GBC Outlines 2025 Legislative Priorities to Drive Economic Development and Regional Collaboration

As the Maryland General Assembly 2025 legislative session gets underway and with the nation’s transition to a new federal administration, the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC), the leading voice for the private sector in the Baltimore region, has unveiled its legislative priorities. The priorities align with the organization’s multi-year agenda and underscore GBC’s commitment to championing transformative policies and investments that position the Baltimore Region for inclusive growth and long-term prosperity.

“The Baltimore region stands at a critical crossroads, where a greater understanding of its contributions to the state and national economy is essential,” said Mark Anthony Thomas, President and CEO of GBC. “Thanks to the hard work of our partners, we’ve identified the key opportunities and investments that can drive real progress. GBC is committed to ensuring that the region’s collective voice shapes strategies that unlock its potential and secure its future success.”

“Our 2025 list of priorities reflect a holistic approach to advancing Baltimore’s growth,” added Jennifer Vey, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for GBC. “By championing economic opportunity, modernizing transportation and infrastructure, and addressing critical community challenges, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive foundation for long-term success. These priorities are not just about economic competitiveness—they’re about ensuring that prosperity is shared across the entire region.”

GBC’s 2025 legislative priorities focus on advancing economic opportunity, enhancing transportation and infrastructure, and fostering collective impact:

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY 

State Priorities:

  • Investment in high impact development/redevelopment projects in downtown Baltimore, the Port, and throughout the region, including the establishment of a new governance structure for the Baltimore Convention Center to ensure the success of future investments and support for the development of Tradepoint Atlantic and the Sparrows Point container terminal.
  • Expansion of the eligible activities of local Industrial Development Authorities to enhance economic development, redevelopment, and affordable housing in counties throughout the region.

GBC also supports Governor Moore’s Executive Order to Bolster Maryland’s Economic Competitiveness and the DECADE Act of 2025, which include the establishment of the Office of Business Advancement, a new site readiness program, and a council to streamline permitting processes, among other provisions designed to spur investment and growth. 

Federal Priorities:

  • Full funding of the $10 billion Economic Development Administration’s Tech Hubs program, as well as other programs and policies that nurture innovation, entrepreneurship, and the redevelopment of downtowns and commercial corridors.

TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE 

State Priorities:

  • Full restoration of funding of Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) State of Good Repair (SOGR) projects and the identification of new revenue mechanisms to shore up funding for SOGR and transformational expansion projects like the Red Line.
  • Policies that promote transit-oriented development and multi-modal priority to improve access to jobs and stimulate economic activity.

Federal Priorities:

  • Funding for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor improvements, including the Frederick Douglass Tunnel, West Baltimore MARC station, and Penn Station, and for other major infrastructure projects that support the Port and related industrial development, including the Howard Street tunnel.

COLLECTIVE IMPACT

State Priorities:

  • Funding for Reinvest Baltimore and other programs to support housing and community redevelopment, with the goals of ending housing vacancy, preserving affordability, and repairing neighborhood markets.
  • Support for the development of a Strategic Operations Center to enhance public safety in Downtown Baltimore.

Federal Priorities:

  • Programs and incentives that stimulate housing, commercial, and industrial development, particularly in underserved markets and communities historically impacted by post-industrial decline.
  • Policies and programs that support localized strategies to address gun violence.

To further its efforts, GBC is in the process of hiring a public policy firm to help strengthen its ability to champion the federal priorities outlined above and ensure the organization remains a leading voice for economic development and collaboration for the Baltimore Region.

GBC will also host several upcoming events to further foster collaboration and provide critical insights into the region’s economic progress:

  • A briefing with Nathan Ohle, CEO of the International Economic Development Council: March 13, 2025. This will focus on strategies to enhance regional economic opportunities.
  • Pulse Check: The Scorecard Summit: March 17, 2025. This event will unveil GBC’s Annual Investment Scorecard, highlighting business investment and development announcements and trends in the Baltimore Region. It will also serve as the official debut of the economic brand for the region, which will distill a cohesive narrative about the Baltimore Region as a market for global investors.
  • Baltimore Region Investment Summit: May 15, 2025. This SelectUSA spinoff event will unite leaders from across the region’s real estate, finance, healthcare, government, technology, and other sectors to explore the key industry opportunities, business incentive programs, infrastructure projects, and relevant public-private partnerships happening in our metropolitan statistical area.

For more information on these events and to view the multi-year agendavisit gbc.org.

ABOUT THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE

The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) is the leading voice for the private sector in the Baltimore region, providing economic and civic leadership to drive collective impact. Representing more than 400 organizations, GBC advocates for policies and investments that foster the prosperity of the Greater Baltimore region. For more information, visit gbc.org.