On Friday, March 10, 2017, the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation (EDC), in partnership with the County's Workforce Development Board kicked off 'ReEntry Month' by hosting a Community ReEntry and Employment Discussion. More than 100 stakeholders gathered for an open dialogue about the barriers returning citizens encounter when coming back to the community. This panel discussion included representatives from the Office of County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III, the local law enforcement community, the County Department of Corrections, the County Department of Social Services, Maryland Legal Aid, the business community and the non-profit community who provide resource assistance to returning citizens. EDC President and CEO Jim Coleman and Workforce Development Board Vice President Rosalind White welcomed the stakeholders and congratulated them for being a part of such an important forum.

Today, more than 100 candidates crowded the One Stop Career Center in at the Economic Development Corporation headquarters in Largo, Maryland with high expectations of securing gainful employment at the Capitol Heights Dave & Buster's. This popular restaurant and entertainment venue that consistently hosts capacity crowds Thursday through Sunday partnered with the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to fill more than 50 high-wage positions, many paying upwards of $250 per night. EDC President and CEO Jim Coleman along with EDC Chief Operating Officer Paul Rowe welcomed the candidates and wished them the best of luck in becoming a part of a great international company like Dave & Buster's.

Yesterday, County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III was one of the key panelists that participated in the Socrata Connect 2017 Conference at the Gaylord Hotel at National Harbor.   Economic Development Corporation President Jim Coleman was also on hand at the Conference and served as the moderator for a lively discussion on how the use of data can make government initiatives work more effectively and create life-changing results for residents during the "Lead with Performance Data" panel at the conference.  County Executive Baker highlighted how the County's Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative (TNI) used data to focus government resources to help improve conditions in some of the County's most challenged neighborhoods.

On Tuesday, the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) brought together 20 key business leaders from the County's Latin small business community for a frank conversation about getting connected to resources at the first Latin Small Business Roundtable. During this exclusive meeting, EDC President and CEO Jim Coleman, along with the EDC's Latin Small Business Liaison Rocio Treminio-Lopez talked to Latin business owners from a variety of industry sectors about how partnering with the EDC can help their businesses grow.

This morning, EDC President and CEO Jim Coleman spoke at the Catholic Business Network of Prince George's County's monthly networking breakfast at the Country Club at Woodmore. Twenty five business professionals and Catholic educators were in attendance to gain insight into the programs, projects and activities that are driving the County's economic development success. Attendees were extremely interested in the incentives and workforce development programs that could assist the mission of Catholic education and how those opportunities can serve the church and community.

Yesterday, Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) President and CEO Jim Coleman and his executive team presented a mid-year budget review to the Prince George's County Council Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee (PZED). The PZED Committee was specifically interested in how current funding was being utilized for the numerous programs and resources the EDC has at its disposal, and how those resources have made an impact to the residents and businesses in Prince George's County.

his morning, the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) President and CEO Jim Coleman and Prince George's County Public Schools CEO Dr. Kevin Maxwell joined school system officials and Prince George's County Youth CareerConnect program staff (YCC) to celebrate the addition of Parkdale High School to the YCC program. Also in attendance were YCC employer partners Pepco, SGT, Inc., Prince George's Community College and Latin American Youth Center officials. The Youth CareerConnect Program is a four year STEM Demonstration Grant that was initiated under former President Obama and is geared toward providing employers with a skilled workforce in healthcare and information technology immediately following high school.

Last night, 150 business owners from Prince George's County traveled to Annapolis for an exclusive opportunity to network, share their ideas and concerns with some of the most influential leaders in State and County government as the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) hosted its second annual '2017 Prince George's County Capitol Access VIP Reception.' Business leaders that have benefitted from the open lines of communication between the business community and government regulators enthusiastically crowded into Harry Browne's restaurant on State Circle as the Baker Administration unveiled its legislative priorities for the 2017 legislative session.

Close to 400 local companies congregated in the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) conference room in anticipation of hearing top executives from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Prince George’s County Office of Central Services explain how to tap into the more than $24 billion in procurement opportunities available through these agencies at the EDC’s ‘U.S. Department of Energy Procurement Opportunities Day’. As part of its mission to help grow the County’s commercial tax base, EDC President and CEO Jim Coleman has been instrumental in directly connecting local businesses to resource partners like the Department of Energy and the other 14 federal agencies that call Prince George’s County home.

Last week, the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) hosted an information session for County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III's Business Mission Trip to Korea and China that will take place in April of this year. Over 70 local business owners were in attendance and were briefed on the Korean and Chinese business culture and hottest sectors by experts from the EEC, the Maryland Department of Commerce, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, KOTRA, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, the U.S. Commercial Service, and the Greater Washington China Investment Center. EDC President and CEO Jim Coleman is primed to help facilitate international trade.