Montgomery County's New Economic Development Corporation
The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) brings a big and bold approach to achieving greater economic competitiveness and prosperity across Montgomery County, MD.
A nonprofit organization with a fresh public/private perspective, entrepreneurial spirit, and proactive approach to economic development, the MCEDC is focused on maximizing Montgomery County’s rich diversity of people, talent, and multitude of workforce and business expertise to keep it at the leading edge of today’s hyper-competitive economic development environment.
Comprised of a highly-inclusive team of 11 on its Board of Directors, the MCEDC is committed to upholding and extending the County’s vibrant community and leveraging the advantages it brings for the future of business across the region.
"As I finish my third week at the MCEDC, I continue to recognize the honor and privilege to be the first CEO of this public-private partnership, created by Montgomery County leaders to be more proactive in economic development. Today, I am more confident than ever that we have the people, product, and passion to successfully diversify and grow our economy. I’ve had the chance to travel throughout the county, meeting strategic partners along the way, to share my vision for the organization, and more importantly, listen to the needs and interests of those that call this wonderful area their home and place of business.
It’s a new day for economic development in the county, with a fresh perspective and a level of service expected by our business community. The MCEDC staff has been working well together as we navigate the immediate opportunities ahead of us, and plan for the long-term strategic initiatives on the horizon. We have begun to interview candidates for various roles in the organization, and our pool of talent is strong. Our office location has been determined, and our temporary home will soon be operational as we start the build out process. Working with our county partners, policies and procedures are being crafted and refined, to ensure a collaborative and powerful partnership that facilitates economic development in more efficient ways.
Business development efforts continue to be a priority with the team, and we are re-engaging with businesses to add value and remove barriers as needed because we know that the greatest job growth will be generated by those businesses that are already aware of the advantages of being located in this region. We are beginning to explore programs that will enable smart business growth, and have sought out research and thought leadership in the region for inspiration and validation. In addition to Cyber and BioHealth, we are seeing opportunities in a variety of industries, from start-ups to well-established brands. In time, we will fuel entrepreneurial activities and infrastructure investments to encourage growth from within our county.
During my time meeting with business owners, economic partners and government officials, business competitiveness has been a common theme and will be an area of focus as we look to compete regionally and beyond. For many of you in the county, we will be meeting in the coming weeks and months at your location to discuss opportunities. Until then, please feel free to reach out to me to share your ideas and challenges so we can make this the county the best it can be for business and overall quality of life. I truly believe that now is the time for Montgomery County. With your support, we will accomplish great things."
David Petr