MEDA Announces 2009 Economic Development Award Winners
Hagerstown-Washington County EDC Wins Economic Development Marketing Award
Cambridge, Maryland (June 2, 2009) - The fourth annual Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Economic Development Awards were presented at the 2009 MEDA Annual Conference, held May 31 – June 2 at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Sponsored by Miles & Stockbridge, P.C., the awards recognized outstanding efforts to attract new businesses, assist existing businesses, redevelop business districts, market communities, and support workforce development initiatives, tourism activities, and agricultural programs.
The Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) presented its 2009 awards at its annual conference at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay on Monday, June 1.
Pictured, left to right:
Robert Hannon of the Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation (Ft. Meade Regional Partnership – Regionalism Award); J. Thomas Sadowski, MEDA Immediate Past President; Kimberly A. Clark of the City of Baltimore Development Corporation (Harbor East - Economic Development Project of the Year); Lisa L. Webb, CEcD of the Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation (Ft. Meade Regional Partnership – Regionalism Award); Timothy R. Troxell, CEcD and Sarah J. Lankford of the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission (Marketing and Branding Campaign - Economic Development Marketing Award); William W. Badger, MEDA Life Member; Raymond A. Skinner of the Department of Housing and Community Development (Main Street Maryland - Economic Development Redevelopment Program of the Year) and Dyan Brasington, CEcD, FM, MEDA Hall of Fame. Not pictured: Richard J. Morgan, MEDA Volunteer of the Year
2009 MEDA Awards Recipients:
The Economic Development Marketing Award was presented to the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission (EDC), in recognition of their marketing and branding campaign. After developing a logo and slogan that capitalizes on the county’s strategic location, “Crossroads of Commerce,” the EDC launched a new website. The site features targeted navigation links to identify area demographics and investments incentives and searchable property database. Since its launch in July 2008, the website is drawing an average of 8,620 unique visitors per month.
Economic Development Project of the year was Harbor East, an eight-block $2 billion mixed-use development project nominated by the Baltimore Development Corporation. Harbor East features retail, Class A office and residential space, five hotels, restaurants, parking and tree-lined walkways. The project involved long-range vision and partnerships with Baltimore City, DBED, and MEDCO, and brought an infusion of jobs to downtown Baltimore.
Main Street Maryland, a program of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, was named Economic Development Redevelopment Program of the year. Since the programs’ creation in 1998, Main Street Maryland has helped 23 designated communities access the funding and technical assistance they need to achieve their goals. Public/private partnerships have resulted in more than $281 million dollars of investment, net gains of more than 900 new businesses and 3,700 new jobs.
New to the program this year, the Regionalism Award combines elements of all three MEDA Project Awards and adds a regional partnership component. Receiving the Regionalism Award this year is the Fort Meade Regional Partnership, comprised of six local jurisdictions and four supporting organizations that recognize the importance of the BRAC consolidation on Maryland’s economy. The Partnership’s goal was to be a one-stop resource for multiple jurisdictions in the vicinity of Fort Meade, so those impacted by the consolidation would choose to live and do business locally. Members include Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Howard and Prince George’s counties, as well as the City of Baltimore, the Fort Meade Alliance, the BWI Business Partnership, the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore and DBED. The team works to provide a cohesive message underscoring the region’s superior quality of life and economic opportunities.
Honorable mentions went to Baltimore Bio, a partnership between the Baltimore Development Corporation, Baltimore County Department of Economic Development, and the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore; and Renaissance Square Artists’ Housing, a redevelopment project of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
Individual awards also were presented. William “Bill” Badger was named a MEDA Life Member. Mr. Badger, currently vice president for government banking at M&T Bank, served nearly 27 years in the economic development industry with organizations such as DBED and Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation. He has been involved with MEDA for a number of years, serving in virtually every capacity, from president to treasurer, and helping to create the MEDA Hall of Fame.
Rick Morgan was honored as the MEDA Volunteer of the Year. Over the last 15 years, Mr. Morgan has shown great commitment to local and statewide economic development. He has served as chair of the economic development committee of the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, played an integral role in the creation of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, serves as treasurer of The MEDA Foundation, and much more.
For her 30 years of serving the economic development community in Maryland, Dyan Brasington was inducted into the MEDA Hall of Fame. She has served as director of economic development programs in Maryland and West Virginia, and currently serves as Vice President for Economic and Community Outreach at Towson University. Ms. Brasington was the first woman president of MEDA and one of only two Marylanders named Fellow Members of the International Economic Development Council. In addition, she is a three time recipient of The Daily Record’s Top 100 Women in Maryland award.
MEDA enhances the knowledge and skills of its more than 500 members and encourages partnerships and networking among those committed to bringing jobs and investment to Maryland. Since 1961, MEDA has operated as a nonprofit organization of economic development professionals, whose members promote the economic well being of Maryland and work to improve the state’s business climate.
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6/4/2009
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