In 2025, the EDD is making significant steps to refine its strategies, strengthen the local economy, enhance community resources, support businesses, and shape the county’s bright future.
As part of the Charles County Commissioners’ goals for 2025, the EDD will begin developing a new strategic plan to guide the county’s economic development for the next 5 years.
“It’s hard to tell where you’re going when you don’t have a clear picture of where you’ve been,” EDD Director Kelly Robertson-Slagle emphasizes. “The 2024 Asset Inventory was pivotal in giving us a greater point-of-view on our community that we’re using to help us identify challenges and opportunities. Our past efforts are now allowing us to make thoughtful, data-backed decisions for the strategic plan that will propel our community to greater success.”
By effectively implementing a strategic plan, Charles County can generate an estimated $75 to $100 million in new capital investment, both directly and indirectly.
“We’re looking for our strategic plan to have community buy-in and participation," adds Michelle Frye, EDD Deputy Director. “Our goal is to establish solid objectives and guidelines that will benefit our community for years to come and lay a strong foundation for sustainable progress.”
To help communicate its strong, streamlined vision to the public, the EDD plans to unveil a new, user-friendly website in 2025. The refreshed digital presence will improve site usability for the many business owners and entrepreneurs seeking to launch or expand their ventures in Charles County. The new website also seeks to engage better and attract site selectors and prospective defense, contracting, logistics, and distribution investors.
Enhancing Business Support
To bolster business success in Charles County, the EDD is proud to introduce new efforts designed to create greater opportunities for local enterprises.
In April 2025, the EDD will implement new systems designed to streamline pathways for underrepresented businesses to secure contracts with Charles County Government.
“This program is a culmination of the disparity study work that the EDD has been developing over the past couple of years,” shares Robertson-Slagle. The Disparity Study, released by the EDD in 2020, identified gaps in the government contract awarding process to minority- and women-owned businesses. The new program introduces a more user-friendly compliance tool and a new automation process to make contract-awarding a more equitable process.
Key staffing additions have also bolstered the program’s development. “Hiring Anthony Twyman, our MWBE/DBE Compliance Manager, in the fall of 2024 was also an essential step for the program,” emphasizes Robertson-Slagle. “To ensure ongoing assistance for SLBE/MWBEs in Charles County, the EDD is excited to welcome Chastity Durham-Miller as the Small and Minority Business Development Specialist.”
“With a fully staffed team, we’re well prepared to help businesses flourish,” adds Robertson-Slagle. “It’s thrilling to finally implement this process, and we know the community will see some notable developments in our SLBE/MWBE efforts in 2025.”
The EDD is also advancing initiatives to support broader commercial success across Charles County by partnering with the Charles County Chamber of Commerce to assess the permitting process and identify procedure enhancements.
Additionally, the EDD will launch a follow-up program for graduates of the popular Business Growth Advantage Program (BGAP). The new program, BGAP 360, will use remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help graduates build on their skills and continue growing their businesses in the county.
On the workforce front, federal funding is allocated to expand the Patuxent Partnership’s Workforce 2030 initiative into Charles County in 2025. Initially launched in St. Mary’s County, this initiative focuses on building a strong pipeline of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) educated workers and creating career opportunities for students. Locally, Workforce 2030 will leverage partnerships among Charles County Public Schools, the College of Southern Maryland, the U.S. Navy, and the Military Alliance Council to advance workforce readiness and economic growth.
Advancing Defense Businesses In Charles County
The Western Charles County Technology Corridor will add new, visually appealing signage this year, highlighting its position as a growing hub for defense companies and welcoming visitors into the 7.67 square mile corridor. The signage aims to boost community pride in the growing corridor while attracting more high-tech companies specializing in defense, contracting, logistics, and distribution.
Meanwhile, Indian Head will continue growing as a strategic center for military, defense, and energy innovation. As part of the U.S. Navy’s Energetic Comprehensive Modernization Plan (ECMP), the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) will undergo infrastructure updates that will enhance the Navy’s capabilities and capacity. Set to include 500 projects and span 10 years of development, the updates will foster local economic growth, add vital jobs to the community, and enhance Indian Head as a hub for national defense leaders. Updates in Indian Head will include a 5,000-square-foot combustion lab.
Beyond defense, Indian Head is also experiencing a transformation for its residents. The 2024 opening of Oasis Fresh Foods Market marked an end to the area’s nearly two decades as a food desert and made a significant step to improve local quality of life.
Project Updates and New Initiatives
In 2025, businesses can look forward to continued construction on Berry Pointe, a St. John’s Property that will bring 518,400 square feet of flex/R&D space, 93,000 square feet of offices, and 22,500 square feet of retail.
“As you drive past the site in Waldorf, you can begin to see the structures start to take shape, says Frye. “Management is starting to sign tenants as well. It’s exciting to see a project many years in the making make its first steps toward actuality.”
Berry Pointe will be the largest commercial development office park in Charles County once constructed and is projected to add over 2,100 jobs at full build-out and occupancy.
In Waldorf, Charles County is working with Parks and Recreation on a new mall redevelopment project that reimagines the Sears building at the St. Charles Towne Center into a vibrant, multi-generational community space. The county purchased the property in July 2024 and will continue the steps toward development in 2025 while exploring opportunities for additional public-private partnerships to enhance the project.
The St. Charles Towne Center will also see continued construction on Waldorf Station, a 145-acre mixed-use project managed by Greenberg Gibbons. The project will include residential spaces—including townhouses, apartments, and assisted living opportunities—as well as retail, hospitality, entertainment, and office spaces. Construction is underway on the eastern side of the project and will continue throughout 2025, bringing a downtown feel to the area and promoting both visitation and business.
“Within the department, I feel like the mood is shifted into a palpable excitement, in part because of all the promising projects coming down the pike, but also because we have a full team that is all in to advance economic development in Charles County,” shares Frye.
Robertson-Slagle closes, “We're always thankful for our partners, and we're always looking for others interested in working with the EDD. At our heart, the EDD is a partner organization, and we look forward to supporting these and other new programs that will take Charles County to the next level in 2025.”
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