Our neighbor across the Potomac is ending 2024 on another economic development high note. Business Facilities magazine has just named Virginia "State of the Year." This is the third time the Old Dominion has taken home the prize since the magazine introduced the honor in 2007. Of course, it's little surprise that Virginia was named the winner, as it is one of the primary destinations of corporate headquarters relocations in America. Maryland? Dead last. Montgomery County hasn't attracted a single major corporate headquarters in over a quarter century, and the statewide record looks just as bad.
"Virginia is a prime location for businesses of all varieties, and this honor from Business Facilities underscores the work we’ve been doing since day one to make Virginia the best place for business investment and job creation," Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement. "The Commonwealth has experienced record job growth from companies that are drawn by our best-in-class talent, infrastructure, and business-friendly environment. I am thrilled that Virginia has earned this recognition from a leading source for site selection experts."
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| Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin wraps up another year of the Old Dominion cleaning Maryland's clock at economic development |
"From advanced manufacturing to data centers to professional services, Virginia is attracting companies across industries with its business-friendly environment and programs to support the distinct needs of those businesses," Business Facilities Editorial Director Anne Cosgrove said. Earlier this year, CNBC named Virginia America's top state for business. Maryland came in 31st out of 50 on that list. Ouch.
Youngkin has proposed a number of tax cuts for Virginia residents in 2025. Maryland residents are facing yet more tax hikes, as its moribund economy has depressed revenues, while legislators in Annapolis have continued to spend wildly.
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| "Let's take a victory lap on Montgomery County's bike lanes!" |
With no good news to share, and the potential loss of the Washington Commanders and future FBI headquarters looming, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has been reduced to creating distractions by endorsing the legalization of beer and wine sales in grocery stores. Residents have been demanding that for decades, and have been stiff-armed by their representatives in Annapolis every step of the way over those years. While desperation and embarrassment have led to the topic suddenly being revived by their governor and party leader, a number of powerful Democrats in Annapolis went on the record last week to suggest they will block such a move in the upcoming legislative session.
Photos courtesy Office of Gov. Glenn Youngkin
15 comments:
Powerful Democrats will block something most people want - beer and wine sales in grocery stores. Sounds about normal…..
Although it’s not Maryland, it’s nice to see Virginia and Northern Virginia in particular receiving an accolade for the health of its businesses. The DC, Maryland and Virginia metro area really function as a single entity in many ways. The health of Virginia is good for us all in the DMV.
"We're 31! We're 31!"
VA kicking our butts time and time again. Red state ideology versus Blue. Stark contrast to say the very least.
Of course it was. #MoribundMaryland
The successful parts of VA are literally among the bluest in the country. How could you possibly know so little about politics?
Not sure how you think MD can glom onto VA's obvious business success. The policies of the 2 states differ widely. The only thing MD does better, and that means MoCO, is, (for now,) protect our Agriculture preserve along the Potomac.
One must admit it is much nicer along Rte. 28 than along VA's Rte. 7. And sorry, no more bridges.
6:59 PM My point was that the DVM operates as a system. Many, many folks that live in Maryland have great jobs in Virginia or DC. Fewer by lots of folks live in Virginia or DC and work at NIH, Walter Reed or Marriott in Maryland. I tend to think of the DMV as neighbors in a large metropolitan area, not two states and a district, side by side by side as rivals, at least when it comes to MoCo, PG, NoVa and DC.
I'm impressed what a talented gift -wrapper is the governor!
6:40: There are 2 ways to look at that - one is yours, an accurate analysis of how the region has evolved over the last quarter-century.
The other, which is supported by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Greater Greater Washington, and other developer-controlled front organizations, seeks two more nefarious goals:
A) To remove decisions on zoning, growth, and transportation from the local level, and place them in the hands of a regional body.
B) To shield local elected officials who are part of that cabal from being booted from office when they prioritize radical upzoning and residential housing growth over quality of life and economic development. In other words, if the MoCo Council keeps failing to attract business to the County, promote the public message that we didn't need that business to thrive anyway. Of course, that's a message that annual tax hikes on residents, and our structural budget deficit, easily prove is fake news.
So, in my opinion, we can acknowledge that MoCo is now the bedroom community for the job centers in NoVa, as you have noted.
But we also should be working vigorously to attract high-wage jobs and corporate HQs, as well as aerospace research and manufacturing facilities.
In short, you've described where we are today, and I am suggesting where we need to go tomorrow, lest the lack of commercial business growth and revenue continue to greaten the tax burden on the MoCo homeowner.
Why don’t people who work in Virginia, want to live there?
'All hat, no cattle' comes to mind, as well as 'all fluff, no stuff.'
All well and good about Business Accolades.
But the reality is that the newer Apt Buildings in Northern VA are way too numerous and way too close to each other…………….if you look in Alexandria and Reston along the METRO it’s out of control !
Hogan was all stuff without much fluff. We will miss him but we will never be able to admit it properly.
To your point Robert, maybe that is why the VA transit peeps keep trying to run a bus, the 798, to / from Tysons during rush hour. That's their plan? Maybe the numbers support us being their 'bedroom community.' I took it once, just to do it. The issue is though, in practice, it just won't be viable IMHO: not only are you then unable to get off for whatever reason, there are no bathrooms! You still get stuck on the American Legion Bridge and the precarious Beltway!
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