From Harford County government:
Harford County Executive David R. Craig and James Richardson, director of the Office of Economic Development, have announced Harford County?s newest initiative, “Entrepreneurs Edge,” to help small and family owned businesses.
“The goal of Entrepreneurs Edge is to provide a coordinated and enhanced effort to support and increase the growth of start-up businesses in Harford County,” said County Executive Craig. “We have a great county with an already strong economic base, and we are looking to grow our business community, especially small businesses which are the lifeblood of any thriving economy,” Craig remarked.
Partnering with the Harford County Office of Economic Development will be Harford County Public Library, Harford County Chamber of Commerce, Harford Community College, Small Business Development Center and Harford Business Innovation Center. Harford County Public Library will become a significant point of entry for entrepreneurs and will assist in the entrepreneur?s growth and development.
“The local library is a great starting point and provides easy access to citizens and business owners alike to discuss business concepts and ideas and connect with critical resources to help transform an idea into a real business opportunity,” said Mr. Richardson, the Office of Economic Development director.
Harford County Public Library will serve as the first point of contact for those interested in creating business opportunities. The library serves many purposes including collecting data, working with clients to familiarize them with various data bases plus helping clients focus efforts, encouraging them to participate in county-sponsored training sessions, and reaching out to other partners in the Entrepreneurs Edge process to provide on-going support for entrepreneurs.
For those interested in moving forward with their plan to start a business, Harford County will offer “cutting-edge” training provided by the Office of Economic Development, Small Business Development Center, Harford County Chamber of Commerce and Harford Community College. The training includes establishing goals and objectives as well as best business practices.
Part of the on-going commitment to prospective business clients is to inform them of various training programs available through Harford Community College, Harford County Public Library business programming and Harford Business Innovation Center.
As potential business clients prepare to launch their new ventures, a support group of business professionals led by OED staff will work with these clients on areas such as developing a business plan, obtaining incorporation status and developing an action plan to move their business initiative forward.
A “Boost Team” lead by the president of the Harford County Chamber of Commerce will help move business clients forward with their business plan, and those with capital ready to initiate “start up” will be assisted in bringing their businesses to the market.
An “Accelerate Team” lead by OED personnel will help business clients move forward with “incubator” application, further market research, as appropriate, and finally move the business client to the market place.
As part of the on-going process in supporting new business growth, Harford Community College will conduct four training sessions per year related to start-up businesses. HCC will also support on-going research needs and will assist in identifying additional resources need by the entrepreneur.
“Harford County is adopting a holistic approach to business generation and the „Entrepreneurs Edge? provides new business clients with a variety of tools and expertise to help them get started,” said County Executive Craig. “Harford County is business friendly, and we are always exploring new ways and technology to help us capitalize on expanding business opportunities. We are doing our part in helping to promote and grow the American Dream,”
For more information about “Entrepreneurs Edge” and business opportunities in Harford County, contact the Harford County Office of Economic Development at harfordbusiness.org; Harford County Chamber of Commerce at harfordchamber.org; Small Business Development Center at harford.edu/sbdc; Harford Business Innovation Center at harfordbic.com; Harford Community College at harford.edu or Harford County Public Library at hcplonline.org.
Makes you wonder how the American Dream has lasted as long as it has without the government’s help to “promote and grow” it.
The American Dream has been destroyed by corporate fascism.
Wha’d you miss the bus to NY this morning?
Nope, maybe you didn’t understand my intended remark. The government at all levels is owned and ran by corporations. Don’t believe me? Look at who donates to campaigns, on all levels. Let’s use an example… Company “X” will donate money to a candidate and then all the child companies (Companies “Y” & “Z”) that the parent company CEO owns will donate too. In other words if a CEO has legally maxed out his campaign contribution personally and under company “X” he can fraudulently donate under company “Y” that he/she owns as well. After being elected the “representative” then passes legislation in that company’s favor. It’s a shame that our country has turned away from having “representatives” that fight for the rights of the people. Now the reps are more influenced by corporations and their lobbying groups so they can get reelected and live high on the hog.
Look no further than the Smith’s Detection Issue and the Clark Turner/Beechtree loan the council gave out a few years ago where big names contributed to campaigns and bought votes. It’s not the job of government to give loans, that is the job of a bank. If a deal is so good for the county, then why wouldn’t the bank give the loan? Some of the loans given out to corporations are forgiven after an amount of time if they can’t pay it back.
The county is only introducing this new program in order to cover its butt on the Smith’s Detection issue. They approved hundreds of thousands of dollars of OUR taxpayer dollars to an international corporation that brings in multi-millions a year while hanging out the small ma & pa business to dry. Smith’s didn’t need the loan to entice them to come to HarCo.
The next big handout: HarCo is looking to give Kohl’s a handout so they open up another shop. Remain vigilant.
I don’t agree with gov. hand outs at all, I believe in the free market.
This is not what the role of government should be. Being pro-business and being pro-freedom are contradictory.
Harford County deserves a government that defends the rights and freedoms of her residents.
Can anybody show me in the County Charter where it authorizes the creation of a loan fund or using taxpayer dollars to subsidize businesses in Harford?
How much is all this new OED babysitting going to cost the taxpayers? We already pay $2.4 million for the OED according to the 2013 budget, including $250,000 for our current incubator program.
Small businesses don’t need hand-holding at the library, they need lower taxes, less regulation, and a fair playing field, minus any handouts and backroom deals made by the county and state.
It sounds a lot like damage control in response to the heat they are getting because of the Smiths Detection deal….. but I could be mistaken.
Actually this project has nothing to do with the Smiths loan. Not that anybody involved is attempting to cover, recover, uncover or control any damage done. It is merely the first project from that part of Bill 12-19 that authorizes the Office of Economic Development to handout County funds in amounts up to $50,000 without having to involve the County Council and to invest County funds as an “Angel Investor”. Anybody wondering where the money goes? So am I
Additionally, on the County Council agenda for September 18 it appears that the Office of Economic Development has a new project business friendly project JAMES RUN TIF. No details yet, but no doubt another really good investment for Harford County. Anybody know how many more really good investments Harford County can afford? Neither do I.
Funny you should mention the Angel Fund, John – the Pitch Across Maryland tour bus will be in Abingdon tomorrow. It’s part of Startup Maryland, and the site says that support will be on hand for entrepreneurs including, “Angel & VC investors, Legal teams, Advisory firms, Marketing & PR firms, Other Seasoned Entrepreneurs”. I have yet to see any details on what this Angel Fund entails, or what it’s limits are, but it seems to be in play already.
There are still no details on Resolution 25-12 and Bill 12-35 both titled James Run TIF. Both the bill and the Resolution will be introduced at tonight’s County Council meeting. James Run is planned as a corporate campus the site may also include the 700 unit lodging facility that caused more than a little for residents in the area. Now the Office of Economic Development will ask residents, who opposed this facility, to fund it with Taxpayer dollars. Incredible. Although the timing of this legislative action is coincidental with the revenue estimate released by the State Comptroller, and its accompanying economic outlook the question is whether there any limits to the business friendly largess of the County? Seems odd that with the all that is going on the County wants to give away more money to private industry so that those recipients can improve their own bottom line.
I read the transcript of the community input meeting held at MRA on 4/9/12 regarding the development of James Run. Appears this is how to build residential outside of the development envelope. The county came up with the term “Lodging House” to mean residential building. Thomas Builders Inc. is a residential builder. They are located in Columbia and have built in Baltimore County.
The developer of James Run is inferring that there is a lack of demand for office and retail space and say’s only by including extraordinary amenities in a residential setting will the project be successful. Not only that the developer is requesting a TIF. They will say Oh help us please so we can deliver all these amenities which are very expensive. Without the amenities the people just will not come. Amenities do not make projects successful. A good and affordable product will make a project successful. A good and affordable product does not require a TIF. Infrastructure cost in a business setting are priced into the product and are not distinctive just to James Run.
Notice this is the same group favored by the County Executive who have applied for unwarranted hand outs from the out of control Harford County Office of Economic Development. The local principals and pals of the County Executive are referenced in the community input meeting for James found on the Harford County Web Site
It appears two Lodging Houses (residential building) (not single family) will now be built with less retail. Property is 111 acres. 1M SF office, 250K SF retail on Lot 4 and Lodging House on Lot 6 consisting of 14 acres.
At Bulle Rock the clubhouse is 42K SF. The residents oppose the HOA cost and the clubhouse if any at all should have been 24K SF. Get a grip on the amenities proposed at James Run:
Children’s play area…Conference room…Business center…Barbecue pavilion…Lobby…Concierge service…Wireless Internet…Outdoor pool…Fitness center…Clubhouse…Lounge…Billiards room…etc…
Sounds like a county club to me with on site living. The housing units can be furnished and even have linen service. Appears these will be rental units. Country clubs around the country are disappearing and facing hard times. Competition and the economy is putting them out of business. We should learn one thing…in a capitalist economy, in private industry, in Harford County this type of foolish building of trying to be all things to all people does not work. Private industry does exist that provides these amenities at far less the cost.
This project will be a disaster just like the Beechtree TIF. It is a desperate attempt to salvage a land use that has no reason in being. Stop this madness and stop the out of control Harford County Office of Economic Development.
Claiming a TIF is needed because the economic base will not support it is a reason not to build it. It is not a reason to throw taxpayer money into a black hole. Amenities as a reason to provide a TIF is beyond comprehensive. That is saying unless the property is developed to the extreme it will not attract attention so there is no other choice. There is always a choice and there is always opportunities. Problem is the Harford County Office of Economic Development and the Economic Development Advisory Board of Harford County only see what they want to see. Real hard work to bring good housing and safe neighborhoods with a positive revenue stream are too much to expect from them. Their programs provide increased taxes to existing residents, budget gaps, bigger government, and lower quality if living.
Again as I said regarding the TIF at Beechtree…The County Executive and Harford County Council are acting way outside the purpose of a TIF. It is for blighted areas. It is for remediation of pollution and toxic chemicals. It is for development that improves the quality of life of the residents. It is for development that could not be accomplished because of cost prohibitive factors. Cost prohibitive factors do not include AMENITIES. A TIF is commercial and social… It is not RESIDENTIAL. It is for all to enjoy the services and benefits. After all in the final analysis all the taxpayers pay for these costs that make the project commercially feasible.
James Run should be developed with a plan that works without government intervention. Such a plan can be developed. The fact that such a plan does not exist is the fault of Harford County Government. We cannot afford the higher taxes this is going to bring. We also cannot afford the mentality of Harford County Government that a TIF is a special obligation and not a general obligation so what the hey. Let’s just spend the money. The current taxpayers say NO. We will not subsidize this project. We will not pay for whomever can afford to live at James Run in such luxury. We expect Harford County Government to do better.
This never ending abuse of duties by the Harford County Council has to end. This is a bad project. I urge each of you to look back at your failure at Beechtree and for once do the right thing. You have continued to fail the taxpayers each year with poor budgeting and a complete lack of insight and risk management. Extending this fiscal black hole by your poor economic development decisions also has to end. Stop it now by stopping the TIF at James Run.
Sincerely
Larry Kramer
So I am still asking: Who Knows Where The Money Goes??
This seems to be pandering, especially when one is seeking higher office. One of the alternatives would be to reduce the barriers that keep them from start up business and decreasing regulations, which continue the flow of the costs to the customer. Frederick Counties BOCC, under the leadership of Blaine Young have been taking a hard look at these items and listening to the public, when it comes to this topic. Many barriers have already been removed. Our county bears signs stating we are “Open for Business.”