Yesterday, the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) participated in the Bladensburg Town Hall meeting to discuss ways in which the County and State could work together to bring an economic boom to the municipality. EDC President and CEO Jim Coleman, engaged in an interactive discussion with Maryland’s Secretary of Commerce Mike Gill, Bladensburg Mayor Walter James and Bladensburg City Council Members and State Delegates about the role the Economic Development Corporation can play in connecting Bladensburg to economic opportunities.

Last week, Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Jim Coleman announced that the 2016 Miss World Festival will be held in Prince George's County. As the largest and the longest running international competition in existence, Miss World will bring more than 3000 visitors from around the world to the region and its Grande Finale will be televised in over 180 countries. According to Miss World officials, the Festival will be seen by more than two billion viewers.

Yesterday, EDC President and CEO Jim Coleman was among several guest speakers at the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber (BWCC) Procurement Opportunity Outreach Session at the Patuxent Greens Country Club. BWCC Chairman of the Board Eric Harris, in collaboration with MGM National Harbor, coordinated the procurement forum to provide information to the more than 100 subcontractors and vendors from the area about the services MGM National Harbor would be in need of as they countdown for their grand opening in December. Mr. Coleman provided the attendees with an overview of the numerous development projects on the horizon in Prince George's County and talked about the services the EDC has to help businesses increase their capacity and grow.

On Thursday, the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) took its signature networking event ‘Thirsty (for Business) Thursday” (T4BT) to another level as more than 300 people came out to the Marlton Golf Club in Upper Marlboro to network and to celebrate ‘Economic Development Week’ in Maryland. EDC President and CEO Jim Coleman, partnering with FSC First President and CEO Shelly Gross-Wade highlighted the economic development achievements that are taking place in Prince George’s County and announced the recent recipients of the County’s $2 million Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) Small Business FLEX Fund.

Members of the press and the business community gathered at the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) on Monday, September 19 to join top officials from County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III's office kicked off Economic Development Week with two new initiatives geared towards bolstering the success of local small and minority-owned businesses. Celebrating the great economic development successes the County has experienced during the Baker Administration, County officials stated that this success was not by accident. Joining the celebration was Council Chair Derrick L. Davis, EDC President and CEO Jim Coleman, Prince George's County Financial Services Corporation President and CEO Shelly Gross-Wade, and Maryland Department of Commerce Financing Program Manager Darla Garrett.

EDC President & CEO Jim Coleman provided remarks on behalf of County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III at the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Business Policy and Competitiveness Conference in Cambridge, Maryland. Over 200 people attended the luncheon to kick off the conference that brought together influential business, policy and academic leaders from around Maryland to talk about business growth and public policy. Mr. Coleman participated in a panel discussion and presented excited new development and economic activities in Prince George’s County.

More than 40 nationally renowned scientists and researchers from the agricultural business community, along with state and local officials came out to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) last week to participate in the inaugural Maryland Agricultural Business Roundtable. The goal of the Roundtable, created by Dr. Ellen Harris, Director of BARC, is to ignite a farming revolution, to educate the agricultural science community about the entrepreneurial side of their research, and connect scientists with the business community in an effort to bring their research to the masses. EDC President and CEO Jim Coleman was among the distinguished panelists who talked about avenues for connecting BARC research to the agricultural business community in Prince George's County and beyond.

Today, the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) welcomed top Obama official Michael Michaud, Assistant Secretary for Veterans with the U.S. Department of Labor, as it deployed its second installment of ‘Operation 500’, the Veteran jobs and resource initiative geared toward securing high wage jobs for 500 Prince George’s County Veterans by January 2017. More than 30 private sector employers and resource partners participated in the Jobs and Resource Fair in which 40 Veterans walked away with solid job opportunities. Employers were excited about the amount of talent that the Prince George’s County Veteran community displayed.

In December of 2015, Tami Johnson was at a crossroads. She had completed every task that was supposed to guarantee her success and attainment of the American Dream. She graduated from high school and went on to earn a bachelor's and master's degree in Business Administration. Still, at the end of last year, she had no job prospects and her unemployment benefits were running out. Just when her situation seemed hopeless, she received a phone call that would change her life. Kevin McNutt, a Business Consultant at the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation (EDC), called Tami to ask if she had recently updated her resume. After further discussion, Mr. McNutt extended an invitation for her to participate in the 'Hire Prince George's' program.