Montgomery County announced a sweeping merger
designed to put all of its public and private economic-development efforts
under one roof.
The Montgomery County Economic Development Corp. - a private
board that administers state grants - will be dissolved and its operations
reconstituted within the county Commerce Department.
The department will take on the economic-development
agency's executive director, David Niles, its staff and operations, and will
offer membership to all of its existing business members.
According to a county news release announcing the agreement,
funding will initially come from the economic-development corporation, and
"the operations will not add to the county's expenses or add liabilities
to the county's balance sheet."
The new arrangement will eliminate some duplications and
competition between the previous public and private agencies, county Board of
Commissioners Chairman Josh Shapiro said. "The MCEDC and the county have
not historically worked together in a coordinated fashion," its chairman,
Richard Young, said.
After meeting with county officials and discussing ways to
work together, Young said, the board determined merging was "the best way
to ensure the continuity and sustainability of our programs and to secure
significant benefits for our members and the corporate community in
general."
"Montgomery County now has one vision, one brand, and
one entry point for businesses to access vital resources," Shapiro said.
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