Business and Local Leaders Share Favorable Reaction To Alsobrooks’ State of the County Address

By Raoul Dennis and Katrina Townsend // PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMIR STOUDAMIRE

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On the morning of June 14, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks took center stage at the 2023 State of The Economy Address.

The annual address took place at the Hotel at the University of Maryland in College Park before some 540 elected officials, business leaders and VIPs from across the region. View the County Executive’s remarks in video above. Ms. Alsobrooks’ message focused on the administration’s steady stream of accomplishments and her commitment to push forward, toward getting things done.

M. H. Jim Estepp, founder, president and CEO of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable, hosted the event.

Comments with reaction from business leaders guests:

“The county executive spoke eloquently and confidently about the need for everyone to work together to carry the message about Prince George’s County, that we are all in this together and we need collaborative leadership and we need to build up predictability for the future of Prince George’s County Business Community,” said David Iannucci, president and CEO of the Prince George’s Economic Development Corporation.

Tom Dernoga, chair of the Prince George’s County Council: “Great remarks. A lot of good stuff. A lot of positive things are happening. We had a lot of success the last four or five years in spite of the pandemic and the next three years are looking really good too. I’m really glad to hear that we got the AAA bond rating maintained.”

“I would say very informative. Just very honored to be in the room and hear her remarks and just where she’s taking the county. So looking forward to great things from her and couldn’t be more happy,” said Alexander Austin, president and CEO of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce.

County Council member Jolene Ivey said the address was a sign that the county is moving in the right direction. “It’s always great to be together with a bunch of Prince Georgians who really care about the county and the county executive did a great job of laying out what we’ve accomplished so far and what we want to do in the future,” Ivey said.

When asked her perspective as a member of a family of elected leaders, Ivey said: “Well, you know we do like to look out for the county because we live here and we love it. We have deep roots here. So from the federal, state and local level, we have great dinner conversations and always try to find ways to make things better [for Prince George’s and Maryland].”

Jim Estepp favored the county executive’s remarks about county progress. “I think the county executive showed that tremendous progress has been made and that’s what you’re going to accomplish when you work together. We are also very pleased with [today’s] turnout. We’re very pleased that Prince George’s County is looking to the future,” said Estepp moments following the address.

Said Mark Lawrence of Inncuvate, a Largo-based business development service, the address reflected the growing economic strength of the county.

“We do a lot of work around innovation entrepreneurship development in Prince George’s County, and it’s very exciting and refreshing to hear the continuation and revision of the plan and the amount of funding we’ve been able to attract to help develop the community,” Lawrence says. “So I believe the state economy is strong and I’m just looking forward to more… We have to operate with intention so that we can get the equity and opportunity and I know it supports the equity agenda and it supports raising the quality of life here at the county.”

Lawrence continued: “We’re doing well. So we’re very entrenched in the Blue Line Corridor, a lot of innovation entrepreneurship development. We’re trying to help develop new industries, bring in prefabrication of housing, and bring a lot to entrepreneur development tests to community college. So we just believe that we can help with the talent, the workforce, and entrepreneurial development along the Blue Line.”

Derrick Coley, an administrator at Bowie State University recognized the power of Alsobrooks’ address. “Her remarks were very powerful and insightful,” Coley said. “The county is on its way with an upward trajectory. It will be very sustainable in terms of growth and retention for business.”

Business owner Dianna Avellaneba with Dapa Multiservices Advisors says her admiration for Alsobrooks’ impact goes beyond the comments in the June 12 speech. “It’s not just her remarks today, it’s what she has been doing in Prince George’s for the past few years,” Avellaneba said. “I’ve been in Prince George’s for 10 years and I have my business here in Prince George’s. And I have seen my business grow. I think it’s amazing what she has been doing and what has been [accomplished].”

She continued: “When we had the pandemic, Prince George’s helped us a lot.” She says the county was there to help her company, which provides personal and professional services for clients, with a grant to help the business sustain the difficult period.

Veteran administrator Floyd Holt: “I’ve in the county since the 60s. I’ve worked in the county since the 80s. I’m really proud to be part of the county government and infrastructure. And I believe, as the county executive does, that greatness grows here.”