Moderator: Welcome to Viewpoint with our guest, David Edgerley. David, thank you for joining us. What attracts companies to Montgomery County, and what keeps them there?

David Edgerley: David, thank you for hosting this interview. It's a pleasure to be here. Companies are attracted to Montgomery County by a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative factors. Individuals can sometimes relate to a business location issue by reflecting on why they bought their own home. The result is a combination of many things including proximity to decision-makers, real estate, availability of trained workforce and pricing, tax policy and access to markets. Montgomery County excels in all of these areas.

One of our strongest economic sectors is technology. Montgomery County represents the third-largest cluster of biotech companies in the country and has one of the highest per capita concentrations of scientists in the world.

Moderator: What has the county done to help businesses adversely affected by the economic downturn?

David Edgerley: This is an issue being addressed by communities across the country. Our County Executive appointed an economic impact panel with a broad range of representation among industry sectors to advise us on specific steps that the county could take to minimize adversity. The Department of Economic Development is aggressively visiting numerous key companies throughout the county (large and small) to help us learn from them. We have also focused on business development and financing and marketing efforts locally. The Department is working with our Conference & Visitors Bureau and the Greater Washington Initiative of the Board of Trade to rebuild confidence in our business community. We are also pursuing additional funding for some of our business finance programs.

Lanham, Md.: I own a mid-sized (90 people) company in P.G. County. Most of my employees, and I, live in Montgomery County. What incentives can I receive from Montgomery to move my business there?

David Edgerley: Our Department's primary mission is to expand quality job opportunities for our citizens. While it is not our core practice to move companies from one jurisdiction to another, we are always delighted to work with any firm that requests our assistance. Depending upon a company's needs, there is a wide array of financial assistance programs and tax incentive programs and other services that could be available for companies making a locational decision. General information is available on our website (www.theidealocation.com) as well as how to contact us. If discussions evolve, a specific proposal is usually tailored to the company's needs.

Fairfax, Va.: Do you feel that Montgomery County is more pro-business than Fairfax County?

David Edgerley: YES! Both Fairfax and Montgomery counties (and others) are stellar business addresses in the Washington metropolitan area. The strength of our business community, dynamic nature of our companies, demographics, and quality of life make us ideally positioned to support the lifestyles we have become accustomed to in this outstanding urban area. I resist the frequent tendency to compare the two as if one is winning and one is losing. Both of our jurisdictions have incredible strength that complement our great communities.

Silver Spring, Md.: I am interested in becoming part of the Silver Spring Redevelopment by opening a retail fabric store. How would the county help in this type of enterprise?

David Edgerley: What a great place to be! First, our Department operates a Small Business Resource Center which is located in the Rockville Regional Library. This facility offers business counseling, business plan assistance and review, financial packaging, and in some cases, direct loan assistance. Montgomery County also has a highly-skilled team of people working with special Silver Spring initiatives such as the Enterprise Zone, Arts & Entertainment District, Green Tape permitting assistance, and networking opportunities. For the Business Resource Center check our website or call 240.777.2041, for Silver Spring Regional Services Center call 301.565.7300.

Silver Spring, Md.: I would like to start a small business, to buy homes, fix them up and sell them or work with the government to provide some relief to the lack of low income housing in Montgomery County. I need some direction, first to form the corporation, and next to find the government agency with which to do business. Can you assist me please? Thanks.

David Edgerley: Let me also refer you to the previous question and add that our Business Resource Center regularly sponsors group sessions on how to start a business co-sponsored by Montgomery College. There are several programs operated by the state Department of Housing and Community Development and our county Department of Housing & Community Affairs which may have some resources available to help support your business goals. As you pointed out, there is a lack of affordable housing in the county. Good luck in your efforts.

Atlanta, Ga.: Mr Edgerley, I'd appreciate your speaking to tax incentives your county provides to encourage relocation. Thank you.

David Edgerley: Our tax incentive programs serve to recognize investment in our community. Our office can provide great detail, but let me summarize several programs here. The Enterprise Zones in Wheaton and Silver Spring can abate increases in tax assessments over a 10-year period starting with an 80 percent abatement for the first five years and declining 10 percent per year. In addition, net new employees hired can give the company a $500 per employee state income tax credit. Next, we have a county-wide program to abate increases in assessment due to new construction if a company builds both 5,000 sq. ft. and hires 25 new employees. This program is 80 percent for two years, 60 percent for two years, and 40 percent for the final two years. There is also a state program that awards an income tax credit for net new hires over 25 at certain income thresholds.

Washington, D.C.: What is the Maryland Technology Development Center?

David Edgerley: MTDC is the county's state-of-the-art 55,000 sq. ft. high-tech business incubator which has various sizes of office suites available to information technology, telecommunications, and biotechnology businesses. We primarily focus on start-ups and early-state companies needing not only the space and lab space, but also a cadre of services including central reception, appointed conference rooms, telephone system, computer network, copying and fax equipment, and an extraordinary array of training and networking programs sponsored by the Technology Council of Maryland, which also has its headquarters in the building. Our latest initiative establishes the Maryland Intellectual Property Legal Resource Center to advise companies on this important issue. Faculty of the University of Maryland Law School are on-site to provide this assistance.

Moderator: How is Montgomery County helping the county's high-tech business community?

David Edgerley: The high-tech sector of the economy provides the highest incomes and economic activity. We support it in many ways. Included in these are direct funding of the programs and services of the Technology Council of Maryland, coordination and leading of specialized trade missions on behalf of this industry. For example, in June approximately 40 biotechnology companies will join with Montgomery County and the state of Maryland in a unified presence at the International Biotechnology Industry Organization Annual Meeting in Toronto. This prestigious event attracts over 15,000 industry leaders from around the world. The county also built the original Shady Grove Life Sciences Center which laid the groundwork for our biotechnology industry, and is actively looking for additional sites to duplicate its success. We also partnered with Johns Hopkins University to develop its Montgomery County campus and the Johns Hopkins Belward Research Park. We are actively working with the needs of federal agencies including the issues surrounding the development of the Food & Drug Admninistration's consolidation at White Oak. Custom training programs are available to all technology companies at Montgomery College. Our technology growth fund can also make limited investments in early-stage companies needing financial assistance.

Burlington, Mass.: What are Montgomery County's demographics? Household income? Accessibilty to airports? To rail? Number of workers?

David Edgerley: Our county has a population of approximately 860,000. We are strategically located between three major airports with easy access to BWI, Reagan National and Dulles International. The Montgomery County Airpark at Gaithersburg provides corporate facilities. Amtrak, Maryland's commuter rail (MARC), and the Washington subway system provides service in the county. Over 450,000 jobs are based in the county making us Maryland's largest employment center. Many of our residents also commute to neighboring jurisdictions, including the Nation's Capital for employment in the private sector or the federal government. Our population is highly educated. Nearly 60 percent of our residents hold a Bachelor's Degree and almost 31 percent hold a graduate or professional degree.

Potomac, Md.: I have a B-to-B dot com that has achieved some margin of success over the past seven years with a great domain name and good brand recognition. We never went after outside funding but now we find we need investors. I am interested in learning if and how the county can assist me in attracting capital.

David Edgerley: Let me refer you to Henry Bernstein (240.777.2000), Manager of our Business Development division who can assign one of our staff to work with you and perhaps recommend a direction once we know more about your company's needs.

Rockville, Md.: Many high-tech and biotech companies like Oracle, CSC, Booz Allen, Orkand, Hughes Medical, Bechtel, Ameridebt, and Wang have left Montgomery County and moved to Northern Virginia, some citing traffic congestion and good access to airports as the reason for moving. What has been the economic impact to the county? Does your office recognize problems with congestion and the need for roads like the Techway and the ICC?

David Edgerley: Companies move for many reasons. In the early '90s, Northern Virginia had a much lower rent advantage over suburban Maryland as a result of construction activity in the '90s. Montgomery County's economic success includes companies also that have moved from Virginia. This is a fairly normal part of businesses operating in a region. Currently, Montgomery County's office vacancy rate is lower than Virginia's indicating that space is being taken up by companies that either expand or locate in the county as other companies make a decision to move to other counties or expand to new space in Montgomery County. Certainly, we are all concerned about traffic congestion and its impact on business and quality of life. Traffic is a consequence of the region's economic prosperity and we do support the need for better east/west connections in Maryland.

Ashton, Md.: My landscaping company and many others have been operating in the Ashton/Cloverly area for decades. Suddenly there is a movement afoot to try to find zoning violations against our businesses and drive us out of this region. What can Montgomery County do to assist small businesses like ours with zoning issues?

David Edgerley: Many companies in Montgomery County operate either in properly zoned (by right) areas or in some cases they operate under a special exception to the zoning ordinance. Our agricultural services division may be able to assist in advising you on this issue or may be able to advocate within our regulatory processes for a change to accommodate your needs. The specifics of your point should be forwarded to Jeremy Criss, Agricultural Services Manager, at 301.590.2823.

Gaithersburg, Md.: I read a story in Saturday's Post about IBM taking a 10-year lease on an office building in Reston. An individual from the firm representing IBM was quoted as saying this hopefully signals the beginning of a turnaround in the local marketplace. Do you share his optimism and can you point to recent transactions in Montgomery County that support said optimism?

David Edgerley: There is a great deal to be optimistic about. Most economists have signaled an end to this recession, home sales are breaking records at escalating prices, and unemployment remains low by any national standard. Job growth is strong but has slowed in recent months. Recent transactions include headquarters decisions by MedImmune and Discovery Communications, the international location of QIAGEN and new investment by new companies such as Social & Scientific Systems. The extraordinary strength of the federal government especially at NIH will continue to play a signficant role in our economy.

Silver Spring, Md.: I am a small business owner starting a sports business as a charter to invite soccer players from abroad to take part in games. I would like to know how to get sponsors and register it. I am also attending Montgomery College.

David Edgerley: Let me refer you to our Small Business Resource Center also. Staff there should be able to help you frame the issues that you are interested in. Good luck.

Moderator: David, what are your goals for the county?

David Edgerley: Montgomery County is a special place. We should all work very hard to maintain it as such. Our goal is to expand the tax base with quality development to maintain and expand the level of services that the county provides including education, recreation, and culture. In addition to tax base our mission is to create high-quality jobs for our ciitzens, not simply to look at growth for growth's sake. We plan to continue helping exisitng companies grow and prosper in the county through our many innovative programs, services and resources, including the Maryland Technology Development Center, the Small Business Development Center, and the Economic Development Fund. We want to expand business sectors including information technology, biotechnology, life sciences, telecommunications and business services through continued and targeted marketing that promotes the many advantages of doing business in the county.

David Edgerley: Thanks to all who participated -- the response was great. I'm sorry that we could not get to all of your questions. The Department of Economic Development is here to help with your business needs and I encourage you to visit our website (www.theidealocation) for information. Thank you.

Moderator: Our thanks to David Edgerley, the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development and all who participated.