By Donald Fry
Exclusive to Center Maryland, a Corridor Inc. Partner

February 20, 2012 - Gas tax opponents are increasingly hanging their hats on the issue of “raiding,” contending that state lawmakers shouldn’t increase revenue to Maryland’s Transportation Trust Fund because they frequently raid it for non-transportation purposes.

It’s an effective contention that gets significant media play as radio and television commentators and talk show hosts immediately bring up the raiding issue when the topic of raising the gas tax comes up on the airwaves – which is a lot lately, since Governor Martin O’Malley filed his proposed gas tax legislation earlier this week.

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Better rail connectivity could drive residential rebound in Baltimore City

By Donald Fry
Exclusive to Center Maryland, a Corridor Inc. Partner

February 07, 2012 - Baltimore City’s precipitous-but-slowing population decline over the past 50 years is not a new problem. But Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, in her December 6 inauguration speech, made it a keynote challenge by setting a goal of attracting 10,000 families into the city during the next 10 years.

Though there are not yet any official plans for how to lure new residents to Baltimore City, one core strategy well worth considering should be to improve rail connectivity, especially between the city and the Washington D.C. area.

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Talking past each other in Annapolis

By Donald Fry
Exclusive to Center Maryland, a Corridor Inc. Partner

February 02, 2012 - The dramatically contrasting philosophies in Annapolis regarding addressing the state’s transportation funding crisis and other issues were on full display Monday at the Greater Baltimore Committee’s 2012 General Assembly Legislative Forum in Baltimore.

The compelling disagreement between the leaders of the Democratic majority and Republican minority on a broad array of important fiscal and policy issues facing the state reminds us all of how stiflingly contentious and intransigent it has become in the State House these days.

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Government and business teamwork: an essential prerequisite for economic growth

By Donald Fry
Exclusive to Center Maryland, a Corridor Inc. Partner

January 24, 2012 - The road to job creation and economic recovery will be smoother and stronger if state government partners with business to develop policies rather than imposing policies on the private sector. There is an opportunity in the 2012 General Assembly session and going forward to not waste energy by having government and business work at odds with one another, which we all know does not work well for either party.

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The things people say on Opening Day in Annapolis

By Donald Fry
Exclusive to Center Maryland, a Corridor Inc. Partner

January 13, 2012 - Lots of things get said on the opening day of the Maryland General Assembly, so it’s difficult to make serious assumptions about session outcomes based on what leading state lawmakers say on the first day of the session.

Nevertheless, first-day remarks by Governor Martin O’Malley, Senate President Mike Miller, and House Speaker Michael Busch clearly signaled that increasing funding for transportation infrastructure, Chesapeake Bay restoration, and education – both in the classroom and in the form of school construction – are key priorities for them this session.

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In 2012 only one thing should matter for state lawmakers: jobs

By Donald Fry
Exclusive to Center Maryland, a Corridor Inc. Partner

December 29, 2011 - When state lawmakers return to Annapolis for the 2012 General Assembly session, which begins on January 11, they will face the familiar challenge of having to close another projected $1 billion deficit.

However, with a sluggish economic recovery forecast and uncertainty over the potential impact on Maryland’s economy of federal budget tightening, it should be especially clear to our elected leaders that now, more than ever, they must make job creation and economic growth their overriding top priority.

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Deadline approaches for businesses to suggest regulations to change or eliminate

By Donald Fry
Exclusive to Center Maryland, a Corridor Inc. Partner

December 06, 2011 - As the Dec. 17 deadline approaches for a review of regulations by each state agency, business owners and executives still have a chance to suggest to the governor state regulations that should be changed or eliminated.

To suggest a regulation for review, alteration or elimination, click on the following web address: http://easy.maryland.gov/wordpress/2011/10/18/share-your-feedback/. Then Click “Get in Touch” on the menu bar and enter your suggestion in the online form provided.

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Minority and women entrepreneurs provide lessons in seizing opportunity

By Donald Fry
Exclusive to Center Maryland, a Corridor Inc. Partner

November 21, 2011 - Looking for some inspiration in a flat economy?

The Greater Baltimore Committee found out recently that you don’t have to search far to find minority and women entrepreneurs who recognized opportunities, seized them, and built businesses around them.

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Aberdeen Proving Ground: Maryland’s newest economic powerhouse

November 14, 2011 - In any prolonged conversation these days with Jim Richardson, Harford County’s executive director of economic development, sooner or later he will get around to the ENIAC.

What’s that, you ask?

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Baltimore region endures recession losses, but drives state’s modest jobs comeback

By Donald Fry
Exclusive to Center Maryland, a Corridor Inc. Partner

November 10, 2011 - The Baltimore region absorbed a large share of the state’s job losses caused by the recession, but has driven the state’s job rebound since, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data compiled for an upcoming “State of the Region” report.

The report, which will be published in December by the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, compiles more than 90 key economic, business climate and quality of life indicators for the Baltimore region and 19 other competing regions in the U.S.

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State web site seeks business feedback on regulations

By Donald Fry
Exclusive to Center Maryland, a Corridor Inc. Partner

October 31, 2011 - Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley on October 17 asked state agencies to conduct a 60-day review of regulations to identify those that can be changed or eliminated to help spark job creation.

But here’s a heads-up to business advocates, owners, and managers: the governor is not just asking state bureaucrats to tell him about unnecessary, redundant and onerous state regulations.

He’s asking us.

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Job-creation impact of transportation gets lawmakers’ attention

By Donald Fry
Exclusive to Center Maryland, a Corridor Inc. Partner

October 21, 2011 - The recently announced willingness on the part of Governor Martin O’Malley’s administration and state legislative leaders to consider a gas tax increase to create jobs while addressing the massive backlog of unfunded transportation projects raises hope in the business community that, finally, our elected leaders may address Maryland’s escalating crisis in funding transportation infrastructure.

Most business leaders understand that mobility and a superior, reliably-funded transportation infrastructure is a core prerequisite for a competitive business climate.

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Sluggish growth forecast for Maryland not a recession, but is it ‘okay?’

By Donald Fry
Exclusive to Center Maryland, a Corridor Inc. Partner

October 14, 2011 - Sam Fraundorf, Wilmington Trust’s top investment executive, looked out from the Hyatt Regency podium at the more than 400 executives gathered for the Greater Baltimore Committee’s sold-out October 10th Economic Outlook Conference and summed up his 2012 forecast in five words: “It’s going to be okay.”

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Mobility: the ultimate jobs issue

By Donald Fry
Exclusive to Center Maryland, a Corridor Inc. Partner

Fresh data released last week by the highly-regarded Texas Transportation Institute underscores the effect of Maryland’s transportation infrastructure funding crisis on highway commuters in the state.

The institute’s new report ranks the Washington, D.C. region, including its Maryland suburbs, as the nation’s most congested region for auto commuters. The Baltimore region ranks as the sixth most congested region in the nation and is afflicted with the worst highway commuter congestion among all urban areas with population of 3 million or less, according to the report.

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Donald Fry: Breaking free of transportation funding limbo in D.C. and Annapolis

While President Barack Obama’s proposed jobs legislation could offer some brief fiscal relief, major challenges must be overcome in both Washington and Annapolis to break the legislative limbo and continuing transportation funding crisis that is at the root of increasing congestion and deteriorating infrastructure in our nation and state.

These were the key messages delivered to close to 200 transportation advocates who attended the Greater Baltimore Committee’s 2011 Transportation Summit on September 19 in Baltimore.

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Donald Fry: The Grand Prix’s lessons

Every organization has a curmudgeon or naysayer.

You know the type – congenital cynics who sit in the back during brainstorming sessions with their arms folded across their chests. The term “out of the box” is foreign to them. Their reactions to new or bold ideas? “Ahhhh. It’ll never work.”

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Donald Fry: Maryland jobs data show July gains, sobering long-term reality

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent report brought some improved employment news for Maryland. Nevertheless, longer-term federal data puts into stark perspective the dramatic challenge the state faces if it is to regain pre-recession job levels. First, the good news. July was a positive month for Maryland employment, with the state gaining 8,100 jobs.

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Donald Fry: Quake serves as reminder about transportation

At 1:51 p.m. last Tuesday, buildings and office towers in downtown Baltimore began shaking and swaying from a rare east coast earthquake.

Tens of thousands of workers in those buildings scurried down stairs and spilled onto sidewalks. By 3 p.m., many got into theirs cars and headed out of the city. The result was predictable – massive congestion, especially on the Baltimore Beltway. The same phenomenon occurred around DC, according to reports.

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