Olszewski Announces Major Community Benefits to Tradepoint Atlantic Agreement, Support for Deal
Tradepoint Atlantic to increase MBE/WBE requirement, project labor transparency and donate land for recreation
County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Tradepoint Atlantic officials announced that they have collaborated to significantly enhance the benefits that the community will receive from a pending public infrastructure agreement to support redevelopment of Sparrows Point into a global logistics hub.
After negotiating these new community benefits, County Executive Olszewski announced his support for the pending deal which is scheduled to be voted on by the Baltimore County Council later today.
“By engaging our communities and working in partnership with Tradepoint Atlantic, we took a good deal and made it even better,” said Olszewski. “Growing up in the shadow of the steel mill, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative this project can be and am proud to support this agreement which will expand opportunity for the community.”
“Since the beginning of this project over four years ago, we have been actively engaging the community as we work to transform Sparrows Point. We are proud of the strong community partnerships that have been forged and are committed to working with all public stakeholders to ensure this generational project is a success we can all be proud of,” said Aaron Tomarchio, Senior Vice President of Tradepoint Atlantic.
Tradepoint Atlantic has agreed to convey to the County a substantial parcel of environmentally clean, developable, accessible land for a new public park. The developer will work with the private sector to seek funding for amenities for the land that could include multi-purpose fields or other recreational features.
MBE Goals and Labor Transparency
Ahead of a County Council vote on a public infrastructure support agreement, Tradepoint Atlantic also has agreed, at the request of County Council members and the County Executive, to increase the minority business requirements for the infrastructure improvements from 15% to 20%, and improve reporting transparency for project labor agreements.
“The redevelopment of Tradepoint Atlantic is a fresh start for our district and the whole region and I thank County Executive Olszewski and Tradepoint Atlantic for working to add much-needed lifestyle amenities for the local community,” said 7th District Councilman Todd Crandell. “We have been seeking an opportunity for rec and open space on the site and I am glad the commitment has been made.”
"I strongly encouraged Tradepoint Atlantic to increase their minority contractor participation because it is important that when we make public investments, everybody gets a seat at the table,” said Council Chair Julian E. Jones.
“When we invest taxpayer dollars, it is particularly important that developers be accountable for their commitments to labor and their obligation to engage community,” said 2nd District Councilman Izzy Patoka.
The proposed infrastructure agreement already includes the donation of land to the County for a new Fire and Police facility that would serve the Tradepoint Atlantic businesses and nearby communities.
Public roads, water and sewer infrastructure would support more than 17,000 new jobs and $3 billion in economic impact.