APG – CSSC

REGIONAL BRAC OFFICE

MEMBER JURISDICTIONS

Harford County, MD

Baltimore City, MD

Baltimore County, MD

Cecil County, MD

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Baltimore Metropolitan Council

Chester County, PA

Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore

Greater Baltimore Committee

Lancaster County, PA

New Castle County, DE

Wilmington Area Planning Council

York County, PA

Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor Named Active Base Community of the Year

(August 7, 2009--Aberdeen, MD) The Association of Defense Communities (ADC) held its annual conference in Boston, MA, August 2-5, 2009. A conference highlight includes the announcement of the 2009 Defense Community Award Winners. The Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor (CSSC), home to Aberdeen Proving Ground and its surrounding communities, is now also home to two of the 2009 awards presented: Active Base Community of the Year and the John Leigh Public Sector Official of the Year.

The Defense Community Award program recognizes communities and individuals that have proven excellence and leadership in transforming their communities or played a key role in helping their community achieve its goal. ADC also recognizes military leaders and executives of the private sector who have taken the extra step in forming partnerships with defense communities.

CHESAPEAKE SCIENCE & SECURITY CCORRIDOR (CSSC) CONSORTIUM:
ACTIVE BASE COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
This region-wide planning and marketing effort has helped the communities neighboring APG, MD prepare for an influx of an estimated 28,000 jobs coming as a result of the 2005 round of base closures. Since then, the CSSC Consortium-- composed of Harford, Cecil and Baltimore Counties and City of Baltimore; as well as strategic partners York, Lancaster and Chester Counties in Pennsylvania, New Castle County in Delaware, two
metropolitan planning councils (the Baltimore Metropolitan Council and Wilmington Area Planning Council), the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore-- have collaborated through a regional BRAC Office to administer grants to conduct transportation, land use and infrastructure, workforce and other regional planning assessments.

The consortium's comprehensive marketing and outreach campaign, including relocation and job fairs, has prompted the percentage of workers who have indicated they will move with their jobs to Aberdeen to jump from 20 percent to nearly 60 percent in an 18-month period. Organizers have used bus tours to exhibit the region to more than 3,000 employees and family members affected by BRAC, an effort that required the coordination of 26 regional, state and local agencies. The success of two job fairs-- conducted in collaboration with the Army missions that are transferring, Susquehanna Workforce Network, community colleges and economic development entities-- enabling the Army's command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) team to achieve an advance presence at APG.

To showcase the region, the consortium has distributed 80,000 welcome and relocation guides to Department of Defense (DoD) civilian personnel and defense contractors. The publication now serves as a model relocation tool for other growth communities.

Another factor helping to overcome implementation challenges associated with BRAC has been the close working relationship between representatives of the consortium and the Aberdeen Proving Ground. The installation has freely shared projections about mission arrival dates and job growth, while Army and community officials have jointly participated at a variety of public events, including the consortium's monthly meetings.

“This is an honor for our region that has united in support of the warfighter and the DoD mission,” said Karen Holt, BRAC Manager for the CSSC Consortium. “As a multi-jurisdictional entity our message remains consistent and inviting [to those impacted by the BRAC decision]. This is more than a BRAC action; this is a vested commitment to developing and sustaining the vitality of a knowledge economy in a rapidly growing defense community.”

PHOTO ID: (L to R) Timothy J. McNamara, Deputy Garrison Commander, Aberdeen Proving Ground: David R. Craig, Harford County Executive; Karen L. Holt, BRAC Manager, Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor; Robert S. McCord, County Attorney, Harford County Government; James C. Richardson, Director, Harford County Office of Economic Development; and Vernon J. Thompson, Director, Cecil County Office of Economic Adjustment.

HARFORD COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAVID CRAIG:

PUBLIC SECTOR OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
ADC also presented the John Leigh Public Sector Official of the Year Award to Harford County Executive David R. Craig. This award recognizes a public official for his or her service to a defense community. The award held particular significance to the APG Community and the Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor (CSSC) in that John Leigh, in who's honor the award was presented, served as the CSSC's Project Manager with the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), providing oversight and technical assistance for the federal grant awarded to support BRAC implementation in the APG community. Mr. Leigh was a 17-year employee with OEA and served as a board member with ADC for 10 years. His sudden passing in 2008 was a true loss for all those privileged to work with him.

David Craig's selection as the award recipient recognized his collaboration with neighboring jurisdictions early on in the BRAC 2005 deliberations that led to the growth announcements at APG; acknowledged his efforts to develop a BRAC action plan, hold town hall meetings to engage the public on BRAC impacts; facilitate an agreement between Harford County and City of Aberdeen to provide an additional 100,000 gallons of water per day to accommodate BRAC growth, and to broker an expansion of a waste treatment facility to help Aberdeen Proving Ground and surrounding communities maintain the quality of life for BRAC and beyond. Acknowledgement of the recent multi-party negotiations reached among the Army, the State, and the developer of an enhanced use lease project at APG will provide the County with much needed transportation upgrades improving access to the installation. Mr. Craig has served as Harford County Executive since July 2005.

To learn more about CSSC, visit www.apg-cssc.com or contact the APG-CSSC Regional BRAC Office at 410-273-5708.