Dear Friends,

This week, Gallup’s Job Creation Index for the first half of 2010 ranks Maryland seventh best job market in the nation. During the first half of 2010, 32 percent of employed Marylanders said that their employers were expanding their workforce. Maryland’s economy added 1,600 seasonally adjusted jobs in June, and over 40,000 jobs have been restored to Maryland’s business base since January. June 2010 marks the fourth month in a row that Maryland has added jobs in the private sector.

This week, Baltimore’s Planning Commission approved a major development project including a Walmart and other stores on the site of Anderson Automotive in the Remington area, which is expected to generate $100 million in economic impact during construction and $70 to $80 million per year after completion. The planned project also calls for 70 to 80 housing units and space for up to two dozen retail stores.

BoxTone, Inc., in Columbia, announced this week the addition of 19 jobs across several departments including support development, sales and client services. Its business focuses on managing large fleets of employee smartphones for Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Annapolis-based Paladar Latin Kitchen, and Baltimore-based Kona Grill Restaurants, each announced the addition of 60 and 120 jobs respectively.

And General Dynamics announced yesterday that they’ll add 110 jobs to Baltimore County to work on computer systems for a new health care program for retirees.

Martin O’Malley
Governor