Links to Secretary David Edgerley's prepared testimony and EDA's five points of viability:

Secretary Edgerley's prepared testimony
EDA's five points of viability



CUMBERLAND — The Economic Development Administration is in need of advocates to speak out on its behalf as federal lawmakers determine whether to reauthorize the organization, which is set to expire at the end of September.

Perhaps there’s no one better than David Edgerley, secretary for the state’s Department of Business and Economic Development. Edgerley is quite familiar with the EDA, its mission and its relationship with urban and rural communities, including Allegany County.

Edgerley is scheduled to testify beginning at 9 a.m. today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of which Maryland U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin is a member. Edgerley will be joined by Leanne Mazer, executive director of the Tri-County Council for Western Maryland.

EDA is an economic development branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce. With a focus on job-growth opportunities, the agency’s funding has played a major role in Allegany County for decades. EDA funds — through grants and loans — have “touched the lives of thousands of people who live and work in Allegany County,” Edgerley said.

The EDA has administered funds to assist with the Frostburg Business Park, the Upper Potomac Industrial Park, Riverside Industrial Park, water and sewer infrastructure projects, shell buildings and business incubators. Six of the county’s seven industrial parks have received EDA funding and more than 10 percent of the county’s work force is located in one of those parks.

“Eight to 10 percent of the jobs in the county have (been affected) by an investment EDA has made,” Edgerley said. “We should do everything we can” to not only reauthorize the agency, but also to increase its funding.

EDA also could prove critical in the high-speed Internet service to all of Allegany County. The Maryland Broadband Cooperative, with Mazer, visited the county commissioners in March indicating the service could be begin within three years with appropriate funding.

“I would hope the EDA would help with that enormously,” Edgerley said.

Edgerley has both a personal and professional link to the EDA. As a grant writer fresh out of college, he wrote a successful grant that was funded by EDA under its job opportunities program. The grant allowed one job — Edgerley applied for it, and was hired by the Allegany County commissioners.

“It gave me fame and fortune and notice from the then county commissioners, who created an entire job around the opportunities which came from that funding,” Edgerley said. “I owe the EDA, personally, a lot. I owe them, professionally, a lot. I’m just kind of thrilled to share my views.”

While the EDA’s reauthorization isn’t a done deal, Edgerley remained optimistic.

“I would certainly hope that it is (renewed),” Edgerley said. “I certainly am going to be advocating for it — and challenging the committee, Congress and the (Bush) administration to look at the capacity and capabilities that EDA has. It was used ... as part of the federal response in other recessions for economic stimulus packages. The local public works programs of EDA built public works across the country that are serving people today.”

Matt Diaz, director of economic development for Allegany County, said the agency draws fire nearly every year. He, too, is hopeful the EDA remains a viable option for local governments to pursue much-needed economic development projects.

“Anytime you can go to a federal agency and secure a million dollars for a project, I would say there’s value to that, particularly as we look at expanding water and sewer lines,” Diaz said. “The EDA does, of course, measure potential to get in on projects by the (number of) jobs impacted.”

A copy of Edgerley’s complete written testimony is available online at www.times-news.com.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.