Montgomery County has suffered another loss to Northern Virginia in the competition to win a new research and development facility from CMC Electronics. The avionics manufacturer chose Reston, Virginia for its new office and R&D facility, which will bring 89 high-wage jobs to Fairfax County at the start, with more to be added in the future. Virginia Delegate Karen Keys-Gamarra confirmed that the finalists in the race were Virginia, Maryland, Alabama, and Florida. On a positive note, at least Maryland was engaged in this contest - and in the running until the end - rather than being asleep at the switch.
It's hard not to notice the proximity of CMC's future facility site in Reston to Dulles International Airport. Dulles is the only airport in our region with the flight frequency and international destinations that meet the demands of international businesspeople. Montgomery County and Maryland continue to cut off their ideological nose to spite their economic development face, by blocking construction of a new Potomac River crossing from the I-270 corridor to Dulles.
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| Pierre Rossignol, President, CMC Electronics |
"We are thrilled to be joining the vibrant Reston community and are excited about the opportunities this expansion brings—for our team, our partners, and our customers," CMC Electronics President Pierre Rossignol said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing our mission of pushing the boundaries of avionics excellence." The Montreal-based firm has an existing American facility in Sugar Grove, Illinois. CMC stands for Canadian Marconi Company; the company's founder was someone you might have heard of: Guglielmo Marconi. The brilliant Italian inventor founded the firm in 1903.
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| Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin |
“CMC Electronics' decision to invest $5 million and establish its new facilities in Fairfax County underscores Virginia's position as a leader in aerospace innovation,” Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a statement from his office. “This creation of new high-tech jobs demonstrates the strength of our Commonwealth's talent pipeline and our commitment to fostering cutting-edge industries. Virginia's pro-business climate and strategic location continue to attract global companies like CMC Electronics, further solidifying our role in shaping the future of aviation technology.”
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| Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay |
“I am thrilled that CMC Electronics has chosen Reston as the location for their U.S. expansion and continued global growth,” Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay said. “CMC Electronics choosing Fairfax County is yet another testament to how business-friendly policies, a robust talent pipeline that supports innovation, and our unmatched quality of life is a winning combination for maintaining our status as the premiere destination for starting, locating, and growing your business.”
You have no idea where in Maryland CME Electronics was considering. Maybe MoCo, maybe not. There are a lot more issues than just access to Dulles airport.
ReplyDelete8:09: Of course there are, such as our taxes are much higher than Virginia's. But Dulles access is always a priority for international business. Incredibly, our leaders know this, and still block the new Potomac crossing that would give us that access.
DeleteNo problem, we can make up the loss of future monies in taxes. Not to worry!
ReplyDeleteLol at "loss of future monies." No one in MoCo was harmed by NoVa continuing to grow faster. If the majority in MoCo ever want to start expanding faster too, we can do that. For now, NIMBYs rule here.
DeleteLet's see if our new Senator has the clout and respect to get things like this done.
ReplyDeleteAlsobrooks is guilty of mortgage fraud and tax evasion for purchase of a DC property she never intended to occupy.
DeleteTrump was convicted of inflating the value of Mar-A-Lago to obtain a loan where there was no agreved or damaged party. Alsobrooks got an owner-occupant tax break for a rental property. Be very interesting to see what her tax returns in MD look like as there could be MD & DC taxpayers that were caused actual financial harm due to tax evasion.
@1:42 Bowser gave Alsobrooks a sweetheart deal with reduced/eliminated fines. The DC mayor has a lot of power in this regard as everyone licensed in DC serves at the pleasure of the mayor. Wonder if she would do that with a Republican?
DeleteMeanwhile; Hogan while governor, voted five times as a member of the State Board of Public Works to give state loans or grants to developers who were clients of his Annapolis real estate brokerage firm. over his eight-year term in office, nearly 40% of Maryland's competitive affordable housing awards were given to six developers, all clients of his firm. BURN!
Delete@6:43, Hogan is a choir boy compared to O'Malley. Seek help in coping with current events.
DeleteSimple solution; MOVE! You're welcome to pick-up, get out of mom's basement, and take your sorry, dumbass to VA to make yourself happy. It may shock you when you get there just how bad the tax dollar is used in creating or rehabing the transportation system there. On the other hand mopeds, and bikes you drive aren't impacted. Term limits were just passed, but that probably didn't put a dent in your petty whine sack, but some of your fanboy club are probably a bit giddy. That still won't help you in your quest to turn MoCo Red by the way. Be careful on the way out, the doorknob is sharp.
ReplyDelete11:08: You do realize that Fairfax is also a Democratic-run county? This is not a partisan issue. Virginia has had success under Democrat and Republican governors.
DeleteMake Bethesda 1970's Again!
ReplyDeleteYet you 11:06 make it and everything MoCo related a partisan crime.
ReplyDeleteHow about improving the American Legion bridge, 270, and 495 before considering a second Potomac crossing.
ReplyDeleteI might reverse that argument, and point out that studies show about 25% of traffic on the Legion Bridge in both directions is headed to, or from, the Dulles area. By constructing a new - and faster - Potomac River crossing to Dulles, we could reduce Legion bridge traffic by about a quarter.
DeleteI did support Hogan's plan for 495/270 if we can't build a new crossing or complete the Rockville Freeway/Montrose Parkway East, which would connect to the ICC near the former Indian Spring Country Club site. The latter road would be much faster and less congested than the Beltway heading east to Silver Spring. 63% of drivers crossing the Legion bridge from Virginia intend to head east past the I-270 interchange.
So, again, if we would just add the missing pieces of our master plan highway system, we probably could avoid widening 270 and the Beltway.
Or, we might not have to build anything, if the federal government would have everyone work from home who did during the pandemic.
But they apparently don't believe their own hype about our coming climate catastrophe, so they are instead forcing people back on the roads, supporting fracking, and releasing oil reserves to lower gas prices.
Traffic would become much less if there were decent jobs in MD, as opposed to VA. At the rate things are going, 8 lanes across the river aren't going to be enough!
DeleteMake Bethesda Quaint Again!!
ReplyDelete