Business developer Tim Priest?s departure from Washington should enhance the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore?s role in regionaldevelopment.
In recent years, Priest, the former executive director of the Greater Washington Initiative, worked closely with the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore to promote the Baltimore/Washington region?s economic vitality.
“We?ve looked at the corridor as a singular economic entity,” Priest said.
Now, Priest takes his knowledge and experience to the West Coast, where he?ll assume the role of chief executive officer of Greenlight Greater Portland, a group devoted to marketing that area?s economic potential.
Priest worked with Brad McDearman, the Economic Alliance?s executive vice president, to market the region as the central business location along the eastern seaboard.
“Marketing as part of a megalopolis is really the future of the economy on the eastern seaboard,” Priest said. “You can tell international businesses, ?This is where the opportunities are in the United States.? ”
Priest got his start in economic development in Baltimore about 10 years ago, working as a researcher for McDearman?s economic consulting firm.
“Tim?s got a very good understanding for how important good information is,” McDearman said. “This is a real fact-based business that can help companies make good decisions.”
Priest joined Greater Washington Initiative in 1998 and was named executive director in 2005. In his first year as executive director, he oversaw the recruitment of 28 companies whose economic impact was calculated at $350 million, according to the firm.
The Economic Alliance will assume more responsibility with regional economic impact studies, McDearman said, and the group looks forward to working with Priest?s successor at Greater Washington Initiative.
“We?ve worked together because Baltimore?s story has a whole lot to do with Washington?s story,” McDearman said.
