ANNAPOLIS - Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown today announced the release of a study that assesses the State's needs to accommodate the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decisions that will bring more than 45,000 new jobs to Maryland by 2011. Governor O'Malley directed the Lt. Governor to chair the Subcabinet on BRAC for the State of Maryland.
"BRAC brings us both tremendous opportunities and tremendous challenges," said Lt. Governor Brown. "Maryland will play a critical role in our nation's defense. At the same time, the State must prepare to absorb more than 28,000 new households over time. We must work together with our federal delegation, the General Assembly, our local governments as well as the private sector to ensure that we maintain the outstanding quality of life that drew these jobs to Maryland. This study will serve as an outline of the tasks we face in the BRAC Subcabinet."
The study, which was funded through a U.S. Department of Labor grant and overseen by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), was prepared by the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), the Maryland Department of Planning, the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, and Towson University's RESI, with input from the City of Baltimore and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Cecil, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties.
"The BRAC Commission's November 2005 decision was welcome news, given the number of strategic programs and Department of Defense positions that will be coming to Maryland over the next several years," said BGen Mike Hayes USMC (Ret.), director of DBED's Office of Military and Federal Affairs. "These military programs and jobs will expand the prominent role of Maryland's military bases in providing the technology required for the security of the nation."
The study attempted to measure the impact that the BRAC growth will have upon local planning, public facilities, the environment, schools, infrastructure (particularly transportation, water and sewer), workforce issues, housing, financial requirements and regulatory issues. In addition, the study determined the anticipated tax revenue generated by the new jobs coming into the state, the higher education requirements necessitated by BRAC jobs, and options to expedite the security clearance process for new employees.
DBED's Office of Military and Federal Affairs has coordinated planning efforts with the affected military facilities and municipalities. Since the BRAC decisions were announced in November 2005, the State has maintained direct contact with military installation leaders to facilitate the move of jobs to Maryland. A contingent of state and local officials participated in Job and Relocation Fairs in Ft. Monmouth, N.J., and Arlington, Va., to respond to a wide range of inquiries regarding schools, housing, spousal employment opportunities, funding options for education, recreation and leisure, and other subjects. In addition, the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the Maryland State Department of Education, the Maryland Department of Planning, and DBED are actively working with their county counterparts to plan for BRAC's expected impact on local and regional infrastructure and industries.
BRAC EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FACT SHEET
* The final 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission decisions, which became law on November 9, 2005, must be executed by September 2011.
* In the largest single employment growth activity in the state since World War II, Maryland is expected to gain more than 45,000 federal and private sector jobs through time. (The anticipated job growth reflects jobs, not people.)
* As a result of BRAC, Maryland's critical role in the defense of the nation will be considerably enhanced.
* Fort Meade will gain approximately 5,800 jobs; the Aberdeen Proving Ground will net approximately 9,000 jobs; the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, approximately 1,400 jobs; and Andrews Air Force Base, 400 jobs.
* Funded through a U.S. Department of Labor grant, the BRAC study measured the impact of this growth on local planning, public facilities, the environment, schools, infrastructure (in particular, transportation, water and sewer), workforce issues, housing, financial requirements, and regulatory issues.
* In light of the anticipated BRAC-related growth, many jurisdictions will need to take significant steps now to enable their growth areas to accommodate more development capacity.
* Maryland's great success in the 2005 BRAC round was the result of a concerted effort over time of individuals and organizations throughout the state.
* We can be justifiably proud that the BRAC decisions will allow our installations an ever-increasing role in safeguarding our nation.
* The same coordinated, concerted effort that brought BRAC success to Maryland is now required to most efficiently and effectively determine how best to plan for and invest in the infrastructure improvements required.
* The final 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission decisions, which became law on November 9, 2005, must be executed by September 2011.
* In the largest single employment growth activity in the state since World War II, Maryland is expected to gain more than 45,000 federal and private sector jobs through time. (The anticipated job growth reflects jobs, not people.)
* As a result of BRAC, Maryland's critical role in the defense of the nation will be considerably enhanced.
* Fort Meade will gain approximately 5,800 jobs; the Aberdeen Proving Ground will net approximately 9,000 jobs; the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, approximately 1,400 jobs; and Andrews Air Force Base, 400 jobs.
* Funded through a U.S. Department of Labor grant, the BRAC study measured the impact of this growth on local planning, public facilities, the environment, schools, infrastructure (in particular, transportation, water and sewer), workforce issues, housing, financial requirements, and regulatory issues.
* In light of the anticipated BRAC-related growth, many jurisdictions will need to take significant steps now to enable their growth areas to accommodate more development capacity.
* Maryland's great success in the 2005 BRAC round was the result of a concerted effort over time of individuals and organizations throughout the state.
* We can be justifiably proud that the BRAC decisions will allow our installations an ever-increasing role in safeguarding our nation.
* The same coordinated, concerted effort that brought BRAC success to Maryland is now required to most efficiently and effectively determine how best to plan for and invest in the infrastructure improvements required.