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Looking to jump-start the region’s economy? Look no further than Sparrows Point

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Looking to jump-start the region’s economy? Look no further than Sparrows Point

Sep 05, 2024 | 6:25 pm ET
By Don Mohler
Looking to jump-start the region’s economy? Look no further than Sparrows Point
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The planned Sparrows Point Container Terminal would cover 330 acres within the Port of Baltimore. File photo.

As Gov. Wes Moore said in a recent op-ed of his own, jump-starting our economy is the key to unlocking Maryland’s promise and making sure no one is left behind. As chairman of Sparrows Point Alliance, a grassroots organization built to support the revitalization of Sparrows Point, I could not agree more.

But unlocking the promise of Maryland will take more than just words; it takes real-world projects that create high-quality jobs, significant investment, and life-changing opportunities for our communities. The good news is that the new Sparrows Point Container Terminal project, a 330-acre container terminal and service facility within the Port of Baltimore, will do exactly that.

A recent study conducted by Infrata, a globally recognized infrastructure advisory firm, found that the Sparrows Point Container Terminal would be a game changer, yielding generational benefits for the state and region. The container terminal alone will create over 8,000 jobs and add $1.5 billion to the state’s GDP annually.

This is exactly what Gov. Moore is talking about, and it is exactly what we need. Coastal states across the country compete to grow their port economies by investing millions of dollars in expanding their terminal capacity. Delaware and the Port of Wilmington are doing just that, and they are doing so without a committed commercial partner that will direct new cargo to the state. Here in Baltimore, we have a rare combination of committed private sector investment and the world’s largest shipper (MSC) ready to take us to the next level. Maryland is in a position to compete and win, but only if we come together to make it happen.

There is a reason why business groups, trade associations, labor groups and elected officials support this project. They realize that Sparrows Point Container Terminal represents more than just a logistical infrastructure project. They recognize that it is a catalyst for economic development and sustainable growth in Baltimore.

I remember clearly the day the steel mill shut its doors for the last time. Friends and neighbors lost their jobs, and overnight an entire community was changed forever. The impact wasn’t just felt in the region but across the state.

The Sparrows Point Container Terminal represents a new beginning. This project renews hope and is a shining example of what our community can become – a global center of commerce, a driver of Maryland’s economy, and a source of jobs that will help families thrive for many years to come.

With its promise of job creation, revenue generation, and environmental stewardship, the Sparrows Point Container Terminal stands poised to transform the Baltimore region into a beacon of economic opportunity and global connectivity.

I have never been more optimistic about the future than I am right now. The influx of investment and jobs that Sparrows Point Container Terminal will bring is unlike anything else we’ve seen before.

Working with Tradepoint Atlantic, the members of Sparrows Point Alliance have vowed to do everything they can to help bring jobs to and revitalize this area of Baltimore County. At every single step of the way, the team at Tradepoint Atlantic has been eager to engage the community and that will continue as the project moves forward. I can’t think of better partners to lead this transformational project.

Ultimately, Baltimore and the state of Maryland will enhance its global stature and reinforce the importance for international trade with the Port of Baltimore as a leading North American port.

The community will benefit, our state will benefit, and our country will benefit.

We have tremendous momentum, but there is still much work to do before the terminal receives the greenlight. The Sparrows Point Alliance will continue to lead the way with the community and welcomes your support as it works toward charting a brighter future for the region and our state.

This is going to be Maryland’s decade and coming together to support projects like the Sparrows Point Container Terminal presents us with a unique opportunity to grow our economy and expand opportunity for thousands of Marylanders.