Gov. O?Malley, executives see Vegas as place to make deals

Joining Ulman are Dick Story, head of the Howard County Economic Development Authority, and Chief of Staff Aaron Greenfield. The trip for the three Howard officials is costing about $10,000, county spokeswoman Kathy Sloan-Beard said.

The money is budgeted in the Economic Development Authority?s private sector investor fund, and no taxpayer dollars are being used, she said.

Before he left, O?Malley told The Examiner that there would always be “snarky articles” about his trips as mayor to the annual convention of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

But the governor said there are “pretty compelling reasons to go Las Vegas” to meet directly with top executives of the biggest retailers and developers.

Last month?s issue of Governing Magazine said: “One out of every three retail real estate deals are either conceived at this meeting or completed there.”

“We can?t afford not to go,” said Dave Tillman, communications director at the Department of Business and Economic Development. The state is spending $160,000 on the event, including airfare, hotels, a large reception and a 1,000-square-foot booth that includes three meeting rooms.

“It?s a no-brainer as far as DBED goes,” Tillman said. “This is where the retail giants come to play.”

Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, who is making a return visit, helped persuade Ulman to attend, Ulman said.

Story, who has decades of experience in the field, had never been to the shopping center blowout, but he became a believer. “This is an incredibly rich audience for selling Howard County,” Story said.

He said Howard County has 14 meetings set up “with a number of developers, food stores and restaurants,” particularly targeting upscale restaurants and retailers.

“We?re talking about revitalizing our older village centers,” Ulman said last week.

Examiner Staff Writer Sara Michael contributed to this report.

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