the four W’s: wear a mask, wash your hands, watch your distance and watch your symptoms.”

Pines went on to deliver a strong presentation to the influential group as he noted that the University was in its second week of classes---utilizing in person classes. “We will see what happens,” he said.

The University has established a policy of one person per room at the residence halls, no large social gatherings and postpone all sports (since the meeting Big 10 football schools have resumed play – which includes the Maryland Terps).