Leggett Issues Executive Order Creating Strategic Economic Development Projects; First Project Designated is New Holy Cross Hospital in Germantown

Leggett Issues Executive Order Creating Strategic Economic Development Projects; First Project Designated is New Holy Cross Hospital in Germantown

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today signed an Executive Order that designates a new Holy Cross Hospital on Montgomery College’s Germantown campus as the first Strategic Economic Development Project. The executive order directs executive branch agencies to treat designated projects as a priority, giving them immediate attention during the planning, development review and permitting processes.

Executive Order 173-11, Designation of Strategic Economic Development Projects, was developed by the Montgomery County departments of Economic Development (DED) and Permitting Services (DPS) to spur environmentally sensitive economic growth that will provide residents with access to high-quality services, education, infrastructure and amenities.

“Strategic economic development projects create new short- and long-term employment opportunities, and a new tax base for the County,” said Leggett. “The proposed 93-bed hospital, related facilities and infrastructure to be built by Holy Cross Hospital and Montgomery College represent a perfect example of a strategic economic development project – with 1,500 new jobs projected.”

The Executive Order allows the County Executive to designate a project as a Strategic Economic Development Project based on its ability to create and/or retain jobs in the County, particularly in knowledge-based, high-paying industries; leverage substantial private capital investment; help the County achieve strategic redevelopment objectives; and/or otherwise advance the economic development goals of Montgomery County.

In addition to executive branch agencies, the Order also urges all non-County agencies or entities including the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the Housing Opportunities Commission, Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College, the State of Maryland and the federal government to treat designated projects with the same priority.

“Particularly in these difficult economic times Montgomery County needs to do all it can to move key projects forward as expeditiously as possible,” said Steve Silverman, DED’s director, “and this Executive Order helps to make that happen.”

The current Holy Cross Hospital located in Silver Spring made the Joint Commission on the Accreditation for Healthcare Organization’s (JCAHO) first listing of top performing hospitals in the nation. The Commission is the main accreditation organization for U.S. hospitals and included just 405 hospitals from across the United States on the list.