PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Local Businesses Receive Grants to Hire Unemployed Prince George’s Residents William J. Ford WI Staff Writer The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported earlier this month the three Maryland counties of Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s recorded a 6.1% unemployment rate in October, the lowest figure this year. Since the coronavirus pandemic af-
fected the majority Black jurisdiction of Prince George’s last year, the county has lost about 30,000 jobs. Employ Prince George’s, a quasi-government agency, seeks to help boost the job market by distributing more than $326,000 in grants for 12 entrepreneurs who will hire unemployed county residents. The agency congratulated each
5 Charity Barrett talks about her company, Progeny Enterprises, Inc. based in Fort Washington, on receiving a grant to hire Prince George’s County residents. Barrett represented one of 12 local entrepreneurs to obtain a portion of more than $326,000 in grants from Employ Prince George’s. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)
business Thursday, Dec. 16 at the American Job Center at Tanger Outlets in Oxon Hill. “Anytime you can get money you don’t have to pay back is a major plus,” said state Sen. Obie Patterson (D-District 26) of Fort Washington. “This not only helps the small businesses but
also helps people get back to work and pay taxes. This is on the red carpet for Christmas. It couldn’t be a better time to show our love and appreciation for these small businesses.” The grants funneled from the state represent part of Employ Prince George’s COVID-19 rapid re-em-
Former Delegate Dereck Davis Sworn-In as Maryland Treasurer William J. Ford WI Staff Writer Dereck E. Davis, who spent nearly half his life representing Prince George’s County as a member of the House of Delegates, will officially represent the entire state of Maryland as its new state treasurer. House Speaker Adrienne Jones
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and Senate President Bill Ferguson swore in Davis during a ceremony Friday, Dec. 17 inside the House chamber in Annapolis. Davis, 54, represents not only the second African American elected to the position after Richard N. Dixon, but also the first person from Prince George’s. The county native has represented the 25th Legislative District in the
5 Former Del. Dereck Davis places his left hand on a Bible as he reads the oath to become Maryland’s 24th treasurer on Dec. 17. House Speaker Adrienne Jones (left) presided. Davis was joined by his wife, Monique (right) and their son Dereck Davis, Jr. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)
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House of Delegates since 1995 – the last 18 years as chair of the influential House Economic Matters Committee during which he has overseen policies that include economic development, alcoholic beverages and labor and employment. “It is bittersweet. I am thrilled for this new opportunity. It was time for me to move on,” he said during an interview after the ceremony. “I wasn’t married when I got here. Now I’ve been married for 26 years. I didn’t have any children. Almost every good thing that’s happened to me has happened since I’ve been a member of the House of Delegates. I’m going to miss this place,” Davis said.” Davis, of Mitchellville, began work Monday, Dec. 20. Some of his duties include managing state funds and property, issuing or authorizing agents to issue payments of state funds and overseeing financial institutions that invest in the state. One of his main priorities will be to serve on the three-member Board of Public Works with the comptroller and the governor, which decides on millions of dollars in procurement and
various state projects. He’s scheduled to attend his first Board of Public Works meeting Jan. 5. Former state treasurer Nancy Kopp, who held the position for 20 years, said Davis spoke to the treasurer office staff last week and made quite an impression. “When he left, you had a happy office of people who knew that they had a treasurer they can respect,” she said. “Dereck Davis is the right person at the right time and I couldn’t be more pleased.” Davis comes into the position as the state remains poised to transition into new leadership in less than 14 months. Term limits will expire in January 2023 for Gov. Larry Hogan to complete his two, four-year terms. Attorney General Brian Frosh will not seek a third term and will retire from public office after first serving in the House of Delegates in 1987. Comptroller Peter Franchot continues to campaign in efforts to secure the Democratic nomination for governor.
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ployment program. As part of the application process, entrepreneurs needed to illustrate how their businesses became negatively affected since March 16, 2020. A program summary shows a new employee must start within 30 days of the business’s grant application. Charity Barrett, owner of Progeny Enterprises, Inc. of Fort Washington, said she closed a child-care center called Perfect Angels last year. The center reopened with about 20 children enrolled. It’s licensed to have up to 71 children, “so that gives you the idea of the hit that we took during the pandemic,” said Barrett, who became an entrepreneur at age 25 and established Progeny in 2005. Barrett’s company will receive $37,620 to hire five employees that includes three full timers and two parttime executive assistants. She currently has seven employees and up to six independent contractors. “We wouldn’t be able to make ends meet without getting some type of assistance,” she said of the grant. “This will be wonderful to help us . . . and to hire Prince George’s County residents. I am thankful.” Vianca Walker, who has owned “Veez Bizzy Beez” since 1996, received $4,000 to employ a teacher’s aide to work with children ages 5 to 12 years old enrolled in the child-care center before and after care program. “During this pandemic, this is the most I’ve ever seen the county helping out businesses,” she said. “This is a big deal.” Employ Prince George’s continues to host in-person and virtual jobs, career-readiness and veteran’s workshops and other activities. The agency, through its Transportation and Logistics Consortium program (TALC), will partner with the county executive’s office for returning citizens and young adults 18 to 24 to package and deliver food throughout the county Dec. 28. Each person participating will be paid and receive training on learning how to drive trucks, operate forklifts and other equipment. Walter Simmons, president and CEO of Employ Prince George’s, said the agency will manage a mobile job center traveling throughout the county starting next year. “You might see us at somebody’s cookout. If we see a group of people, we’re going to pull up. Just want to make sure everyone has a job,” he said. “That mobile job center is going to be a game changer.” WI @jabariwill
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