ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 29, 2009) - - - Anne Arundel County ranks number one in Maryland for defense procurement contracts totaling $2.7 billion for fiscal year 2008.  The numbers represent a 35.25% increase over fiscal year 2007.  The recently released Consolidated Federal Funds Report (www.census.gov/govs/www/cffr.html ) gives total contract spending for the Department of Defense, Army, Navy, Airforce, and Army Corps of Engineers but does not include certain classified Department of Defense contracts.

“Defense contracts in Anne Arundel County have grown over the last eight years from $550 million in Fiscal Year 2000 to $2.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2008 – an increase of nearly 400%,” said Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold (www.aacounty.org ).  “This growth reflects the economic strength that Fort Meade provides to the region.”

The National Security Agency and many of the nation’s top defense contractors are located in proximity to Fort George G. Meade in Anne Arundel County, providing a sustaining infusion of growth and new jobs.  For this reason, the Leopold administration has strengthened investment in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education in both K through 12 and the community college level to grow a workforce that will meet the highly technical needs of this important industry.  The region and state, likewise, have invested heavily in college and university systems to support the need for an information/cyber technical workforce.

In Anne Arundel County, federal government spending is centered on Fort Meade where the base economic impact is estimated at $4 billion annually.  Defense contractors continue to locate and expand in the county to be near NSA, Northrop Grumman, Computer Sciences Corporation, Booz Allen Hamilton and a host of other top agencies and corporations.  Added to this continued growth is the relocation and consolidation of the three Department of Defense (DOD) organizations to Fort Meade as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure process, which will bring an additional 5,600 jobs by 2011 (Defense Information Systems Agency, Defense Media Publications, and the Adjudication and Office of Hearings and Appeals).  Once complete, the BRAC process will increase the economic impact of Fort Meade to an estimated $5 billion annually.

“The defense industry continues to be a key driver for the Anne Arundel County business economy,” said Robert Hannon, President and CEO of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) (www.aaedc.org ).  “AAEDC works with defense contractors to provide real estate alternatives as they seek locations near Fort Meade,” he continued.  “AAEDC also provides a source of supporting data and information important to attracting the skilled workforce required for the national security work conducted at Fort Meade.  We will continue efforts to achieve a balanced business economy with the defense industry as a cornerstone.”

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Contact:  Alexis Henderson
Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation
410-222-7410
ahenderson@aaedc.org