County Executive Targets Woodlawn for an Enterprise Zone

County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said Tuesday morning that he wants to improve vacancy rates at three westside business parks by encouraging renovation of aging facilities. To do this, Kamenetz said the county is asking the state to designate 230 acres of industrial zoned land as an enterprise zone.

The zone would be known as the Federal Center at Woodlawn Enterprise Zone, Kamenetz said, referring to the type of business they hope to attract—federal agencies and contractors.

"Woodlawn has the infrastructure needed to support not only federal agencies, but also private sector companies," Kamenetz said, citing the example of electronics maker Zentech Manufacturing Inc., based in Woodlawn.

The proposed zone includes parts of Rutherford Business Center, Windsor Park and Meadows Industrial park. All three properties are near Dogwood Lane and I-695.

The area, which employs about 15,000 staff at the Social Security Administration, has a number of underutilized office parks with high vacancy rates, according to Sharon Klots, manager of policy and planning with the county Department of Economic Development.

Klots said tax credits and loan programs would help property owners renovate the properties.

"The idea is to provide incentives for owners at the parks to improve their properties," Klots told the the County Council Tuesday afternoon. "Many of these buildings were built in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and they are not in the greatest of shape."

Vacancy rates at the three industrial parks runs about 25 percent, compared to 12 percent at other nearby complexes, Klots said.

"Woodlawn is such an important part of our county's economy, and there are so many untapped possibilities here," said Kamenetz, noting that the area is close to Washington D.C. and employers such as Fort Meade and the National Security Agency. "Creation of the Federal Center at Woodlawn will build on this community's strengths, create new jobs, and bring in new investment" in the zone, and throughout the community.

As an enterprise zone, companies interested in moving in would get targeted loans, property and income tax credits, as well as job training credits, among other programs, Kamenetz said before a crowd of about 60 people gathered at the former site of an FBI Field Office, located along Ambassador Lane in the Rutherford Business Park.

To prepare for the designation, Kamenetz said he has instructed the Department of Public Works "to review all proposed infrastructure requests in Woodlawn ... to make sure the infrastructure of this community can support our vision of its future."

And, he said he has designated a person in the Department of Economic Development to work to attract federal contracts and facilities to the Enterprise Zone. 

"Washington D.C., please take note, we want to welcome you to the Federal Center at Woodlawn," Kamenetz said, followed by applause.

Kamenetz urged the public to support, and for County Council to support and pass a resolution allowing the county to apply for the new "Enterprise Zone" designation.

A public hearing on the matter will be held at 7 p.m. on March 15 at the Woodlawn Branch Library, 1811 Woodlawn Drive.

Kamenetz brought along two County Council members who support the move: Councilmen Tom Quirk and Ken Oliver.

"It's a real pleasure to see the Federal Center at Woodlawn Enterprise Zone ... I look forward to working with you and Councilman Ken Oliver to make this happen," Quirk said. "Federal jobs and contracting jobs ... have the multiplier effect" of creating more jobs in the community.

"I look forward to working with the County Council to make this a great success and bring more jobs into this area."

Politics reporter Bryan P. Sears contributed to this story.