Commercial growth remained strong in Howard last year, with new business developments bringing thousands of possible jobs to the county.
And that?s even before the base realignment measure ushers the expected business boom for the region.
“We know BRAC is going to accelerate all business growth,” said Anne Darr, director of work force initiatives at the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, adding that for each government job, another 1 .5 to two contracting jobs is created.
Nearly 2.5 million square feet in nonresidential development plans was approved last year, according to the county?s Development Monitoring System Report, which details development from October 2005 to September 2006.
Most of this space is in large plans of more than 50,000 square feet, a significant signal of the commercial growth, said Planning and Zoning Director Marsha McLaughlin.
These latest numbers reflect the “normal robust economy” in the county before BRAC, Darr said. By 2011, nearly 6,000 jobs will come to Fort Meade, and thousands of other support jobs to the region.
In preparation for BRAC, at least one company, Trammel Crow Co., announced plans to build a 200,000-square-foot building in Columbia, in anticipation the space will be rented by businesses.
The Howard County Economic Development Authority is aware of 20 so-called “on spec” office buildings totaling 1.4 million square feet that either have approved plans or are in construction, said organization CEO Richard Story.
“There are developers risking money on the continuing growth of Howard County,” Story said.
“Manufacturing is strong and growing in Howard,” Story said, adding it accounts 7 percent of the job base, which defies national trends of declining manufacturing jobs.
AT A GLANCE
» Of the 2.5 million square feet of nonresidential development plans approved last year, 47 percent were for office uses and 36 percent for manufacturing.
» Eighty-six percent of the space were in plans for sites of more than 50,000 square feet.
» Forty-four percent of the plans were in Elkridge.
» The plans could accommodate 6,465 employees, 72 percent of which are office or service jobs.
Source: Howard County?s Development Monitoring System Report
