St. Mary’s Welcomes New Director of Economic Development – Maryland Association of Counties

Report on the Appointment of the Director of Economic Development, St. Mary’s County

Executive Summary

St. Mary’s County has appointed Cynthia “Cindy” Greb as the new Director of the Department of Economic Development (DED). Her extensive experience aligns directly with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning economic growth, sustainable communities, and education. This appointment signals a strategic focus on balancing economic expansion with environmental stewardship and workforce development.

Professional Profile and Experience

Ms. Greb possesses over four decades of professional experience relevant to sustainable development. Her background is a composite of key areas that support integrated growth strategies.

• Community and Economic Development: Extensive work fostering local economies.
• Environmental Land Planning: Expertise in thoughtful development practices that balance growth with environmental protection, contributing to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
• Infrastructure and Real Estate Projects: Management of large-scale projects, aligning with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
• Workforce Development: As Executive Director at the Center for Career and Professional Development at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, she led initiatives connecting education with regional economic needs, directly supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Partnerships: A history of championing regional land preservation through collaboration with local, state, and federal partners, embodying the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Departmental Mandate and SDG Alignment

The Department of Economic Development’s mission is to fortify the county’s economy through a multi-faceted approach that inherently supports the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Support Existing Businesses: Reinforces the local economic foundation, contributing to SDG 8.
2. Attract New Employers and Investment: Drives innovation and infrastructure development, aligning with SDG 9.
3. Promote Tourism and Quality of Life Assets: Enhances community well-being and sustainable tourism, which supports SDG 8 and SDG 11.
4. Advance Strategic Initiatives: Fosters a diverse and resilient economic base, crucial for achieving long-term sustainability as outlined in SDG 11.

Director’s Vision for Sustainable Growth

In her official statement, Ms. Greb emphasized her commitment to a development model that is both progressive and sustainable.

“I am honored to join St. Mary’s County Government as Director of Economic Development and to continue serving my community. Our county is uniquely positioned with its strong workforce, innovative employers, and rich natural and cultural resources. I look forward to building on existing partnerships and creating new ones to support sustainable growth, workforce development, and a resilient, thriving local economy.”

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article’s central theme is the appointment of a new Director of the Department of Economic Development, whose mission is to “strengthen St. Mary’s County’s economy.” The text explicitly mentions goals like supporting “sustainable growth, workforce development, and a resilient, thriving local economy,” which are core components of SDG 8.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The new director’s experience includes managing “large-scale real estate and infrastructure projects” and “infrastructure projects on military installations.” This directly connects to the goal of building resilient infrastructure to support economic development.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article highlights Ms. Greb’s extensive experience in “community and economic development,” “environmental land planning,” and “comprehensive land planning efforts.” Her work on “thoughtful development practices that balance growth and environmental stewardship” is a key aspect of creating sustainable communities.
4. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Ms. Greb’s current role as Executive Director of the Center for Career and Professional Development at St. Mary’s College of Maryland is mentioned. The article states she “leads initiatives that connect education, workforce, and regional economic growth,” which aligns with the SDG 4 goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, particularly in relation to workforce readiness.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The article emphasizes Ms. Greb’s background in “managing natural resource… projects,” “championing regional land preservation,” and promoting “environmental stewardship.” This directly relates to protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems.
6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article mentions Ms. Greb’s history of working with “local, state, and federal partners” and her stated intention to “look forward to building on existing partnerships and creating new ones.” This reflects the collaborative approach essential to achieving the SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation. The department’s goal to support “existing businesses, attracting new employers and investment” and fostering a “diverse and resilient economic base” aligns with this target.
   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. The entire mandate of the Department of Economic Development, as described in the article, is centered on this target.
2. Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure):
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being. Ms. Greb’s experience with “large-scale real estate and infrastructure projects” points directly to this target.
3. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. The mention of her contributions to “zoning ordinances, comprehensive land planning efforts, and thoughtful development practices” is a direct reflection of this target.
4. Under SDG 4 (Quality Education):
   • Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. Her work to “connect education, workforce, and regional economic growth” through the Center for Career and Professional Development directly supports this target.
5. Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
   • Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts. Her experience in “environmental land planning,” “regional land preservation,” and balancing “growth and environmental stewardship” shows a clear connection to integrating environmental values into local development planning.
6. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. Her stated goal of “building on existing partnerships and creating new ones” and her history of working with “local, state, and federal partners” directly addresses the need for multi-stakeholder partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 8 Targets:
   • The article implies progress can be measured by the strength of the “local economy.” An implied indicator would be the annual growth rate of real GDP per capita in St. Mary’s County. Another is the success of “workforce development,” which could be measured by the local employment rate.
2. For SDG 11 Targets:
   • The focus on “comprehensive land planning efforts” and “thoughtful development practices” implies the use of indicators such as the proportion of the county operating under integrated land use and development plans.
3. For SDG 15 Targets:
   • The mention of “regional land preservation” implies an indicator such as the total area of land officially designated for preservation or conservation.
4. For SDG 17 Targets:
   • The goal of “building on existing partnerships and creating new ones” implies that progress could be measured by the number of new public, public-private, and civil society partnerships formed to advance economic and sustainable development.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: conduitstreet.mdcounties.org