New Developments, Small Business Innovation And More: Prince George's County In 2022
The Prince George’s County Economic Development Corp. spent 2022 reaching out to companies looking to expand or relocate to improve the government sector, retail, restaurants, healthcare, life sciences development, small businesses and other key sectors of this growing Maryland area. This growth has allowed the county to not only expand the local economy and businesses, but have a positive impact on underserved communities.
“PGCEDC wants to keep this momentum going into 2023,” PGCEDC CEO David Iannucci said. “We’re dedicated to bringing more programs to the county to help create more economic opportunities across the board.”
These programs are just a few examples of PGCEDC’s continued service to the D.C. Metro area and its commitment to helping local businesses thrive, he said. With 2022 coming to a close, here are some of the highlights of PGCEDC’s work in 2022.
Commercial Development Highlights
PGCEDC worked with Velocity Cos., a local firm that focuses on urban development and commercial properties, to redevelop the 11-acre Livingston Shopping Square Center in Fort Washington.
"The EDC provided a $2M conditional EDIF," said Larry Hentz, executive director of business development for PGCEDC. "The total CapEx is $26M to fully build out the project."
The shopping center will add an additional 35K SF of retail space in 2023 for tenants such as Taco Bell, KFC, McDonald’s and Urgent Care, bringing more than 90 new, full-time jobs to the area.
PGCEDC also worked with Aldi grocery stores to get permits for two new locations in the county. The Capitol Heights location opened in early 2022 while the Fort Washington store has a tentative opening planned for Q1 2023.
The capital expenditure was $12M for both projects, which will create 32 full-time jobs for locals, Hentz said.
Government Sector Highlights
In March, Vidoori, a federal government contractor in the IT industry sector, relocated from Montgomery County to an office at a transit-oriented development by the New Carrollton Metro Station and the site of a future Purple Line light rail train commuter station. David K. Lewis, PGCEDC’s director of business development in the government sector, said that the EDC helped draw the consulting firm to the area and assisted it with its move.
The EDC also worked with Genesis Engineering Solutions, an aerospace engineering company headquartered in Lanham, to help it acquire a second, nearly 44K SF facility in Lanham where it will manufacture hardware products for space missions at NASA and Blue Origin.
Restaurant And Retail Highlights
Shoppers Food Warehouse expanded in September and October, leasing two grocery store spaces in Coral Hills and MLK Boulevard in Prince George’s County. This is a move that’s not only beneficial for the company, but also for the community, said Nicole Hall, PGCEDC business development manager of retail and restaurants.
“The stores help fill a void in these communities by allowing access to quality, fresh food and services,” Hall said.
The locations span 35K SF and will create more than 60 jobs each to further bolster the community.
Another new addition to the area is Huncho House, which opened in November through the vision of former NFL player-turned-chef Tobias Dorzon. The restaurant brings a fusion of West African and Italian cuisine to his hometown of Hyattsville.
“After investing $250K to renovate the previous Five Guys location, Dorzon has created a unique vibe in Hyattsville and job opportunities for over 25 people,” Hall said. “He wanted to bring his fusion of West African roots and Italian technical culinary training to Prince George’s County as the flagship of his budding culinary empire.”
Health And Life Sciences Highlights
Kaiser Permanente opened a 44K SF facility in August just 50 yards from the West Hyattsville Metro Station.
“This has helped the West Hyattsville community by offering 75 jobs and 10 new full-time positions,” said Alexis Allen-Shorter, director of business development health and life sciences for PGCEDC. “The healthcare facility creates more quality, affordable and accessible care in this underserved community, featuring a new maternal and fetal medicine clinic.”
Chesapeake Cardiac Care, an African-American, woman-owned practice in Bowie led by Dr. Barbara Hutchinson, also opened in the area in June and created 10 jobs for the county.
“We have a place for both men and women to get better cardiac and sleep care,” Allen-Shorter said.
IT And Cybersecurity Highlights
The Prince George’s County Tech Council, a chapter of Maryland Tech Council, is a collaborative effort between leaders of the county's technology community and MTC, which launched in March.
“PGCEDC participated in the first-ever Quantum World Congress in Washington, D.C., at the end of November and joined a consortium of economic development offices from the region,” said Mayank Kapur, PGCEDC director of business development IT and cybersecurity.
MTC facilities include Relative Dynamics, a 15K SF aerospace engineering firm in Greenbelt, and Cloudforce, a 15K SF cloud consulting company in Oxon Hill.
Small Business Services and Innovation Station Business Incubator Highlights
Ion Storage Systems, a facility in Beltsville that produces solid-state lithium batteries, was recognized as an RMI Champion of Manufacturing in November.
“In June, the company created job opportunities for locals and closed a $30M-plus raise from investors to scale their business,” PGCEDC Small Business Services Manager Alicia Moran said. “They have expanded into a second facility in the county this year and are planning for a pilot manufacturing facility in the future.”
This company has received both site selection assistance and other small-business assistance over the last three years. PGCEDC nominated ION Storage Systems for Maryland Future 20, part of the Innovation Uncovered initiative by the Maryland Department of Commerce showcasing the state’s innovators and small businesses. The Innovation Station Business Incubator, or ISBI, obtained a pilot accelerator program called Founder Trac, which provides access to an online learning portal with analysts and virtual training sessions, Moran said. The first group kicked off in May and ended in August. The second cohort started the program in November.
Moran said the tool supports entrepreneurs, startups and innovators. MTech, MIEA, InnoHub and ISBI-based CEOs are involved in this pilot program to help attract investors in 2023.
“These are just some of the new companies and programs that PGCEDC was proud to bring to the county in 2022,” Iannucci said. “We look forward to more innovation in 2023.”
This article was produced in collaboration between Studio B and Prince George’s County Economic Development Corp. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.
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