Community/Defense News
August 7, 2009
POCs: Karen Holt, BRAC Manager Eileen Giaimo, Director
Chesapeake Science & Security Corridor Association of Defense Communities
410-273-5708 202-942-9458
klholt@harfordcountymd.gov egiaimo@defensecommunities.org
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.”
HEAT Center, 1201 Technology Drive, Suite 109, Aberdeen, MD 21001 410-273-5708
WWW.APG-CSSC.COM
