While Montgomery
County Maryland plans a "science city", Prince George's County
continues to envision more malls and discount shopping in its plan to build low
wage employment opportunities on every corner. Montgomery County works to plant
a biotech science center with retail support for quality of life spaces and opportunities
west of Gaithersburg so that researchers and entrepreneurs taking the new
interconnector can quickly access centers
of science in Maryland such as the University of Maryland, NASA and the USDA Agricultural
Research Center all of which are in Prince George's County where we seek to
build strip malls to supply fast food for the visitors. In partnership with
Johns Hopkins, Montgomery County looks to encourage high paying jobs and
technology transfer opportunities while Prince George's County quietly ignores
the already existing tech transfer capabilities and possibilities in the county
in favor of upscale discount shopping
and minimum wage service jobs.
USDA ARS
BARC, which is in Prince Georges County and completely ignored, "continually looks for opportunities to
partner with businesses, other federal agencies, state and local governments,
and universities. These partnerships are designed to augment research programs,
expedite research results to the private sector, exchange information and
knowledge, stimulate new business and economic development, enhance U.S. trade,
preserve the environment, and improve the quality of life for all Americans."[1] NASA's
Goddard Space Flight Center located on land once part of USDA BARC and almost
on top of the University of Maryland has
many valuable patents on "sale" that can help private companies gain
a competitive edge.[2]
And with all of this, there is only silence from our leaders on development
that takes advantage of what is already here. Instead of science centers we
proudly proclaim student housing and shopping malls.
Why
aren't we here in Prince George's County building a 21st century complex of
next generation opportunity? Why is that the only thing we can think of as
economic development are malls with a ten year life spans and low wage jobs?
The answer in part may be that politics in this county is based on the wants of
the few right now and not the hopes of the many tomorrow. In other word short
term greed not long term need generates the county motto "Malling its way
to Prosperity".
Our Technology Transfer staff help move technologies
resulting from our scientific research to the marketplace. Here you will find a
list of staff members that can help you with your partnering needs.
[2] Working
with Industry NASA http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.gov/
2 comments:
This is true of so many towns/counties. Thank you Don Quixote!
The shopping mall developers have more money to use for bribes.
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