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Commissioners approve two SEDS consulting contracts, defer plan-of-action one week
Summary
The board approved contracts with the University of Maryland ($86,796) and Towson University ($61,312) to support a comprehensive economic development strategy (SEDS) and related analyses; the board voted to defer a separate SEDS plan‑of‑action for one week to allow staff clarification.
The Board of County Commissioners voted May 27 to hire consultants to move forward on a comprehensive economic development strategy (SEDS) and related analyses.
The board approved a contract with the University of Maryland for $86,796 to develop the SEDS background studies, cluster and network analyses, and to facilitate required public focus groups and final documents. Commissioners approved an addendum recognizing $25,000 in state funding and clarifying that state funding for later capital projects would require those projects be located within a Priority Funding Area.
The board also approved a Towson University contract for $61,312 to perform an economic impact analysis of sequestration and Pentagon drawdown, provide a business inventory and profiles for key commercial areas, and to set up a business‑retention database. Commissioners and staff said Towson’s work is designed to complement the UMD SEDS work by providing firm‑level data and a focused defense‑cluster commercialization analysis.
Both contract motions passed with recorded board votes of 3–2. Commissioners who opposed said they preferred a more phased approach and more focus on county education and other priorities; supporters said the simultaneous studies are complementary and time‑sensitive given BRAC and defense drawdown concerns.
Plan‑of‑action deferred
The board deferred a separate “Plan of Action for Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy” for one week at the request of staff so commissioners could review details and answers to outstanding questions. The motion to delay carried at the meeting.
Next steps
Staff will finalize consultant scopes and addenda, coordinate public participation and focus groups, and return with the plan‑of‑action after a week’s delay.
