Economic Development and Planning

Most planners and the communities they serve recognize that good planning results in stronger economic development potential. Business and job growth work best when planning lays the groundwork for economic activity where resources, infrastructure, services, as well as human capital, already exist.

Maryland’s economic development can be most effective when it is integrated with land use planning that both encourages activities in targeted growth areas, such as cities, towns and designated sustainable communities and main streets where infrastructure investments have already been made, as well as preserves and enhances places linked to resource-based activities, services and industries. Placing Jobs relies on effective communication of local economic development strategies among planners, economic development professionals, elected officials, the business community and others at the state, regional and local levels.

“Meaningful collaboration between industries, academic institution, government and investors will take the state much further than any single economic development program ever can”

- Maryland Economic Development Commission Strategic Plan

Placing Jobs incorporates economic development resources and incentives from the Maryland Department of Commerce, the Department of Labor and Licensing and Regulation (Labor), the Department of Housing and Community Development ​(Housing)​, and the Maryland Department of Planning (Planning). In addition, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (Agriculture) and Maryland Energy Administration ​(Energy)​ have programs and incentives that can complement? economic development efforts.

MDP has created this online Placing Jobs resource to build on state and local efforts in economic development and elevate planning as an economic strategy. Placing Jobs provides a framework for local jurisdictions to integrate land use and economic strategies that preserve resource-based industries, promote tourism, and direct investment toward infill, redevelopment and revitalization in local comprehensive plans.

Placing Jobs contains an outline for an economic development element in a comprehensive plan and an inventory of resources, policies and incentives that can be considered in crafting or evaluating economic development strategies. Information regarding data sources is included in the Economic Data. 

To help Maryland communities draft an economic development element in comprehensive plans, Placing Jobs provides an outline with topic areas, sources for economic data, as well as examples of policies and actions in Maryland communities. The outline is intended to serve as a guide for local jurisdictions, as it uses best practices from existing county comprehensive plans to consider as planning and economic strategies . The outline can be used by rural and urban communities. Recognizing that one size does not fit all, specific components and topic areas of the outline will vary in relevance for each jurisdiction.

Placing Jobs provides an inventory of state, local, and regional economic development organizations that can be used as resources during plan drafting. Coordinating with these organizations while drafting an economic development element can help local jurisdictions execute economic strategies, by establishing connections to regional, state and federal resources and incentive programs. Finally, the list of best practices show examples of successful efforts to link economic development strategies with resources and incentives to accelerate economic growth in targeted sectors and areas.

What should be in my economic development element?

Which data works best and where do I find it from existing economic development plans, strategies and policies coordination details?

What resources, incentives and best practices are available to guide me?