Published: January 25, 2008 11:57 am      

PACE Reception

32nd annual PACE reception brings together area businesses

ANNAPOLIS - Nearly 700 people attended the 32nd annual Mountain Maryland PACE reception Thursday night at the Loews Annapolis Hotel.

The business-social event allows local business leaders, elected officials and others with a stake in improving the quality of life in Allegany and Garrett counties a chance to get recognized.

And Bob Smith said it works. Smith, PACE committee co-chair, said the event has improved - and served its purpose - for each of the 23 years he's attended.

There's proof all around the region, Smith said, noting the funding for Interstate 68 and several industrial parks along with the rebuilding of downtown areas.

"We have a hard time being recognized," Smith said. "We can't get left behind in the process."

Another example - Gov. Martin O'Malley has proposed a combined $4.5 million to study and suppress gypsy moths that are defoliating state forests in Allegany and Garrett counties. The money has yet to be approved by state lawmakers in the current legislative session, "but at least they heard us," Smith said.

Hope was a common theme. Phil Hager, Allegany County planning coordinator, said county staff and state Department of Planning officials "had a wonderful meeting" Thursday and discussed a number of issues related to current and future projects. Planning Secretary Richard Hall led the state's contingent during the meeting.

Hager said the county updated state officials on its "progressive" comprehensive planning by watersheds. He also mentioned the state could get involved in the traffic analysis of U.S. Route 220.

Matt Diaz, economic development director for Allegany County, met with state Department of Business and Economic Development Director David Edgerley. Diaz said that it's useful having Edgerley, who formerly led Allegany County's economic development off-ice, be successful at the state level. Edgerley's never let Allegany County be put on the back burner, Diaz said.

The county at one time had an unemployment issue. Diaz said the county's unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in November - below the national average - "and it's now a matter of an underemployment" issue.

He said the county's focus now is to bring high-tech jobs to the area and make use of facilities already here, such as ABC@FSU. Diaz said while the county would continue to attract jobs that pay $8 to $10 per hour in service or manufacturing industries, the area needs to focus on recruiting jobs with high-paying wages.

"I think the most important thing that we can do is ... we have to find a common ground," Diaz said, and match the effort of state and local efforts, noting it was "time to go to the next level."

He said several things bring people to Mountain Maryland, including a below-value housing market, low crime and low commute times.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.