[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6362367,"mediaKeyId","2168046-3ae7a50ae986e639aaf59738e55a7083","parentId",2168046,"title","State OEA grant funds pilot to commercialize defense technologies; ExCel hired, regional rep named","audioSeconds",241,"startMs",477485,"endMs",718866,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168046-3ae7a50ae986e639aaf59738e55a7083&start=477&end=718","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168046-3ae7a50ae986e639aaf59738e55a7083/thumbnail_477485.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6362367/St-Marys-County/Maryland/State-OEA-grant-funds-pilot-to-commercialize-defense-technologies-ExCel-hired-regional-rep-named","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362367-5669ac7274f94109ef2782d521c8ffa3/orig.mp4?Expires=1776318333&Signature=J6e1dQZOGES1-2V8h5D9wb5Hfb0~Hqt52bjefgMGBNP-SHQfK2r26pZUGfxJOmb1ZfrYfNVM9eE8jopkHu5eCemHN73WruKNaQFg5rLlxIMriZIqOVrXHZtMdUwHUDnZofywprY3HMTgyh-uyxuNs4wTwqv7raG86GiKcrrzyTfBYI2swsDeunFR80VmCp1NL-Ca4vXaCNkhNiuel03vKNCwPcE02GX~IP7qitQ7HWbpYMNKS5DCPnBMxSB1HCQTRkqDDvFCbNaKBcOkxWx17ESwrvG6ba5XqYPnCMeZ4ZI-1eOaFFe9T6SR3QF1qBN~S-HXfwuPtAiFOViniclLmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-01-30T15:36:31Z","article","County staff reported updates on a multi‑county pilot project to commercialize defense technologies funded through a federal Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) grant administered by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBEDT).

Robin (EDC staff) said the project, which covers three Southern Maryland counties, has hired a consultant named ExCel to carry out the initial work on patent and technology inventories and to identify commercial possibilities. DBEDT has also appointed a regional representative for the grant, Jeffrey Arrington, who will be housed at the Tri‑County Council office in Hughesville and will help coordinate meetings with technology transfer staff at the region's Navy installations — Patuxent River, Dahlgren, Indian Head and the Naval Research Laboratory — and with local economic‑development staff.

Robin said the state will use OEA funding for a broader, statewide supply‑chain analysis tied to defense spending to trace prime contractors, subcontractors and sub‑subcontractors. That analysis is intended to reveal where federal defense dollars flow, which firms are headquartered in neighboring states, and where opportunities may exist for Maryland firms to capture more defense‑related contracting.

Robin told commissioners the regional pilot and statewide work will produce a SWOT analysis and inform the SEDS effort. Staff intends to introduce Jeffrey Arrington to the commission in a future meeting.

Robin also described collaboration with Dr. (name in transcript as) Dempwolf on a cluster analysis; staff said the two studies should dovetail but focus at different levels (patent level vs. firm level).

Separately, staff described an ongoing Maryland Startup Maryland pitch bus event and an upcoming manufacturing forum; those items were presented as outreach and engagement opportunities rather than formal actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","9/16/2015 Economic Development Commission","oneSentenceSummary","St. Mary's County staff reported that a Southern Maryland pilot project funded by an OEA grant has hired the firm ExCel and that DBEDT has named Jeffrey Arrington as the regional representative to coordinate outreach to Navy technology transfer offices.","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6362372,"EDC launches tourism and hospitality master plan process; consultants to phase actions",308,56520,365350,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168046-3ae7a50ae986e639aaf59738e55a7083&start=56&end=365","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168046-3ae7a50ae986e639aaf59738e55a7083/thumbnail_56520.jpg","/articles/6362372/St-Marys-County/Maryland/EDC-launches-tourism-and-hospitality-master-plan-process-consultants-to-phase-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362372-4395fa99b6758b455bf8dd838eb31592/orig.mp4?Expires=1776318333&Signature=WKhbahZf3RazN4Kbdn67ZEuvFWNcQrRRUgghjVt72cd9IzXrw3vMAvWFP84gaVDE6dmN2-i-PHUZY1O9ngT158CrHAk8L-P4k9KgbKRiDXyBDD-pbZ8pnJevXoh7EJI~Qo5tpOZ9q5o4GPvpU4oodSVAIaMe9uW0DCPNVwboA72euh7zgGXTe9AcoEnBBQGWztQx6fZnIMBoVlcap6gkBxB0tztW1exo5pJfwfUrA5U0p1yoRDxNXpXp3IqMvV8LFIdif6VJcwSHjrruKnxFFLm6Yo0eVASSe8wrhdh7ZxXvNAi31pd-ZHGLNh5G-ECQ99W7UH3JqTgG~~V4I1ic1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary's County Economic Development Commission on Sept. 16 received a kickoff update on a tourism and hospitality master plan and heard that consulting principals will lead a phased approach with early, implementable steps.

Bill (EDC member) and Phil (EDC member) reported on two meetings held the prior week with the consultant team, and identified Dan Fenton and Bethany Parker as the two principals who will work directly with the commission. Bill said he was “pleased with the contractor so far” and noted the firm's principals will be personally involved.

Phil said he was “pleasantly pleased” with the consultants' introductions and commended their plan to identify near‑term actions while working toward longer‑range goals. The commissioners emphasized that the plan should produce some results early without relying entirely on large financial investments.

Commission staff said the tourism and hospitality master plan will be a chapter of the county's Strategic Economic Development Strategy (SEDS) and will be integrated into that broader document. The consultants originally proposed a one‑year timeline for ample community input; staff said they asked the consultants to return with a shortened schedule that still allows adequate outreach. The consultants will be introduced to the commission in a future meeting, possibly in November, to present scope of work and gather input.

Materials provided to commissioners include stated objectives for the tourism and hospitality master plan; staff asked members to review those objectives before the next meeting.","Commissioners heard a kickoff update on the tourism and hospitality master plan; consultants are principals Dan Fenton and Bethany Parker, the project will be integrated into the county's SEDS and consultants were asked to shorten their proposed one-year timeline.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6362377,"EDC approves June minutes, accepts July work‑session notes",99,17495,116635,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168046-3ae7a50ae986e639aaf59738e55a7083&start=17&end=116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168046-3ae7a50ae986e639aaf59738e55a7083/thumbnail_17495.jpg","/articles/6362377/St-Marys-County/Maryland/EDC-approves-June-minutes-accepts-July-worksession-notes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362377-2fbf258463fa9bdba2a4132071efc4c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1776318333&Signature=gIuGbkoA5SOHNxClGHLIozC5SA1q~C1NiYChjOWjBXqEsf4hFSIdiUrubWRHtHA7W6EnrMVzSSKF9iMhmMPteueJ7oePxQy1z68hXqSGbeiSzWBXR89x-WRZgc7WS1VJK0VfzWPfP-jbgHKCV7-IuM2OggC4vOjdb8OH4qGPkKnEBIu8CHtFJF-ijVgt5Oah23s7gaoEMuoa7LO-h2zl7NP8h-UbK5StvUw6XaHLB~1IPB~thHJYoOxrg~vlkyKK8brOtzyo-4M5CY0ZMkWDDEfz83K4~geuAlLi5uYoJRCBFERVs3mRduaNZoNROT8Q-deNdDnIefRQDQrz9lNRAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary's County Economic Development Commission approved the minutes of its June 17 meeting and accepted the notes from a July 29 work session at its Sept. 16 meeting.

The approvals were introduced during the meeting's opening business. A commission member presented the minutes “for approval by the board,” a second was given, and the chair said, “Hearing none, we can enter the minutes as approved.” The work session notes were moved, seconded and likewise accepted for posting.

The two procedural approvals were handled early in the meeting and no further discussion or substantive amendments were recorded.","At its Sept. 16 meeting the St. Mary's County Economic Development Commission approved minutes from its June 17 meeting and accepted notes from a July 29 work session; both items were approved on motion and second.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6362362,"Commission presses consultant for SEDS deliverables as manufacturing and defense chapters lag",325,1298050,1623100,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2168046-3ae7a50ae986e639aaf59738e55a7083&start=1298&end=1623","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2168046-3ae7a50ae986e639aaf59738e55a7083/thumbnail_1298050.jpg","/articles/6362362/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Commission-presses-consultant-for-SEDS-deliverables-as-manufacturing-and-defense-chapters-lag","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362362-2ed4fdcb245971cc6c404e26e470c166/orig.mp4?Expires=1776318333&Signature=n7HJ3TzCaJDB~r-7xP7NXLec6beJdGPTDDkfqRac4QPFmlC4p3-4UnuRamMOzbrmot84qs6MSAPfN-6mugQSAgbGjwwjnQHSULGv6HUMDBRVE5QHjjPzSLte2CkAQKdsxzXSOvHvo2ECy4cXv-UxP3on5X9QU1hsfednz7~WgAGtWEG9ay9yU6THMQIfdsAsYcDXieGKjJocWddvhSjSfuFgU7~DJ8sQ4j~CRkN4bP~WG9sDFbRmxMJkZn5X3SNI816G4P2rCIX2KKUEsL9ZYhTCY2TYIQeQtOdFDaKo2q2kYyOrSmnybiabEnOsi2pQTasmojVrdMHY5zgHyD9reg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners spent a substantial portion of the Sept. 16 meeting reviewing the county's Strategic Economic Development Strategy (SEDS) project and voiced frustration with delayed background studies and perceived superficial drafts from the consultant.

Robin (EDC staff) and Chris (EDC staff) outlined where drafts exist and where materials remain outstanding. Commissioners noted that several background studies and the manufacturing/defense chapters — repeatedly promised — were not yet ready. One commissioner said the economic and demographic analysis “is basically from material from our website,” and others described draft sections as “shallow” and in need of more depth.

Staff told the commission it is extending the University of Maryland contract to allow the consultant additional time to deliver required SEDS components; Robin said this is a no‑cost extension of the original contract. Commissioners pressed staff and consultant to provide clearer timelines, to produce action steps and metrics in October if possible, and to involve industry and constituent groups (for example, the Farm Bureau, Ag‑Seafood Board and the manufacturing forum) in reviewing drafts.

Members proposed several process changes: meet more frequently through work sessions, form smaller working groups to \"divide and conquer\" chapter reviews, and visit peer communities that have recovered from base reductions (several commissioners suggested trips to places such as Huntsville and Monroe County/Key West to study recovery strategies). Commissioners also discussed zoning flexibility to accommodate light manufacturing in office/business park zones and asked staff to produce factual inventories — for instance, how much industrially zoned land and how much flex/industrial space is developed versus available.

The commission discussed a cluster analysis being prepared by a consultant referred to in the transcript as Dr. Dempwolf (name appears with multiple spellings). Staff said the consultant's cluster work and the state OEA pilot should dovetail, with some analyses at the patent level and some at the firm level. Commissioners asked staff to ensure the consultant removes energy from a cluster list where it appeared to be a \"false positive,\" and to return with clarified comparables and examples of communities that had diversified after base contractions.

No formal vote to terminate or replace the consultant was recorded; commissioners said that if drafts do not substantively improve, they may consider stronger action.","EDC members criticized delays in the county's Strategic Economic Development Strategy (SEDS) work, extended the consultant's contract term at no additional cost, and requested deeper, more actionable analysis for manufacturing, defense clustering and comparable communities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State OEA grant funds pilot to commercialize defense technologies; ExCel hired, regional rep named

EDC launches tourism and hospitality master plan process; consultants to phase actions

EDC approves June minutes, accepts July work‑session notes

Commission presses consultant for SEDS deliverables as manufacturing and defense chapters lag