From Eric McLauchlin, chairman, Harford County Economic Development Advisory Board:
The debate over the recent Workforce Technical Training Grant (WFTTG) awarded to Smith’s Detection has brought a key fact to the forefront: to continue economic growth, Harford County must provide a business friendly environment, attracting profitable businesses that will generate jobs and support the local economy.
As published letters from Councilman Guthrie and Executive Craig pointed out, the facts fully support the decision to award a training grant to a Harford County company that has brought jobs, supported the economy and, yes, made a profit. That company has made Harford County its U.S. headquarters, which means its employees from around the country and the world travel frequently to our area, stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and spend money in our county. They have invested in our workforce. The awarding of the WFTTG will further benefit those employees and the 103 new hires.
The WFTTG is one of the many efforts the Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) and the Office of Economic Development have designed to create and maintain a healthy business environment. The program helps employers accelerate technical training to employees. Some key facts:
• Since its inception in 1998, the WFTTG program has supported 120 businesses in the County – from microbusinesses to major corporations.
• All Harford County businesses may apply for a grant through the WFTTG program.
• To be eligible, companies must conduct technical training to enhance their productivity. For many businesses using this program, employees with new technical skills have been promoted (job retention), leading to job opportunities for new hires (job creation).
• In the last three years, more than 60 businesses were approved to receive grants, and over 1,300 employees upgraded their technical skills.
• Training was often conducted by the staff at Harford Community College, and supports their efforts to be responsive to industry needs.
It is important to note that these companies are reviewed and selected not just by government representatives, but by a committee of business leaders, business analysts and business owners who represent EDAB and the corporate community. Additionally, not only does the WFTTG provide training opportunities to the selected business employees, it also offers more opportunities to County residents and to educational institutions through support of technical classes and seminars.
We cannot expect companies to locate or stay here if we cannot provide the infrastructure and workforce talent necessary to support their needs. Nor can we expect our local economy or quality of life to improve if we choose to remain uncompetitive. The County has programs that support companies of all sizes. We know that companies have options and they will move to neighboring counties and even other states for better opportunities, taking those jobs, taxes and residents with them. Rather than cower from robust and industrious programs like the WFTTG, the community should recognize that such programs are a solid demonstration that Harford County is serious about business retention, business attraction and the creation of jobs at all levels. We should support the programs that promote well-planned business growth and the race for an expanding employment base. They are an opportunity to remain attractive in an intensely competitive environment.
While the recent discussion has focused on the selection of one company – which, in fact, met all of the qualifications for the grant — it has opened a door to the bigger picture: maintaining a healthy economy in Harford County – an effort we should all support.
Sincerely,
Eric McLauchlin
Chairman, Harford County Economic Development Advisory Board
You say “business friendly” and I hear “taxpayer funded handouts.” This is an absurd use of taxpayer dollars.
It is interesting to not, I believe, that the only supporters of this are those who benefit personally or politically from thus crony socialism. Guthrie, Craig, and Craig appointee McLauchlin.
No, actually, it was first proposed by O’Malley et al. Where is your outrage against them?
Are you kidding me? Taxpayers have to provide funds to educate employees for these selected companies? How’s about they train thier own workforce? This entire letter is nothing but doublespeak for bribery. If companies want to move here great, bring it on and let’s work together, if they don’t it’s not up to the taxpayers to provide the acceptable bribe to tip the scales in Harford’s favor. These people in question are coming from Canada..why are we paying 850K to educate foreigners?
So the State of Maryland is giving $750K as proposed by O’Malley. You say “to educate foreigners”. Would that then be kind of like The Dream Act except not nearly as expensive?
Kinda…good lord man please don’t exhibit a sense of humor!!
Rumors of Alex having a sense of humor have been highly exaggerated. However, sarcasm is his mother tongue.
I find it interesting that I go on the Harford County DBED website and cannot find a history in what this county (and subsequently myself) has invested. Or what we are considering. Do we just wait for O’Malley to tell us what to bless?
Yes, we wait for O’Malley to tell us. This is the People’s Republic of Maryland and it is run by Democrats. We do as they say. If nothing else has demonstrated that to you, hasn’t the recent little charade over gambling given you a clue? O’Malley and Miller and Busch get what they want. Period. End of discussion.
Nowhere in this “damage control” piece is it mentioned that $850,000 of tax payer money is being given to a foreign company that made $661 million in 2011. Why is that? Because that simple fact is something that the taxpayers of this county have a hard swallowing. First Guthrie , then Craig, and now Eric McLauchlin have tried to defend this handout to big business. They must be betting some heat over this issue.
You have to love politicians. First they tell us we have to have more people in Harford Co. to increase the tax base then they tell us they have to raise taxes because there are so many people here. To me this sounds like a scheme using taxpayer money for 3 guys to set themselves up for a sweet job when they leave or get voted out of office.
Eric McLauchlin Chairman of the Harford County Economic Development Advisory Board is absolutely correct.
Partnering with this company to train technical workers in creating, building, and servicing high tech products to be sold internationally IS THE ideal way to bring new revenues into Harford County from the outside. It is a company that will export a product from Harford County.
Look up Smith Detection and see their client list.
“That company has made Harford County its U.S. headquarters, which means its employees from around the country and the world travel frequently to our area, stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and spend money in our county.”
The county’s revenues do not grow simply from local services that circulate dollars generated only from within the community. This is an external revenue stream bringing money in TO BE circulated within the community.
This is just one more part of part of smart business analyses.
As the expression goes “you can’t get rich just by doing each others laundry.”
Without this type of investment all you are doing is ensuring that all those little apostrophe “S” restaurant franchises will die because they won’t be able to sell a pre fab meal.
…and why is a government supposedly run by Conservative Republicans using taxpayer funds to “invest” in certain businesses? What happened to the free market, low taxes, United States of America approach to government? Does HCG know what is best for me?
Publius,
When will it be OK to say no to Smith’s or any other large business? In case you missed it they already made a large commitment to Harford County. Why continue to pour money into the program? What makes county officials qualified to invest my money? This program is akin to paying for hostages to be released. Once word gets out we are going to see more hostages.
The Founding Fathers spent a lot of time discussing the proper role of government for a reason. You can try and spin this anyway you like but please don’t try and pass yourself off as a Conservative, you are giving the rest of us a bad name.
If, you are referring to me… I am not trying to pass myself off as either a conservative nor liberal. I am nonpartisan on this and many other issues. I don’t need a group to hide behind.
My consideration is based on the potential to bolster one more business entity in this area that would surely employ engineers, project managers, and skilled technicians. Scanners, security systems, electronic devices are products sold in many current societies across the globe. If, you don’t believe me just ask one of your heroes Darryl Issa. AND, if, you do a little research you’ll find that those states that have and create a lot of business in their states do the exact same thing that Eric McLauchlin is doing to create and stabilize business. Texas and Virginia both use a lot of federal and state funding for the same thing. It appears you’d rather be like Mississippi.
I don’t have a problem the county actively courting businesses who set up warehouse facilities, precast concrete plants, or business, science & administration consultants and contractors either.
I’d much rather see the state invest in partnerships with corporations that produce products that sell worldwide in Harford County and Harford County’s infrastructure than settling for drug treatment centers or subsidized housing funding.
Furthermore, you misinterpret the constitution just as many people in different sects misinterpret the bible. You are just a modern day snake charmer. Your talking points are just the trash talk du jour. I’m neither impressed nor, intimidated by your mindless recitation of the current dogma. Try some W. Edward Deming, Clyde Prestowitz, maybe some William A. Draves. Then try to base your business analyses on the dynamics of manufacturing and societal shifts in a global market rather than using your weak pathetic misinterpretation of U.S. history which, is an over simplified conveyance of the constitution as a solution to the logistics of maintaining business alliances.
We already know the constitution is the supreme law of the land. We may just not agree or or accept your vague interpretation of it.
Interestingly and perhaps not coincidentally your writing has a cadence almost identical to that found in the letter from Mr. McLauchlin.
In fact the repeated use of “nor” is unusual and and fairly obvious similarity between the two writings.
I won’t characterize your skepticism. I neither work for Harford County NOR have I ever met Eric McLauchlin. AND,…when I included his statements I used quotes. I do agree with the sentiment of his premise. Any use of the same words are only for proper grammatic tense, necessary for purposes of explanation, or coincidence.
I am merely a resident of Harford County. A private citizen…if, you will. I don’t care whether you like me or not. You can play puerile games in attempts to find irrelevant things to try to make issue of. It means nothing accept that I’m going to call you on it and throw the explanation of it in your face.
Furthermore, I am very confident in both my academic and physical abilities. Therefore, your attempts at cajoling or coercion to force me into backing away from a viewpoint does not intimidate me in the least. So,…if, you have an argument that has merit that’s fine. Your point of view may be worth consideration then. If, not…save the banter.
Res ipsa loquitur. Whatever.
Don’t worry, MoneyTree, for all of his/her fancy talk and big words, Publius is absolutely horrible with the comma, and with the proper use of accept/except. Not that I’m some sort of grammar nazi or anything.
While I am generally opposed to tax-payer funding of private industry, the very sad fact is that it IS common practice at all levels of government. I would much prefer a different type of incentive to attract businesses. Perhaps bragging rights for the lowest business tax rates, a notoriously clean and well-governed county, etc., Unfortunately, Harford County has no claim to any of those attractions. Nor can we legislate what other jurisdictions do with their funds.
I do believe that this “investment” in Smith will pay off in the long term, with increased jobs, county revenue, etc., Sadly, the success of this investment will only encourage future deals that may not turn out quite as well.
We as Harford residents need to be a little more pro-active in monitoring our government, and not just complaining about things when it’s already too late.
Previous reference to “paying for the hostages to be released” is fairly attuned to reality. When does it stop? Are we not (and every other county and state) getting ourselves in a sitation where we only encourage hostage taking? Seems like we ought to allow athletes to consume steroids then because if the way to win is to cheat and the justification for cheating is that everyone does it then why bother…I really don’t see the difference at all except in this case the taxpayers are the ones taking the risk.
I remember you from a past response to a different article and you obviously still hold a grudge against me. Ahh, that doesn’t matter and never claimed to be popular. I do agree with both your points that this investment will pay off long term and that lower business tax would possibly be a better incentive to encourage businesses to locate here.
Enough from me on this matter.
Seriously…don’t take this personally but I hardly pay attention to who posts what; honestly don’t even remember responding to you about anything previously. The only person I actually find memorable is the wacky teacher who seems to stalk me from thread to thread and go on multiple paragraph tirades, most often not associated with anything. Have nothing against you – we just don’t agree on this issue.