June 15, 2017

For Immediate Release

Prince George’s County Councilman Mel Franklin Urges University of Maryland Medical System to Use Local Businesses and Local Hiring in Development of New Regional Medical Center

Council Approval of Financing and Land Transfer Paves the Way for Replacement of Prince George’s Hospital Center

Contact: Mel@melfranklin.net

Upper Marlboro, MD – On Tuesday, the Prince George’s County Council voted to approve county bond financing (CR-34-2017) and transfer of ownership of county land (CB-51-2017) to the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), the final legislative steps in authorizing the construction of a new $543 million state-of-the-art Regional Medical Center to replace the Prince George’s Hospital Center and the transition of control of the county’s health care system, including the Bowie Health Campus and Laurel Regional Hospital, to UMMS.  Before voting for final passage, Prince George’s County Councilman Mel Franklin (D-District 9) highlighted the significant public investment being made by county taxpayers, including county land and $208 million in county funds, and the need to buy and hire locally for the new hospital.  Today, Councilman Franklin issued the following statement:

“I am very excited that we are on the verge of a major step forward in health care and economic development in Prince George’s County.  The establishment of a new Regional Medical Center under the leadership of the highly reputable University of Maryland Medical System will lead to a major, positive transformation in the quality of health care in our county that has literally been decades in the making. As we make this significant step forward, we must also ensure that our local businesses and residents are not just spectators for this new economic opportunity, which was secured in large part by significant public investment.  Our small, minority, and woman owned businesses in the county are the foundation of our economy and spending with these businesses fosters a county “multiplier effect” that creates jobs and generational wealth throughout our communities.  I urge our new partners at UMMS to fulfill our expectations and high hopes by maximizing business opportunities for these firms and local hiring opportunities for qualified residents.  When we put ‘jobs first,’ we put opportunity first in Prince George’s County.”

The new Regional Medical Center, approved by the Maryland Health Care Commission last fall, will be located immediately adjacent to the Largo Town Center Metrorail Station in Largo, MD and will usher in a full scale redevelopment of the Boulevard at Capital Center into a residential, retail and office mixed-use “downtown” hub.  The visual video concept of the Regional Medical Center can been seen here:https://tinyurl.com/pgcrmc-future.

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