Empower Prince Georges

Make Prince George’s County the “Small Business and Start-up Capital of the Greater Washington Region”: Establish a new Small and Minority Business Grant and Capital Investment Program that provides grants, loans, and bonding assistance to assist county-based companies, start-ups, and contractors with growth and expansion, creating generational wealth in our communities and growing our business tax base, eventually reducing the burden on residential property tax payers.

Require Developments Receiving Public Dollars to Empower the Local Economy: Require that developments that receive public dollars spend at least 50% of their development dollars with local businesses, including at least 30% with county-based minority-owned businesses, employ county residents for at least 35% of the work hours on the project, employ returning citizens for 5% of the work hours, and include local equity ownership.

Increase Local Business and Local Hiring Opportunities in County Contracting: Require that 50% of every county contract be spent with small and minority-owned businesses based in Prince George’s County, including a new requirement for prime contracting opportunities for county-based small/minority owned businesses. Re-establish and enforce the County’s 50% local hiring goals on county contracts and add a new requirement that 5% of the work hours must be done by returning citizens.

Eliminate Disparities in County Contracting Opportunities for Minority Businesses: Dramatically increase enforced goals for County Government contracting with Minority-owned Businesses to address disparities identified in the County’s recent disparity study, including new sub-requirements for spending with African-American-owned businesses and other communities with identified disparities.

Create Business Incentives for New Technologies: Create financial and zoning incentives for attracting and growing businesses in the bioscience, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity sectors similar to those recently established to attract data centers.

Create a Tax Incentive for Start-up Businesses: Establish a business personal property tax credit for start-up businesses in the County that are owned by county residents (“locally owned and operated”). Additionally, the Council should request that our MD General Assembly Delegation gives the County the authority to establish a real property tax credit for start-up businesses that are locally-owned and operated.

The 40/30 Challenge – Call on Our Public and Private Partners to Increase Equity and Inclusion: The County Council should adopt resolutions urging agencies that don’t fall under county contracting policies, like PGCPS, PGCC, and MNCPPC, and large institutions in the county, like colleges and universities, large employers, public utilities, houses of worship, and others, to adopt annual requirements for spending at least 40% of their dollars with county-based businesses and 30% with county-based minority-owned businesses. Let’s ask them to meet and exceed the 40/30 Challenge!

Create Model Economic Equity and Supplier Diversity Legislation for Local Jurisdictions Nationwide: My office will create model legislation that can be replicated by other local communities which increases small and minority business contracting requirements, eliminates racial disparities, establishes diversity and equity standards for taxpayer-assisted developments, and increases capacity and access to capital for small, minority, and locally owned and operated businesses.

Thus far, Council Members Calvin Hawkins (candidate for re-election), Sydney Harrison (candidate for re-election), Ed Burroughs (candidate for re-election), Jolene Ivey (candidate for re-election), Dannielle Glaros, Johnathan Medlock, Rodney Streeter (candidate for re-election), and Deni Taveras (candidate for District 47 Delegate) have joined me in supporting one or more of the proposals of this Equity and Inclusion Agenda for Our Local Business Community, with more to come soon!

Give Seniors a Property Tax Cut: Establish a 5-year 20% per year seniors tax credit for all seniors who have lived in their homes for at least 10 years and the homes have a value of $500,000 or less. I will seek authority from the Maryland General Assembly to allow the County to extend this seniors tax credit beyond the initial 5-year period and make it permanent and to have it apply to the portion of the property tax that seniors pay to the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC).

Give Teachers a Property Tax Cut: Request that our MD General Assembly Delegation authorizes the County to establish a teacher property tax credit program for National Board-Certified teachers who live in the County and work in high needs public schools in the County.

Basic Income Program for Working Families: Create a local supplement to the Earned Income Tax Credit Program to provide additional tax relief for modest income working families.

Create Local Residency Tax Incentive for Public Safety Workers: Establish a $2500 property tax credit for public safety officers who live in the county.

Create a Tax Incentive for Start-up Businesses: Establish a business personal property tax credit for start-up businesses in the County that are owned by county residents (“locally owned and operated”). Additionally, the Council should request that our MD General Assembly Delegation gives the County the authority to establish a real property tax credit for start-up businesses that are locally-owned and operated.

Establish a Prince George’s County S.T.E.A.M. Innovation Triangle: Create a Regional Technology and Innovation Triangle, anchored by Bowie State University, Howard University (Laurel, MD property), the University of Maryland-College Park, Prince George’s Community College, and other public-private stakeholders, to encourage the growth of priority industries, such as biosciences, quantum computing, cybersecurity, construction technology, clean energy, and the arts. This concept would capitalize on the federal Regional Technology Hub program proposed in the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and the America COMPETES Act and the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines Program.

Use Metro Station-oriented Development Incentives to Improve Retail and Create Jobs: Establish new automatic smart growth tax incentives for encouraging high-rise mixed use economic development at our transit stations, to attract better retail and high-quality jobs.

Update and Implement the County’s Economic Development Strategic Action Plan: Approve an update and implementation plan for the recommended policies proposed in the ‘Economic Development Strategic Action Plan for Prince George’s County.’

Reinvest in Our Established Gateway Communities: Create a Gateway Communities Infrastructure Investment Fund, for reinvesting in the infrastructure and removing blight in our established gateway communities that border neighboring jurisdictions, especially the District of Columbia.

Implement the Equity and Inclusion Agenda for Our Local Business Community: Implement the proposals in this platform called the Economic Equity and Inclusion Agenda for Our Local Business Community, to empower and grow our small and minority business community and spur local hiring.

Make Permitting More Customer-Friendly: Establish a Permit Early Warning System for flagging permit reviews to DPIE leadership that are extending beyond normal timing standards and make record of such alerts available to the public.

Establish a Downtown Prince George’s County Business-Sports-Entertainment District in Largo/Landover Area: Within 5 years, establish a Downtown Prince George’s County “Mini-city,” a mixed-use business, sports, entertainment, and residential district, in the Largo and Landover area including the area surrounding the current (and potentially future) Washington Commanders Stadium, using zoning incentives and state/local infrastructure funding, connected to nearby metro stations at Downtown Largo and Morgan Boulevard.

Fight Hard to Bring the New FBI Headquarters to Greenbelt or Landover: With the new FBI Headquarters search being restarted by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the two finalist locations in the County from the previous search, Greenbelt and Landover, should be top priorities for financial incentives, infrastructure investment, and expedited zoning to win the location of this multi-billion dollar project that would boost our commercial tax base and bring thousands of federal jobs to the County.

Advance the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit Project to Reduce South County Traffic and Boost Local Economy: Advance the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit Project from engineering and design to the construction phase within the next 5 years. This light rail line would extend down the MD-5/US-301 corridor from Prince George’s County at the Branch Avenue Metro Station in Camp Springs to White Plains in Charles County. This project would dramatically reduce traffic and boost economic growth on this south county corridor regularly rated as one of the worst commutes in America.

Repair Our Roads: Guarantee at least $40 million annually in road resurfacing and repair investments in the Prince George’s County budget and require DPWT to establish a 6-year plan and schedule for road resurfacings and repairs, reviewed and approved annually.

Free Bus Fare to Encourage More Bus Ridership: Make public transportation on The Bus free to the public.

Advance the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit Project to Reduce South County Traffic and Boost Economy: Advance the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit Project from engineering and design to the construction phase within the next 5 years. This light rail line would extend down the MD-5/US-301 corridor from Prince George’s County at the Branch Avenue Metro Station in Camp Springs to White Plains in Charles County. This project would dramatically reduce traffic and boost economic growth on this south county corridor regularly rated as one of the worst commutes in America.

Create a Pilot Program for Bus Rapid Transit: Establish a pilot program for a Bus Rapid Transit System in the County, which would be dedicated bus-only transit ways, in the next 5 years.

Reduce Litter and Restore Twice a Week Trash Service: Double the frequency of litter pick-up and grass cutting on our roadways, publish litter and grass cutting schedules, coordinate and sync litter and grass cutting services on county roads with those on state roads, and restore twice a week trash pick-up within 3 years.

Increase Access to Broadband for Underserved Communities: Work in partnership with the Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband and the Maryland Broadband Investment Advisory Workgroup to maximize the allocation of federal and state funds and resources to Prince George’s County families that lack access to reliable broadband.

Establish New Rental and Mortgage Down Payment Assistance Programs: Establish an annual rental assistance program for modest income seniors and veterans and a mortgage down payment assistance program for modest income and modest net worth families in the county, within 2 years.

Basic Income Program for Working Families: Create a local supplement to the Earned Income Tax Credit Program to provide additional tax relief for modest income working families.

TNI Legacy Grants Initiative for High Needs Communities: Prioritize our most socioeconomically distressed and highest needs communities in my office’s nonprofit grant award funding to improve quality of life services like mental health, workforce development, youth mentoring/tutoring/scholarships, and family and social services, similar to the former Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative.

Support Negotiated Public Employee Union Collective Bargaining Agreements and Families of Public Employees: Support and fund negotiated or arbitrated collective bargaining agreements for public employee unions and continue my commitment not to support furloughs or layoffs of public employees.

Create Market Incentives for Increasing Affordable Housing: Create a density bonus program to incentivize workforce and mixed income housing at transit locations.

Increase Priority Hiring of Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Youth in the County’s Youth Employment Programs: Require that at least 50% of the work hours in the County’s youth employment programs, including the annual summer youth jobs and enrichment program, be worked by youth from low income households in the County.

Double the Number of Senior Affordable Housing Units: Within 5 years, double the number of affordable senior housing units in the County by partnering with churches, nonprofits, and other real estate stakeholders to build senior affordable housing developments with public subsidies.

Give Seniors a Property Tax Cut: Establish a 5-year 20% per year seniors tax credit for all seniors who have lived in their homes for at least 10 years and the homes have a value of $500,000 or less. I will seek authority from the Maryland General Assembly to allow the County to extend this seniors tax credit beyond the initial 5-year period and make it permanent and to have it apply to the portion of the property tax that seniors pay to the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC).

Second Chance Agenda – Reduce Repeat Offenses by Encouraging Businesses to Hire Returning Citizens: Implement and fully fund the Reentry Employment Incentive Program, to give employers a financial incentive to encourage them to hire residents returning to the community from incarceration, which would reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

“TNI Legacy Grants Initiative” for High Needs Communities: Prioritize our most socioeconomically distressed and highest needs communities in my office’s nonprofit grant award funding to improve quality of life services like mental health, workforce development, youth mentoring/tutoring/scholarships, and family and social services, similar to the former Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative.

Use Technology to Reduce Carjackings: Fully implement the license plate reader program and establish an incentive program to encourage residents to add low jack-type GPS tracking systems to their vehicles reduce carjacking and auto thefts.

Second Chance Agenda – Eliminate Barriers to Hiring Returning Citizens: Prohibit a returning citizen’s criminal convictions from being considered in employment hiring decisions if their sentence was completed at least 5 years ago for felonies and at least 3 years ago for misdemeanors and they have not re-offended.

Create a Stronger Law Enforcement Career Pipeline: Establish a new PGCPS Law Enforcement Cadet Program in the next 3 to 5 years, similar to the existing PGCPS Fire Cadet Program, to encourage more of our young people to consider law enforcement careers.

Create Local Residency Tax Incentive for Public Safety Officers: Establish a 5-year $2500 public safety property tax credit for public safety officers who live in the county. This important policy will also work in tandem with other existing efforts to improve declining recruitment and staffing of our public safety officers.

Ensure the Establishment of an Independent Police Accountability Board: Implement state authority to establish and appoint an independent, effective, and fair police accountability board to ensure effective oversight over police disciplinary matters involving use of force.

Second Chance Agenda – Require the Hiring of Returning Citizens on County Contracts and in Publicly Assisted Developments: Require that 5% of the work hours on county government contracts of at least $5 million in value and economic developments receiving $5 million or more in public assistance employ residents returning from incarceration for at least 5% of the work hours on the project.

Increase Priority Hiring of Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Youth in the County’s Youth Employment Programs: Require that at least 50% of the work hours in the County’s youth employment programs, including the annual summer youth jobs and enrichment program, be worked by youth from low income households in the County.

Reestablish the Prince George’s Volunteer Center: Reestablish a one-stop-shop office to coordinate countywide volunteer and service opportunities for county residents, especially for retired seniors and youth, within the next 3 years.

Establish a Comprehensive Mental Health Plan for Prince George’s County: Require the County Health Department, in collaboration with community stakeholders and related agencies, to establish and implement a Prince George’s County Comprehensive Mental Health Plan for county residents.

Give Seniors a Property Tax Cut: Establish a 5-year 20% per year seniors tax credit for all seniors who have lived in their homes for at least 10 years and the homes have a value of $500,000 or less. I will seek authority from the Maryland General Assembly to allow the County to extend this seniors tax credit beyond the initial 5-year period and make it permanent and to have it apply to the portion of the property tax that seniors pay to the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC).

Establish New Rental and Mortgage Down Payment Assistance Programs: Establish an annual rental assistance program for modest income seniors and veterans and a mortgage down payment assistance program for modest income and modest net worth families in the county, within 2 years.

Double the Number of Senior Affordable Housing Units: Within 5 years, double the number of affordable senior housing units in the County by partnering with churches, nonprofits, and other real estate stakeholders to build senior affordable housing developments with public subsidies.

Seniors and Veterans Resource Guide: Establish an online and printed one-stop-shop Prince George’s County Seniors and Veterans Resource Guide to provide information about all of the services offered across local, state, and national government and the nonprofit sector for Prince George’s County seniors and veterans. The brochure would be annually distributed to seniors and veterans in the County.

Create a Quarterly On-The-Go Seniors and Veterans Mobile Pop-up Program: Implement an On-The-Go Seniors and Veterans Mobile Pop-up Resource Program that brings in-person county agencies and resources for seniors and veterans to a senior center, veterans center, house of worship, or other critical location in the County at least once a quarter.

Reestablish the Prince George’s Volunteer Center: Reestablish a one-stop-shop office to coordinate countywide volunteer and service opportunities for county residents, especially for retired seniors and youth, within the next 3 years.

Establish a Comprehensive Mental Health Plan for Prince George’s County: Require the County Health Department, in collaboration with community stakeholders and related agencies, to establish and implement a Prince George’s County Comprehensive Mental Health Plan for county residents.

Establish a Tax Incentive to Encourage Medical Providers to Serve Underserved Communities: Request state authority to establish a Medical Provider Incentive Program, a local income tax credit to encourage doctors to locate their practices and nurses to work at hospitals that serve modest income areas in the county.

Support Plans to Build a New Adventist Fort Washington Hospital Center: Support Adventist’s plans to replace the existing Fort Washington Hospital with a larger, state of the art full-service hospital, Adventist Fort Washington Hospital Center, to relieve ER and other medical overcrowding issues at other, nearby hospitals and expand care for county residents while boosting the economy. The Council should make the necessary changes in zoning policy and provide an endorsement of the project in its role as the Board of Health, after thorough evaluation and community engagement.

Provide Health Care Coverage to “Hard to Insure” Populations: Within 3 years, establish a minimum annual level of $10 million in funding to the Health Assures Program, a program that provides access to health care for those who do not qualify for the Affordable Care Act, adjusted upward annually up to 2.5% for inflation.

“TNI Legacy Grants Initiative” for High Needs Communities: Prioritize our most socioeconomically distressed and highest needs communities in my office’s nonprofit grant award funding to improve quality of life services like mental health, workforce development, youth mentoring/tutoring/scholarships, and family and social services, similar to the former Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative.

Provide Increased Funding for Services for Residents with Special Needs: Commit to providing at least $5 million annually, indexed by up to 2.5% annually for inflation, to supplement the services of nonprofits who provide direct assistance to our Developmentally Disabled Community.

Create Financial Incentives for Constructing Green Buildings: Propose that buildings built and certified as LEED-certified Platinum, utilizing the latest released version of LEED requirements as published by the U.S. Green Building Council, or as Zero Energy Buildings, meaning the buildings have no carbon footprint, receive a 50% reduction in building permit fees.

Grow Our Local Solar Industry: Propose that installation of solar panels shall have a 50% reduction in permit fees if installed by a small or minority-owned business based in Prince George’s County.

Create a Green Education to Green Career Pipeline: Within the next 3 years, establish a signature Green Economy and Clean Energy Career Certification Program in one or more of our PGCPS High Schools to encourage our young people to enter the green economy and renewable energy fields.

Establish a Local Foothold in the Electric Charging Industry: Within the next 3 years, establish a pilot program for training local workers to build electric charging stations in Prince George’s County.

Create a “Farm to Table” Distribution and Processing Center for Local Agriculture: Within the next 5 years, provide full funding to build a food processing and distribution center serving Prince George’s County farmers to facilitate distributing their homegrown vegetables and meats from their farms to local restaurants and food pantries.

Support State Carbon Emission Reduction Goals of 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2045: Implement policies that help the state reach a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and 100% reduction in carbon footprint by 2045, as set forth in the Climate Solutions Now Act and Executive Order (EO) 5-2022

Improve Air Quality By Reducing Car Traffic with Major Public Transit Projects: Automobile emissions are among the leading causes of air pollution in our county and region. The proposals in the Empower Prince George’s “Infrastructure Investment” Section, including the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit Project, Bus Rapid Transit Pilot Program, and Free Bus Fare on ‘The Bus,’ are important steps towards improving air quality by giving residents more and better choices to travel than just their own automobiles.