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Local business leaders and public safety officials gathered for the Business Economic Imperative on March 5, held at IKEA in College Park, Maryland, to discuss the growth and future of one of the nation’s wealthiest Black counties.

“This event is the start of a leadership conversation about the business culture and economic environment for future successes in the county,” said Greg Holmes of the , which hosted the March 5 event alongside . “We are bringing together the voices that matter – stakeholders who can lead change, drive economic prosperity, and create a thriving business infrastructure in Prince George’s County.”

With a full day of programming, including a fireside chat and three panels featuring law enforcement officials and leaders in economics and business, the event emphasized ways to address crime and advance local economic and business partnerships.

“It’s always great to talk about how to move our county forward, moving us to the next phase of growth and leadership,” said Kevin Anderson, Gov. Wes Moore’s senior economic development adviser, following a fireside chat with former Department of Commerce official , “This will be Maryland’s decade.”

The law enforcement panel included Capt. Robert Stevenson of the Bowie Police Department, Prince George’s County Commander Major Sal Serpas, and Greenbelt Police Chief Richard Bowers, discussing public safety and the economic impact of crime on local businesses.  

Stevenson said addressing juvenile crime should be a focus for inter-agency partnerships, as opposed to just the responsibility of Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy, who led in the Democratic county executive primary election the day before the Wednesday event.

“When we look at carjackings and crimes of that nature, they are often committed by younger offenders. It’s important to address this from all levels of accountability; not just the State’s Attorney’s office,” he said. “Juvenile crime is caused by a variety of factors.”

Stevenson emphasized the urgent need for an all-hands-on-deck approach to combating local juvenile crime.

“We need to talk about prevention and rehabilitation, along with some level of accountability,” he said. “Crime is dropping in some areas, although juvenile crime is still deemed too high.”

The business panel highlighted education as a means of advancement, featuring: Comprehensive Women’s Health founder ; Corenic Construction President and CEO ; Keller Williams Preferred Properties owner ; Salon 809 & 809 Laundromat founder ; and Dat Jerk Caribbean Chargrill co-founder .

“You have to focus on learning your business anywhere, not just in Prince George’s County,” said Cooper during the panel. 

He noted the importance of trade schools as an option to get young Prince Georgians into the workforce with a high salary, without the need for college.

“You know we’re frustrated with our politicians but we try to count on them to make change for us,” Cooper continued. “We have to take charge of that and do it for ourselves.” 

The panel of economic leaders included Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce President , small business owner and former Delegate , of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable and Pastor of . Many panelists emphasized the need for economic and community leaders to collaborate and engage with one another.

As a church leader, Manning said “the major role of the faith community is partnering with businesses.”

“The people the businesses are looking for as great employees and as customers are in our churches and our pews,” said Manning, a leader with the . “The businesses that have done great here have leveraged the strength of partnership with the faith community.”

Rogers emphasized the importance of developing Maryland’s commercial sectors amid federal spending cuts and mass firings by the Trump Administration.

“We need corporate headquarters for Fortune 500 companies, not just warehouses,” she said. “It would help us so much as our state is dependent on income taxes and federal spending. That’s a big deal in this moment, and we have to find a way to keep revenues coming in.”

Working with the Future County Executive, Looking Ahead

While the official election is on June 3, Braveboy is the overwhelming leader of last week’s Democratic primary and is expected to serve as the next county executive of Prince George’s County, whose registered voters are predominantly Democrat.

Some local leaders emphasize the need for strong partnerships with the next county executive in order to move Prince George’s forward. 

“The partnership starts with the county executive— they set the agenda,” Chairman Orlan Johnson told The Informer at the March 5 event. “The rest of us should be following that lead. Some people think our organization has an independent function, we are a support function that prioritizes the area of economic concern for the county executive.”

Johnson, who has known the state’s attorney since he taught her at Howard University School of Law, looks forward to the potential of collaborating with Braveboy in the future. 

“We’ve known each other a long time. I taught her in law school, and she was a great student,” he continued. “She’s always known for years that whatever she needs to she can call me.” 

Austin said the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce hopes to collaborate with the new county executive “as much and as often as possible.”

“We’re in this together,” said Austin. “I feel that the chamber has had good relationships with past county executives and I expect we will in the future.”