Permitting Toolbox: Economic Development

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• What is economic development?

  Economic development is by definition the specific actions a city can undertake to expand its taxable base, create employment opportunities, supports its neighborhoods and serve its citizens.

• What are the objectives of the City’s Economic Development Office?

  The goal of the Office of Economic Development is to help strengthen the City’s economy by recruiting new businesses and employers to the City, thereby increasing revenues for the city and creating jobs for Annapolis residents. The Office must also assist in retaining existing business and employers. The Office must be prepared to support both new and existing businesses by identifying financing tools available at the county, state, and federal levels.

  There are six primary market sectors for economic growth in Annapolis: office uses, retail uses, hotel uses, industrial uses, maritime uses, and residential uses. These are identified in the city’s Economic Development Marketing Package as six “Business Neighborhoods” – good places to live and to work. Geographically, these business neighborhoods include the Downtown Historic District, Eastport, Inner West Street, Outer West Street, West Annapolis, and the Forest Drive Corridor.

• What is considered a small business?

  Small Business Administration (SBA) defines a small business as one that is independently owned and operated and not dominant in its field. A small business must also meet the employment or sales standards developed by the SBA and based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The following criteria can be used by SBA to determine if a concern qualifies as a small business:

  WHOLESALE – no more than 100 employees;

  RETAIL or SERVICE – Average (3 year) annual sales or receipts of no more than $6.0 million to $29.0 million, depending on business type;

  MANUFACTURING – Generally no more than 500 employees, but in some cases up to 1,500 employees;

  CONSTRUCTION – Average (3 year) annual sales or receipts of no more than $12.0 million to $28.5 million, depending on the specific business type.

• How will I know about upcoming business opportunities with the City of Annapolis?

  Letters of interest stating the services and/or products a business provides can be sent to the City of Annapolis Central Services and Purchasing Department where they are retained on file and are reviewed at the time of any applicable bid. Central Services and Purchasing maintains an up-to-date listing of current Requests for Proposal (RFP) or Invitation for Bid (IFB) on the Internet at . In addition, the City advertises in several publications including: The Annapolis Capital, The Baltimore Sun, The Afro-American, and Maryland Contract Weekly. In addition, construction projects are sent to Dodge Reports and Construction Market Date/Blue Reports.

• If I want to start a small business in Annapolis, whom do I contact?

  Assistance with starting a small business or enhancing an existing business is available through the Office of Economic Development’s Resource Center. This is an on-site resource that provides guidance for:

  • Writing business plans
  • Securing financing
  • Facilitating licensing
  • Talking with experts

  The Resource Center provides a number of experts in various fields who donate their time to advising new and existing business owners.

• If I am a developer, commercial property owner, or an aspiring new/existing business owner who do I contact to set up a meeting with cityofficials to review my proposal?

  Through the Office of Economic Development at 410-263-7940, the city has a group of officials that meets on a regular basis (every other Thursday) to review projects in the concept stage. The Pre-Application Conference Committee (PACC) was first organized as an ad hoc committee of city officials that review commercial development projects in the city.

  The group was formed in response to Mayor Moyer’s Transition Team in Economic Development in 2001 to provide a more user friendly customer service process in the development community.

  At the concept stage, the PACC reviews development and site plans which are in the proposal process. Initially, the PACC met on an as-needed basis. Currently the PACC meets bi-monthly on Thursdays in the city council chambers. The Office of Economic Development coordinates all meetings, agendas, and minutes. A written record of the meetings is distributed to all participants as well as to the Mayor and other city staff.

  Regular PACC members include representatives of DNEP, Planning and Zoning, Public Works, Transportation, and the Fire Marshal’s Office. Other departments are included when projects are reviewed that affect, for example, the Finance and Law offices as well as projects in the Historic District.

  The PACC is an effective review process which provides an opportunity for developers and other commercial interests to sit at the same table with city officials at the planning stage.

  Many questions are answered, and development issues are addressed at these meetings which the development community has positively embraced. The process saves the applicant time and money as well as city staff time in the review process.