Governor's Economic Update: December 3, 2009
Hi I’m Governor Martin O’Malley with this week’s online Economic Update. Three years ago we set out together, as One Maryland to reform our government to make it work once again for our hardworking families. Because of the tough choices we’ve made together to cut spending by $4.6 billion, restore fiscal responsibility, and invest in job-sustaining priorities like education, today we’re in better position that other states to transition from recession to recovery to prosperity.
Today, with a government that works, we are focused on the three key ingredients for prosperity and a strong, growing middle class: jobs, jobs, and jobs. We are focused on new ideas to create new jobs and grow our economy in Maryland.
It is a commitment we share with our President, Barack Obama, who will host a jobs forum at the White House this week. President Obama’s leadership at the national level is critical to helping our small businesses and families weather this national recession. The Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth at the White House will generate new ideas to the issues most critical to small businesses including expanding access to capital and fueling innovation.
Our efforts at the state level are connected to the President’s efforts, and here in Maryland we’ve been focused on jobs, opportunity, and innovation since day one of our Administration. On Monday, December 7th we will join with the Greater Baltimore Committee to host the Maryland Small Business Summit where we’ll focus on job creation and access to credit for small businesses.
Later next week, we’ll host an online, live Small Business Town Hall. You can participate and learn more at choosemaryland.org. We’ll also formally receive the recommendations from the Maryland Small Business Task Force next week.
We recently rolled out a ten part strategy for strengthening small and family owned businesses, we continue to host small business roundtable discussions across our State, and we are one of only a few states which now offers assistance to small businesses to help them provide their employees with health insurance.
Why? Those three key words I mentioned earlier: jobs, jobs, jobs.
Although these continue to be tough times, we’re beginning to see signs that our economy is indeed recovering. Stay tuned to this website for more information on the upcoming events we’ve talked about. Thanks very much.
