BRAC
Federal Military Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
The State of Maryland as a whole fared extremely well when the President approved recommendations from the Federal Military Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission and the Congress passed them into law in 2005.
As a result of these actions, both Andrews Air Force Base (AAFB) in Prince George’s County and Fort George G. Meade (Fort Meade) in neighboring Anne Arundel County will add new missions and personnel. As many as 2,700 new personnel (both BRAC and non-BRAC related) have been projected for Andrews Air Force Base, with another 22,000 personnel being added at Fort Meade –if growth at NSA is included. For the counties in Maryland that host these military bases, the attendant opportunities to attract new residents and business growth in the years leading up to 2011 and beyond are huge. For example, Prince George’s County expects to add another 14,000 spin-off jobs and 10,000 new housing units by 2020 as a result of BRAC and other military mission growth.
In order to plan effectively for this growth, Prince George’s County has created a BRAC Coordinating Committee of representatives from county agencies, educational and training institutions, elected officials and interested citizens to provide input, advice, and guidance to County, State and Federal officials as the recommendations of BRAC 2005 are implemented.
This Coordinating Committee has been formed under the leadership of County Executive Jack B. Johnson’s Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, David J. Byrd, and is staffed by Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation. For more information, contact the PGCEDC at (301) 583-4650.