Part 5:
 Maryland Dept. of Business and Economic Development needs to play a large role getting existing buildings filled. A role they have played very little in Allegany county. They need to spend a little Corporate Welfare getting Fortune 500 Business here. They have no trouble doing it in the rest of this State. And existing land should have something going up at all times. No kiddie wage jobs! We've had enough of them! Our people are no different than anywhere else; if Hagerstown, Winchester, Morgantown can attract the Big Companies, so will we. The games sha'll be over. 220 focused on, not 219. Why should 94,000 people have to put up with a proposed new interstate 35 miles away again and cater to some ruralites. We will see further ruination if this happens. We need to get our city back on Weather Maps. Everyone else is there, so what's our problem. The Barton Business Park should be put on the fast track, and good companies will be built there. Added congestion in that region will expedite our southern 220 bypass. Ski slopes should be built at Rocky Gap, and an amusement park type train should be built carrying Steam train enthusiasts from behind Station Square over to the Mall. Land in the Rolling Mill should see High Tech Companies, land along 68 from Willowbrook Road East should be industrial/business, and ready to build. Downtown needs new buildings/construction to improve skyline. All politicians should work for these projects to help strengthen our region and put our 3,000 unemployed to work. Mineral county needs to improve their attraction of business, they're not setting their county on fire either.
 
 Mark R. Michaels
 03/11/01