A Message from the Governor

For the past four years, Lt. Governor Brown and I have worked to protect Maryland families and children, to create and save jobs, to keep our neighborhoods and communities safe, and to build a more sustainable future for generations to come. It has been both a remarkable and challenging journey as our nation has faced some of the toughest economic times since the Great Depression. But our families and children remain at the core of our hearts and the forefront of our minds as we work to come through this recession.

Governor Announces Major Milestone at Public Safety Forum

Recently, at the final "Maryland Forward" forum on public safety and security, Governor O'Malley announced a major milestone for Maryland's DNA database. The database, housed at the State Police Forensic Sciences Division laboratory, has now made more than 2,000 positive comparisons, or "hits."

In January 2008, Governor O'Malley announced the elimination of an inherited backlog of more than 24,000 untested and uncollected DNA samples from convicted felons. The backlog elimination was the result of additional funding for new positions and new equipment provided by the O'Malley-Brown Administration. Since 2007, law enforcement has made 290 arrests due to positive hits from the DNA database.

Jobs Across Maryland

As Maryland continues to weather the economic storm, there is some good news as the latest Beige Book report by the federal government shows indicators that Maryland's economy continues to improve.

In more jobs news, HBO recently announced that it will begin filming a new comedy in Baltimore, creating more than 700 jobs for our State. Additionally, M. Luis Construction Company is planning to hire 100 new employees at its newly-acquired plant in Rockville.

Recently, Bloosurf, a local broadband provider, announced that it will receive $3.2 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand access to broadband to underserved parts of the Eastern Shore and hire 25 to 30 employees. And in more economic development news, Towson University will begin plans to build a new $68 million arena, which will create jobs for Marylanders in its construction.

For those interested in tapping into the jobs of the new economy, on January 25th from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the Tech Council of Maryland will host the Business of Cyber Security Conference at Johns Hopkins University. Click here to register.