Governor Moore Signs Three Executive Orders to Increase Economic Development and Modernize State Government

ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Wes Moore today signed three executive orders to help increase economic development and modernize state government. The orders establish the Maryland Advanced Air Mobility Council to seize the growth potential for the Advanced Air Mobility industry; launch the Digital Infrastructure Group to advance statewide broadband expansion; and streamline the functions and responsibilities of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives.

“Modernizing government means building partnership between the public sector and our communities, while making essential services simpler, more effective, and more efficient for all. Today's executive orders speak to that vision for our state,” said Gov. Moore. “These actions will help us enact our vision for a government that delivers results and grows our economy.”

The Maryland Advanced Air Mobility Council? executive order establishes the Maryland Advanced Air Mobility Council, which will lead the state’s effort to grow the Advanced Air Mobility industry while ensuring safety and privacy standards. The council will comprise 12 members, including Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, Maryland Aviation Administration Executive Director Ricky Smith, Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu, Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson, and Maryland Department of Planning Secretary Rebecca L. Flora. This order is one piece of the governor’s initiative to make targeted investment into high potential industries to grow Maryland’s economy. With one of the largest populations of aeronautical engineers in the country, Maryland has the potential to be a national leader in putting these technologies into practice and reaping the benefits from them.

“The horizon is filled with exciting new opportunities in Maryland’s skies including expanding MDOT’s ability to maintain operations and rapidly address situations across our transportation system,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “Governor Moore’s creation of the Advanced Air Mobility Council will help the state build the groundwork to launch Maryland into the next era of aviation innovation and solidify the state as a leading partner in this emerging sector.”

The Statewide Digital Infrastructure Group executive order establishes the Digital Infrastructure Group under the Maryland Department of Information Technology to streamline broadband infrastructure development among state and county entities. The group will also help eliminate financial inefficiencies created by the development of redundant, uncoordinated infrastructure. By establishing the Maryland Department of Information Technology as leader, the state will benefit from a centralized planning body that will illuminate resources, enabling agencies to share and build infrastructure to accomplish state priorities. The Digital Infrastructure Group will work in partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Community Development to help increase internet coverage, boost state revenue through resource-sharing agreements with private sector Internet service providers, eliminate financial inefficiencies, and bridge the digital divide across the state. 

“We are uniquely positioned to lead the nation’s first state Digital Infrastructure Group,” said Maryland Department of Information Technology Secretary Katie Savage. “Our in-house expertise combined with cutting-edge geospatial platforms and existing infrastructure will give us the tools to plan and coordinate infrastructure development effectively. We will transform from a reactive and uncoordinated system to one that optimizes taxpayer dollars and even gives the State opportunities to boost revenue from major ISPs and cellular carriers.”

The Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives executive order streamlines and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the six ethnic commissions within the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives. The executive order will strengthen the commissions’ ability to help community organizers deliver social services to underserved communities in Maryland, advise Governor Moore on policies to improve state services, and conduct public outreach to engage communities, organizations, and community groups.

“This executive order unifies our commissions and updates our structure so that we are more empowered to ensure that no one is left behind,” said Governor's Office of Community Initiatives Executive Director Larry Walker. "We are committed to making sure the voices of all Marylanders are heard and celebrated - and this executive order helps us to achieve that goal together, in an efficient way.”