Official - Biotech wave could make big splash here

By ARNOLD S. PLATOU
December 14, 2008

WASHINGTON COUNTY - Maryland's top economic development official foresees biotech companies soon will begin to pop up in Washington County in a big way.

"I do, if we define 'soon' as in the three- to five-year period," said David W. Edgerley, secretary of the state Department of Business & Economic Development.

Washington County is "certainly one of the strategic counties to watch in the economic high-growth, quality community sectors," Edgerley said Wednesday.

Frederick County is another.

That neighboring county will be Washington County's rival as biotech companies move out of the Interstate 270 Technology Corridor toward less expensive land to the west, officials said.

Both counties are scrambling toward an economic development plum - the region's first "accelerator" - a second-stage incubator that would nurture existing young biotech companies as they expand and would attract others.

Officials in Washington County also are looking at large tracts, particularly east of Hagerstown, where they might build an industrial park for biotech companies, said John F. Barr, president of the Washington County Commissioners.

Bringing biotech firms here is "a vital interest of this community," Barr said. "I think most of the business leaders feel Hagerstown and Washington County are a viable option.

"We've got land available, infrastructure available and, of course, we're always looking for higher paying jobs. And that industry obviously offers that with a bright future."

Close and less expensive

Montgomery County is king of Maryland's prime biotech realm, which stretches from the suburban Washington, D.C., area north to Baltimore.

The area contains 84 percent of the state's more than 370 biotechs. Montgomery County alone has 60 percent of them; Frederick and part of Washington County have 16 percent.

"Montgomery, Frederick County, right down to D.C., that whole area is ranked like No. 2 (in the nation) for the number of biotech firms concentrated in one area," said Timothy Troxell, executive director of the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission. More here.