Maryland Economic Development Association announces winners of 2019 MEDA Awards

BALTIMORE — The Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) announces the recipients of the 2019 MEDA Awards, which celebrates the people, programs and projects that are transforming lives across the State of Maryland.

MEDA Awards showcase efforts to attract new businesses, assist existing businesses, redevelop business districts, market communities and support economic development throughout the state.

“We are pleased to recognize all of the MEDA Award winners,” said Pam Ruff, MEDA executive director. “We applaud these exceptional projects, programs and campaigns — as well as the people behind them — that show how dedicated our members are to economic growth across the State of Maryland.”

The 2019 MEDA Project / Program Awards winners are:

Seawall Development/R. House wins in the Economic Development Project category for large community. Seawall was challenged by chefs to bring them under one roof for collaboration. The result was R. House in Baltimore’s Remington neighborhood that revitalized an abandoned auto shop into a community hub with a food hall as well as a space for community-based activities. The project was nominated by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

Dominion Energy earns the award in Economic Development Project in small community for its Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal in Lusby, Md. The expansion allows Dominion Energy to liquefy natural gas onsite and load into transport ships for international export. The project was nominated by Calvert County Department of Economic Development.

Vehicles for Change Inc. is awarded the Economic Development Programs in large community. As the largest program of its kind in the country, Vehicles for Change repairs donated cars while providing training for individuals, most of whom were recently incarcerated. The Baltimore-based organization was nominated by Governor’s Workforce Development Board.

AgPitch is the winner of the Economic Development Programs in small community. Through a “Wouldn’t it be cool if …” campaign, AgPitch earmarked issues that weren’t being solved by the business community and challenged agricultural community members to find solutions. The AgPitch program was nominated by MidAtlantic Farm Credit.

Open for Business Campaign is awarded the Economic Development Marketing for large community. The campaign raised awareness of Maryland as a place to do business by highlighting the state’s assets. The campaign was nominated by the Maryland Department of Commerce.

Making Connections Campaign wins in the Economic Development Marketing Category for small community. The campaign formed a partnership with four private/public businesses to bridge new and continued development in Washington County. The campaign was nominated by the Washington County Department of Business Development.

Charm City Night Market receives honorable mention in the Economic Development Marketing category in large community. The campaign highlighted the history and heritage of Baltimore’s once-thriving Chinatown, while also giving a voice to the city’s growing Asian American Pacific Islander population. The campaign was nominated by the Baltimore Development Corp.

The 2019 MEDA Individual Awards winners are:

MEDA 2019 Volunteer of the Year: Robert Black. As president and co-owner of Catoctin Mountain Orchard, Black has supported economic development throughout Maryland. Black’s volunteerism reaches back to the late 1970s as a member and past president of the Agricultural Business Council; served on the Visit Frederick Board of Directors and a member of Thurmont Economic Development Committee; and is a longtime member of the Frederick County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. Black was involved in the creation of Frederick Farm Guide. He has been at the forefront of pest research, as well as devotes his time to developing new apple varieties.

MEDA 2019 Rising Star: Patrick Terranova. As senior director of Baltimore Development Corp. (BDC), Terranova was the project manager for BDC’s $660 million Port Covington TIF project, which is the largest in the city’s history and is projected to add nearly 35,000 new permanent jobs. He created a pilot program to improve the exteriors of industrial buildings in the Carroll-Camden industrial park. The program assisted nine businesses and leveraged additional private capital dollars, as well as improved the public visibility and marketability of those businesses. He also is active in community service as, among other things, vice chairman of the Monsignor O’Dwyer Retreat House.

MEDA Hall of Fame: Pradeep Ganguly. A member of MEDA since 1984, Ganguly has more than 30 years of service in economic development. Ganguly was most recently the executive vice president of the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation. He is also a former director for the Department of Economic Development in Montgomery County. He spent 21 years with DBED, which is now known as the Maryland Department of Commerce. Through it all, Ganguly has given what time he has to MEDA while balancing the demands of a busy job. He also makes it a point to give back to the community. In 1988, Ganguly founded MKK-USA, a nonprofit organization that provides educational support and humanitarian aid.

Sponsored by Miles & Stockbridge P.C., the awards will be distributed during the MEDA Annual Conference April 28-30, at Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge, Md.

To learn more about the awards and these outstanding projects, visit www.MEDAmd.com.

About MEDA

MEDA is a nonprofit organization of economic development professionals. Established in 1961, MEDA members promote the economic well-being of Maryland by working to improve the state’s business climate and the professionalism of those in the field of economic development.

MEDA’s membership includes economic development practitioners employed by government, businesses, and chamber of commerce and other professionals with interest in the economy of Maryland. Through its regular meetings, special programs and projects, MEDA members address such diverse issues as local planning, workforce, transportation, international trade, tourism and finance.

MEDA members work diligently transforming lives by creating opportunities, inspiring innovation and enriching communities in Maryland. To learn more about MEDA, visit www.MEDAmd.com.