CUMBERLAND — Two Allegany County officials are headed to Annapolis for the Maryland Economic Development Association winter conference at the Governor Calvert House.

Matt Diaz, director of the department of economic development, said he and Tim Carney, a senior project manager within the department, expect “spirited debating” among the several high-profile panelists, which include Gov. Martin O’Malley, House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Mike Miller.

Other panelists include minority leaders Delegate Anthony J. O’Donnell and Sen. Allan H. Kittleman as well as Kathleen Snyder, president of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.

The conference differs from that of the Maryland Association of Counties, Diaz said, because it approaches issues with a business-first mentality.

“It’s really good because when you hear the legislative outlook at something like MACo, it’s more broad-based,” Diaz said. “This focuses primarily on business. Sometimes, it gets to be spirited debating up on that stage.”

The timing and location, situated across State Circle where the Maryland General Assembly convenes, also are beneficial. The one-day gathering takes place the day after the first day of the new legislative session.

“This is one of the best” of the four conferences hosted annually by MEDA, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Aberdeen, Diaz said.

After the conference, Diaz and other economic development professionals from across the state participate in a roundtable discussion with Christian Johansson, secretary of the state Department of Business and Economic Development. It’s a process, started by former DBED secretary David Edgerley, which allows those professionals to hear from their colleagues and their primary issues, concerns and successes, Diaz said.

Diaz said he’s interested to see if there’s any follow-up to his December testimony before the Tax Code Subcommittee on the subject of the Maryland Business Tax Reform Commission — Business Incentives. Allegany County has benefited from a number of state tax incentives including the One Maryland Tax Credit, the creation of the Arts & Entertainment Districts designation, and the Enterprise Zone Tax Credit, among others.

Donald Fry, president of the Greater Baltimore Committee, spoke in Annapolis with Diaz. Fry also is chairman of the Video Slots Commission. Diaz said Wednesday that slots is a “key” piece to economic development in Allegany County. Rocky Gap State Park is one of five locations approved by voters to house slots but the site did not attract a qualified bidder in the first round of proposals a year ago.

There was a long pause after Diaz was asked if slots would be operating at Rocky Gap in 2010.

“I hope,” Diaz finally answered. “I hope. I’ve always supported it. I see it as a key. I hope ... but I don’t know.”

Diaz said a more likely scenario is having a suitable proposal on the table by the end of the year and slots operating sometime in 2011 or beyond.

Pam Ruff, MEDA executive director, said the organization doesn’t lobby for any legislation but instead the conference serves as “an information-seeking venture.”

The first panel, entitled Maryland Business Leadership Report, features business professionals who will tell attendees what bills they will support.

“The next panel is of elected officials representing both parties and what issues they’re going to struggle with,” Ruff said. “It’s good to hear from them what they’re going to place emphasis on.”

For more information on the conference, log on to www.medamd.com.

Kevin Spradlin can be reached at kspradlin@times-news.com.