THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

COMING UP THIS WEEK A NEW PLAN FOR FAST FERRIES CONNECTING TOWNS ON THE BAY AND WHAT BECOMES OF ALL THE STUFF YOU PUT IN THE RECYCLING BIN?

BUT FIRST THIS WEEK, MARYLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGES WORKING TO HELP NEWLY DISPLACED FEDERAL WORKERS AND TRAINING CANDIDATES FOR JOBS IN CYBERSECURITY, TEACHING AND OTHER FIELDS.

AND JOINING US ARE JERMAINE WILLIAMS, THE PRESIDENT OF MONTGOMERY COLLEGE AND BRAD PHILLIPS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

Dr. WILLIAMS IF I CAN START WITH YOU IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, A LOT OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DIRECTLY OR AS CONTRACTORS ARE YOU SEEING SO FAR ANY EVIDENCE OF DISLOCATIONS BECAUSE OF THE CUTS AND LAYOFFS?

AND HOW CAN YOUR SCHOOL HELP?

>> WELL, ABSOLUTELY AND THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION, JEFF.

TO YOUR QUESTION, WE ARE SEEING THE IMPACT.

AND IT HAS BEEN A SWIFT RESPONSE BY MONTGOMERY COLLEGE AND SO MANY OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES BECAUSE WE DO REPRESENT AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES.

HERE AT MONTGOMERY COLLEGE WE HAVE REALLY SEEN THIS IN THE FORM OF THE JOB FAIRS THAT WE HAVE.

WE'VE SEEN THE IMPACT OF THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW INDIVIDUALS ARE ATTENDING THE JOB FAIRS AND SPECIFICALLY, WE HAD A JOB FAIR A FEW WEEKS AGO DESIGNED FOR DISPLACED FEDERAL WORKERS IN STEM FIELDS.

WE HAD MORE THAN 100 INDIVIDUALS SHOW UP.

10 EMPLOYERS WE PARTNERED WITH WHO PROVIDED PRESENTATIONS AND ON THE SPOT INTERVIEWS.

WE HAD RESUME REVIEW.

HEAD SHOTS.

WE KNOW THAT THE IMPACT IS REAL.

AND WE AS OUR MANY COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT OUR DISPLACED FEDERAL WORKERS.

>> Jeff: AND Dr. PHILLIPS THERE ARE OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES MOST AROUND THE STATE THAT SERVE COMMUNITIES WITH SOME CONNECTION TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WOULD YOU SAY THERE IS A STATE-WIDE EFFORT HERE?

>> I WOULD, JEFF, THERE IS A STATE-WIDE EFFORT AND I ENCOURAGE ANYBODY LISTENING TO GO TO YOUR LOCAL CAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND SEE ABOUT PROGRAMMING THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE FOR THEM IN PARTICULAR.

EVERY COUNTY HAS SOME ELEMENT OF A FEDERAL WORKFORCE.

ALL PARTS OF MARYLAND ARE TOUCHED BY THE LAYOFFS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE ACTIVELY PUTTING TOGETHER PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP FEDERAL WORKERS FIND RETOOLING AND NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

WE ARE LOOKING AT POSSIBLE CAREER CHANGES THAT MAY WANT TO GO INTO TEACHING.

SOME MIGHT WANT TO GO INTO CYBERSECURITY.

WE'RE STARTING NEW STATE-WIDE EFFORTS IN THAT AREA AS WELL.

THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR A SHORT STINT AT RETOOLING TO GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

>> Jeff: LET ME PICK UP ON TEACHING.

IN TERMS OF DEGREES YOU CONFER, LARGELY ASSOCIATES DEGREES RIGHT?

AND IS THAT WHAT TEACHERS NEED IN CERTAIN POSITIONS?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT JUST THE DEGREE PART IT'S ALSO MAYBE ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION THAT WILL ALLOW SOMEBODY TO GET BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM AS THEY WORK TOWARDS THEIR TEACHING DEGREE.

GIVING THEM THE CERTIFICATION THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO GO INTO THE CLASSROOM.

AND A NUMBER OF OUR COLLEGES ARE WORKING ON PROGRAMS THAT WILL DO JUST THAT INCLUDING MONTGOMERY COLLEGE.

>> Jeff: AND THE CYBERSECURITY FIELD Dr. WILLIAMS, I KNOW IT'S AN IMPORTANT AREA BECAUSE THERE'S DEMAND FOR JOBS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS AN EXTREME DEMAND FOR JOBS AND WE ARE LOOKING TO FILL THAT DEMAND WITH EDUCATED AND TRAINED MARYLANDERS AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ALSO ONE OF OUR LARGEST MAJORS WHICH SPEAKS TO THE NOT ONLY THE DEMAND BUT ALSO THE INTEREST.

CYBERSECURITY ENROLLMENT AT MONTGOMERY COLLEGE IS UP 63% AND COMPUTER SCIENCE IS UP 44%.

WE THINK ABOUT CREATING THAT EDUCATED AND TRAINED WORKFORCE FOR MARYLAND.

CYBERSECURITY IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE AREAS.

WE ARE AS Dr. PHILLIPS MENTIONED, WORKING ON STATE-WIDE INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE PROUD OF AND HE CAN SPEAK TO THOSE.

>> Jeff: Dr. PHILLIPS, GO AHEAD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT WAS A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO MAYBE TWO THAT WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH OUR SENATORS VAN HOLLEN AND CARD EN AND WE USED THAT TO LEVERAGE FUNDING FROM THE STATE.

AND INCLUDING THE LAST BUDGET SESSION WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE FINDING TO BUILD OUT CYBERRANGES FROM ALL OF MARYLAND'S 16 COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO PROVIDE LEARNING AND TRAINING HANDS ON, SKILLS BUILDING, TALENT THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE GET THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE AND OF TODAY.

CYBERSECURITY IN MARYLAND GOES HAND IN HAND.

THE GOVERNOR HAS SEEN THE IMPACT THAT WE CAN MAKE AND IS INVESTED IN US ACCORDINGLY AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE MARYLAND TO BECOME THE CYBERSECURITY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

AND WE ARE STEPPING UP TO THAT CHALLENGE.

>> Jeff: TELL US WHAT A CYBERRANGE IS.

AND ALSO THE IDEA OF BECOMING AN EXPERT TO SOME DEGREE IN CYBERSECURITY MAY SEEM DAUNTING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THIS IS LIKE HIGH-TECH STUFF.

DOES IT WEED OUT PEOPLE WHO AREN'T COMPUTER NERDS?

I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO PHRASE THAT.

>> IT IS A FAIR QUESTION AND CYBERRANGES SIMULATE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE A CYBERATTACKS WOULD HAPPEN WITHIN A PROTECTED SORT OF NETWORK.

SO THAT DAMAGE IS NOT OCCURRING IN REALTIME.

BUT IT'S THE SAME TYPE OF THREATS BEING NEUTRALIZED.

AND WE PARTNERED WITH BCR CYBERTO WORK ON THIS EFFORT.

AND IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE DAUNTING.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU LOOK AROUND AND YOU SEE EVERY ASPECT OF OUR ECONOMY NEEDS SOME TYPE OF CYBERSECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT A CYBERDEFENSE MECHANISM FOR OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, OUR MUNICIPALITIES OUR HOSPITALS AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND ANY BUSINESS ON MAIN STREET.

THEY ALL NEED SOME TYPE OF CYBERSECURITY DEFENSE AT THIS POINT.

>> Jeff: AND Dr. WILLIAMS DO YOU WANT TO JUMP IN ON THAT AND THE IDEA THAT MAYBE PEOPLE SELF SELECT TOO MUCH AND THIS IS A FIELD THAT OUGHT TO BE PRETTY DIVERSE, NO REASON IT CAN'T BE?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND THE LEARNING COMPONENT OF THE CYBERCREDENTIALS AND WE THINK ABOUT THAT MANY OF US HAVE CERTIFICATES AND ASSOCIATES IN CYBERSECURITY.

AND WE ALSO HAVE MICRO CREDENTIALS THAT CAN LEAD AND ENGAGE OUR STUDENTS WHO WE SEEK TO SERVE IN THIS FIELD.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCAL COMPONENT WITHIN CYBERSECURITY AND THE COMPONENTS THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE KNOWN FOR BECAUSE WE WANT INDIVIDUALS TO START AND BE EFFECTIVE AT THEIR JOB DAY ONE.

AND THE OTHER PIECE I SHARE IN TERMS OF CYBERSECURITY SPECIFICALLY IT IS THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND WE THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF WE HAVE CYBERDEFENSE COMPETITION.

THERE ARE WAYS OF LEARNING AND GROWING THROUGH THIS ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE THAT REALLY ENGAGES STUDENTS AND REALLY SUPPORTS THEIR LEARNING.

>> Jeff: Dr. PHILLIPS, TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF THIS.

WE KNOW IT IS A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR FOR THE STATE.

AND IT TENDS TO HAPPEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION THAT WHEN THE ECONOMY SLOWS DOWN A BIT DEMAND FOR YOUR SERVICES GOES WAY UP.

DO YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT YOU NEED TO GET PEOPLE TRAINED FOR NEW JOBS?

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION.

AND THE ANSWER IS YES.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE VERY TOUGH FINANCIAL SITUATIONS AND WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND OUR ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE THE HIT AS MUCH AS WE COULD LAST YEAR.

AND THIS YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF FUNDING ON A PER FULL-TIME K-12 STUDENT BASIS.

PSYCHO THE REDUCTIONS MADE LAST YEAR WERE PLEASED TO NOT RECEIVE FURTHER REDUCTIONS AND RECEIVE THE SAME AMOUNT FOR STUDENT AS LAST YEAR.

THAT WILL ALLOW US TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN HELP MARYLAND ACHIEVE THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT IT'S LOOKING FOR.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES CONTRIBUTE 11 BILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND'S ECONOMY.

WE ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR LOCAL AND REGIONAL WORKFORCE.

SO WE ARE THE BEST TOOL THAT THE STATE OF MARYLAND HAS TO GET PEOPLE INTO THE ECONOMY AND OFF THE SIDELINES AND INTO THE WORKFORCE AND WE ARE LUCKY AND FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MARYLAND'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE SUPPORT OF GOVERNOR MOORE AND THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> Jeff: Dr. WILLIAMS HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE TO AFFORDABILITY FOR EITHER YOUNG PEOPLE, STUDENTS GOING FOR THE ASSOCIATES DEGREE OR SOMEBODY COMING BACK FOR A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM OR OTHER TYPES OF JOB TRAINING?

>> I'M GLAD YOU PHRASED IT IN THAT WAY.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT IT, AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES, IT REALLY IS ABOUT THE RESKILLING, UPSKILLING AND NEW SKILLING.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE TERM CAREER CHANGE WE'RE GOING TO USE NEW SKILLING AND THAT AFFORDABILITY PIECE IS CRITICAL WHEN STUDENTS ARE LOOKING AT MONTGOMERY COLLEGE AND SEEING IT'S HALF THE PRICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

THAT IS A MEANINGFUL VALUE PROPOSITION.

SO WHETHER YOU ARE COMING FRESH OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, WHETHER YOU ARE STILL SEEKING A CREDENTIAL THAT AFFORDABILITY PIECE REALLY SPEAKS TO OUR STUDENTS AND THE RESIDENTS WHO WE SEEK TO SERVE AND WE HEAR THAT FROM THEM AND WE EXPERIENCE IT EVERYDAY.

>> Jeff: Dr. PHILLIPS I HAVE HALF A MINUTE.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR NETWORK OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES?

>> I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GIVE YOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE A LOOK.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT SKILLS AND RESKILLS AND UP SKILLS.

SKILLS ARE THE CURRENCY OF THE 21ST CENTURY AND YOU CAN ACQUIRE THOSE WHILE LIVING AND WORKING IN YOUR HOME BY ATTENDING YOUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT WILL GIVE YOU OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU DID NOT HAVE.

THAT IS WHAT I WOULD SAY.

>> Jeff: Dr. WILLIAMS AND Dr. PHILLIPS WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: COMING UP ON JUNE FIRST, NATIONAL CANCER SURVIVOR DAY.

THOUSANDS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A FIVE K EVENT AT THE MARYLAND Z IN BALTIMORE.

IT WILL RAISE FUNDS TO COMBAT WOMEN'S CANCERS.

MORE INFORMATION ON THE BELOW THE BELT STRIDE AND THRIVE 5K CAN BE FOUND AT RUN SIGN UP.COM SEARCH FOR BELOW THE BELT.

>>> NOW NEW TECHNOLOGY IS PROMISING BETTER EFFICIENCY IN RECYCLING.

NANCY AMATA HAS THE STORY.

>> RIGHT NOW, AS OF NOW, THE SLEDDER HAS A FAULT.

I WILL CLEAR THE FAULT.

>> WITH SWIPES OF THIS TABLET THIS EMPLOYEE IS ABLE TO CONTROL ALL OF THE OPERATING MACHINES AT THE NEW RECYCLING FACILITY IN ELK RIDGE.

THE GRAND OPENING SERVING HOWARD AND ANNE ARUNDEL FREDERICK AND CARROLL COUNTIES AS WELL AS BALTIMORE CITY, WASHINGTON D.C., AND PARTS OF VIRGINIA, MARKS A NEW ERA IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND AUTOMATION.

>> EVERYTHING IS ABOUT LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE OUR EMPLOYEES' JOBS EASIER.

>> TARA IS WM'S CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER.

>> WE HELPED OUR EMPLOYEES GET UPSKILLED AS WE BRING THIS TECHNOLOGY INTO THESE FACILITIES.

>> THE WM RECYCLING FACILITY IS CAPABLE OF PROCESSING MORE THAN 250 TONS OF MATERIAL A YEAR OR 65 TONS OF MATERIAL AN HOUR.

THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY IT HELPS PULL OUT MORE MATERIALS FROM WHAT GOES IN THE RECYCLING BIN AND WE ARE ABLE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL THAT IS GOING TO LANDFILLS.

BUT BETTER YET, THE MATERIAL THAT WE PULL OUT, IT GOES THROUGH THE NEXT BEST LIFE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT A WATER BOTTLE A WATER BOTTLE COULD GET TURNED INTO OUR EMPLOYEES' UNIFORMS TOMORROW.

>> BALLISTICS SEPARATORS.

AND THEY SORT MATERIAL WITH A SERIES OF PADDLES AND JETS.

>> CHRIS IS WM'S AREA DIRECTOR HE SHOWED US HOW EMPLOYES CAN WATCH AN EYE ON WHAT IS BEING SORTED THROUGH 22 OPTICAL SCANNERS.

>> THOSE MACHINES HAVE THE ABILITY TO PICK A THOUSAND ITEMS PER MINUTE AND WE CAN PICK UP PET, PAPER, PLASTICS, ALUMINUM, WHATEVER WE ARE TRYING TO SORT.

>> BY ALL ACCOUNTS THE UPGRADE AND INVESTMENT IN INTELLIGENCE SORTING TECHNOLOGY IS ALREADY PAYING OFF.

>> WE'RE SEEING OUR RESIDUE DROP WITH THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE HERE.

SO IT'S LESS TRASH IN HERE AND WE'RE SEEING THE QUALITY OF THE BALES THAT WE'RE PRODUCING FOR OUR CUSTOMERS BE MUCH HIGHER QUALITY AS WELL.

>> BEYOND THE TECHNOLOGY HE SAYS CONSUMERS CAN DO THEIR PART BY BECOMING MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT WHAT CAN AND CANNOT BE RECYCLED.

THE BIG NO'S.

>> FOOD WASTE, WET MATERIAL, STRAIGHT ON RECYCLING BOTTLES, CANS AND PLASTICS, TUBS, JARS NO FOOD WASTE NO WET MATERIAL.

>> I'M NANCY AMATA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: NOW COULD FERRY SERVICE RETURN TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY?

THE IDEA HAS POTENTIAL.

JOINING US ARE KRISTEN PIRONIS A C.E.O.

OF VISIT ANNAPOLIS AND ANNE ARUNDEL AND CLINT STERLING DIRECTOR OF RECREATION PARKS AND TOURISM FOR SOMERSET COUNTY.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

KRISTEN GIVE ME THE VISION HERE AND IT IS A BIG VISION?

>> FIRST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US ON.

IT IS A BIG VISION.

AND I THINK IT REALLY STEMMED FROM ALL OF US DURING COVID GETTING TOGETHER AND FIGURING OUT WHAT REALLY MEANT SOMETHING TO ALL OF US AS DESTINATION, MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND WE FOUND OUR VISITORS DON'T TRIP OVER COUNTY LINES AND THEY WANT TO HAVE EXPERIENCES AND SO ALL OF THE COUNTIES HAVE GOT TOGETHER TO SEE HOW IT COULD BRING THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BE PART OF THAT EXPERIENCE.

IT CAN BE PRICEY OR EXPENSIVE TO BUY A BOAT WE THOUGHT GETTING PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE IT IN OUR DESTINATIONS WOULD BE THE WAY TO GO.

>> Jeff: IT SOUNDS FUN AND BIG AND DAUNTING TO LAUNCH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO YOU DID A STUDY CLINT, WHAT WERE THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THE STUDY?

>> WELL, WE WANTED THE STUDY TO GUIDE US AND LET US KNOW IS THERE A PATH FORWARD FOR THIS.

IT WAS CONCEPTUAL IN OUR MINDS AND BASED ON THINGS THAT ATTEMPTED HISTORICALLY.

AND THE STUDY TOLD US YES, THERE IS A PATH FORWARD.

BUT THERE ARE CAVEATS AND THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

YOU JUST DON'T PUT A MAP TOGETHER AND SEND PEOPLE OVER OPEN WATER.

THERE IS A LOT MORE THERE.

IT'S GUIDED US AND GUIDING OUR WORK GOING FORWARD.

ONE OF THE BIG TAKEAWAYS HERE HAS BEEN WHAT KRISTEN ELUDED TO IS THE IDEA THAT THIS POTENTIAL TRAVELER TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS TREASURE THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND WHICH IS THE BAY, IT'S NOT ALWAYS THERE.

THAT ACCESS IS NOT THERE.

THEY USE THE BAY AS A CONNECTOR AND NOT A DIVIDER AND SUPPORT THE ECONOMIES OF THESE BAY AREA TOWNS SUCH AS ANNAPOLIS, AND WHICH WE REPRESENT THE STUDY SHOWED US YES THERE IS A PATH FORWARD IT WILL TAKE WORK AND PARTNERSHIP.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS THERE AND CAN BE AN EXAMPLE, I'M CERTAINLY PREJUDICE HERE, BUT THE EXAMPLE THAT HOW WELL WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER AS THE FIVE DIFFERENT COUNTIES IN THIS CONSORTIUM.

OPENS UP THE POSSIBILITIES FOR MANY PROJECTS BEYOND THIS ONE, TOO.

>> Jeff: KRISTEN, THE STUDY YOU DID INCLUDED A MAP THAT SORT OF LOOKS LIKE SHOELACES GONE BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE CHESAPEAKE BAY TYING TOGETHER ANNAPOLIS AND ROCK HALL, CANTON ARROWS UP TO BALTIMORE, DOWN TO CHESAPEAKE BEACH, SOUTHERN MARYLAND, ST.MARY'S CITY.

ACROSS INDEED TO CRISFIELD.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO BE THE MOST POPULAR ROUTES?

>> OH, GOSH.

POPULAR?

I CAN'T PICK MY FAVORITE CHILDREN.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS WE KNOW THE STUDY THIS EXPERIENCE AND THIS WOULD BE LAUNCHED IN A VERY STAGED WAY.

YOU CAN'T JUST START WITH SIX ROUTES THAT IS NOT GOING TO WORK YOU HAVE TO BUILD UPON IT.

AND FROM THE COUNTY'S PERSPECTIVE THEY ARE STARTED WORKING ON THIS TO CONNECT ANNAPOLIS AND TO THE ISLAND AND BACK TO BALTIMORE.

THAT IS THE FIRST ROUTE.

THAT IS MY FAVORITE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE WE BUILD ON TOP OF.

WHAT IS NEAT ABOUT THE STUDY IT IS NOT NECESSARILY A CURE FOR TRAFFIC IT IS NOT A CURE FOR THE BAY BRIDGE IT'S TO GET FOLKS ON THE WATER AND EXPERIENCE THE DEFINITIONS.

>> Jeff: AND CLINT YOU ARE PART OF THE STATE FERRIES ARE A WAY OF LIFE.

BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT, RIGHT?

THESE WOULD BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT KINDS OF VESSELS?

>> I BELIEVE BOTH THE KINDS OF VESSELS AND THE LENGTH AND DURATION OF THE TRIP ARE WHAT IS DIFFERENT HERE.

HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY, WE HAVE FERRY BOATS THAT HAVE A TOURISM AIM THAT LEAVES CRISFIELD EVERYDAY DURING THE SEASON AND TRAVEL TO SMITH ISLAND IN VIRGINIA SO WE DO THAT.

AND DAILY WE HAVE THE BOATS THAT GO TO BOTH PLACES WITH WARES AND SUPPLIES AND MAIL AND PEOPLE.

WE HAD EXPERIENCE DOING THAT.

AND WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THAT, I THINK ESPECIALLY INITIALLY.

JUST AS A LITTLE LARGER TRIP, RIGHT, ACROSS OPEN WATER AND IT HAS A DIFFERENT CONNECTOR AND A DIFFERENT SET OF PARTNERS.

BUT CERTAINLY DOABLE.

IT'S BEEN DONE AND WE HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE IN THAT REALM.

>> Jeff: IT'S CRAZY HOW LIKE BEFORE THE HIGHWAY ERA, THIS IS HOW MARYLANDERS GOT AROUND.

THE BAY WASN'T SOMETHING THAT DIVIDED THE STATE.

THE BAY WAS SOMETHING THAT CONNECTED ALL THESE TOWNS AND THAT WENT AWAY AND IT WENT COMPLETELY AWAY WHEN THE BAY BRIDGE WAS CREATED IN THE 1950s.

MY QUESTION IS CAN YOU TURN BACK THE CLOCK?

HAS THIS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY DONE ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY?

>> I'D SAY I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK WE ARE IN A SPECIAL TIME WITH TECHNOLOGY AND THE DESIRE FOR THE EXPERIENCE ARE SORT OF COMIG TOGETHER.

BECAUSE HAVING A BIG DIESEL GAS-POWERED BOAT ON THE BAY THAT HAS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS DIFFERENT WITH HYBRID OR LOW EMISSION OR ELECTRIC VEHICLES GOING ACROSS.

THE SIZE IS DIFFERENT THE FACT THEY WILL NOT HAVE CARS YOU DON'T NEED THAT LARGER INFRASTRUCTURE.

INSTEAD OF LOOKING BAD WE SHOULD BE INSPIRED BY FORWARD AND FIGURE OUT ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS OF TRANSPORTATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOKED AT ON THE BOATS IS HOW DO YOU PUT BIKES ON THE BOAT SO THAT PEOPLE THEY DON'T NEED A CAR THERE'S SOMETHING AVAILABLE TO THEM TO GET TO THE NEXT PLACE.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU HAVE WORKING OUT OF ANNAPOLIS AT THIS POINT?

ANYBODY BEEN TO THE CITY DOCK YOU SEE THE BIG I THINK OF THEM AS TOURIST BOATS AND THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE.

AND THOSE ARE ABOUT SIGHT-SEEING, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE GETTING ON THE WATER.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT BOATS DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR BECAUSE SPRING THEY ARE GETTING BACK ON-LINE.

THERE ARE WATER TAXIS THAT TAKE YOU TO EAST PORT ACROSS THE BAY AND OTHER TOURIST BOATS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS WOULD ADD TO THE OPTION FOR THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE IT WOULD NOT TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING.

>> Jeff: FUNDING ENVIRONMENT HAS GOTTEN TIGHTER THIS YEAR, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS.

SO WHAT WOULD THE FINANCIAL ASK BE AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN MIND IN TERMS OF SOURCES OF INVESTMENT?

>> I SHOULD SAY THE STUDY WAS AN ADA GRANT THAT WAS HELPFUL AND SPONSORED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND FOCUSED ON TOURISM.

THROUGH OUR FEASIBILITY STUDY WE LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO BRING SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON-LINE.

THERE WERE FEDERAL GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR THE CITY OF ANNAPOLIS AND ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY TO MOVE FORWARD IN FIRST STAGES.

THE FUND SOMETHING PROBABLY SHIFTED BUT THE TECHNOLOGY IS ALSO GOING FORWARD TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE.

BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REQUIRE A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAR RAMPS ON AND OFF OR HUGE TICKET BOOTHS AND THAT THING THE BUY IN IS SMALLER SO IT WILL HAVE TO BE AN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH.

ONE THING INTERESTING ABOUT THE STUDY BECAUSE IT WAS THROUGH THE TOURISM LENS AND NOT A COMMUTER LENS IS YOU ARE ABLE TO SET THINGS UP IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE EXPECT TO PAY A PRICE TO GO ACROSS.

THERE ARE SUBSIDIES AND OPTIONS TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> Jeff: CAN YOU GET FROM ANNAPOLIS TO BALTIMORE ON ONE OF THE TOURIST SHIPS THESE DAYS?

I HAVE A VAGUE RECOLLECTION THAT YOU COULD DO THAT?

>> THERE IS A VAGUE RECOLLECTION YOU CAN DO THAT BUT IT IS NOT AS OFTEN AS WE WOULD RUN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

ON THE WEEKENDS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS TO GO FROM ANNAPOLIS TO BALTIMORE THIS WOULD BE A NEW SERVICE.

>> Jeff: CLINT WHAT SORT OF FEEDBACK HAVE YOU GOTTEN SINCE THE STUDY WAS COMPLETED?

>> WELL, THAT IS A FAIR QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, ANYTIME THAT YOU ENDEAVOR TO DO SOMETHING NEW OR OLD/NEW BUT THAT HAS VERY AMBITIOUS WHICH THIS IS, YOU ARE GOING TO GET A WIDE RANGE OF RESPONSES.

LOCALLY HERE, THE RESPONSES OKAY, I SEE YOUR CONCEPT.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO.

I HOPE YOU CAN PULL IT OFF.

THAT IS THE DEAL.

FOR US, IN CRISFIELD, AND IN SOMERSET COUNTY, IS IT'S LIKE OKAY, WE ARE BY VIRTUE GEOGRAPHICALLY WE ARE A DESTINATION.

THERE IS A REASON THERE IS A CALL TO ACTION TO GET HERE.

WHAT WE HOPE WE'RE ABLE TO DO BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS CONSORTIUM WHICH LET ME SAY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I'VE DONE PROFESSIONALLY EVER, JUST THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO INTERACT WITH AND LEARNING HOW AREAS OF STATE GO ABOUT DOING BUSINESS BUT THE VALUE OF THE PARTNERSHIP IS THAT YOU KNOW, FOR THE AREA, THE BOLSTER THESM- OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS WE'RE LAYERING AND REBUILDING THE AREA AS A TOURIST DESTINATION AND TRYING TO PUMP LIFE INTO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY IN THAT VAIN.

THAT HAS BEEN THE FEEDBACK.

OKAY.

WE HAVE APPRECIATE YOU BEING A PART OF IT.

THERE'S CERTAINLY SKEPTICISM OF SOMETHING BEING ABLE TO DO THINGS THAT LARGE IN SOME POCKETS BUT WE HAVE BEEN TRANSPARENT THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.

ABOUT WHAT OUR AIMS ARE AND WHY IT IS WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND THAT ALLOWED US TO GARNER SOME SUPPORT IN AREAS WHERE TRADITIONALLY THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF AN I DON'T KNOW.

IT IS A WAIT-AND-SEE.

THE ONLY THING IS MY INABILITY TO PUT A DATE ON THIS.

I LIKE TO HAVE DATES AND MAKE LISTS AND CHECK THINGS OFF THE LIST THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION WE'RE GETTING IS WHEN CAN WE EXPECT IT?

NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT A DATE ON THAT IS THERE.

I'M CONFIDENT WE WILL BE ABLE TO PULL THIS OFF AND MAKE THIS A REALITY.

LIKE YOU SAID WE'RE GOING TO USE THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AS A CONNECTOR NOT A DIVIDER.

AND TO BRING ALL THESE AREAS THAT ARE ON THE BAY TOGETHER TO, I THINK, WILL BE IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION I THINK THIS WILL BE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL GAME CHANGER FOR STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: CLINT, ASSUMING THE FERRIES ARE NOT RUNNING THIS SUMMER PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO DRIVE TO SOMERSET COUNTY GIVE ME AN ADVENTURE THE PEOPLE MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN.

>> YOU PUT THAT ON THE TEE.

MAY 24, AND 25, IS THE RETURN OF THE TANKER SOUND COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL IT IS A DAY LONG EVENT MULTIPLE ACTS.

HERITAGE TOURISM.

GOOD FOOD.

AND A NICE SUNSET THERE IN CRISFIELD.

THE COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL WITH THE SOFT SHELL FESTIVAL THE VERY NEXT DAY WHICH IS A COMPLETE HERITAGE EVENT AND REALLY WILL PUT ON DISPLAY A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE SOMERSET COUNTY AND CRISFIELD, ESPECIALLY SPECIAL.

THAT'S A BRAND NEW ONE.

AND THEN AHEAD ON LABOR DAY, THOSE ARE OUR BIG LEGACY EVENTS THE NATIONAL HARD CRAB DERBY IN CRISFIELD AND THE SKIP JACK RACES AND THE LAND FESTIVAL IN D ELAND WHICH ARE CHESAPEAKE BAY, MARYLAND EVENTS YOU CANNOT FIND ANYWHERE ELSE AND SOME ACTION IN-BETWEEN.

THOSE ARE OUR BOOK END EVENTS FOR THE SUMMER.

>> Jeff: AND KRISTEN WHAT WOULD YOU HIGHLIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS AND ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY?

>> FIRST, I WOULD HIGHLIGHT JUNE IS ARTS MONTH SO THERE ARE ACTIVITIES PAINT ANNAPOLIS.

THINGS AT THE AIRPORT IN NORTH COUNTY THROUGHOUT JUNE.

THAT CULMINATES WITH ALL SORTS OF FESTIVALS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

AND THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THE SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL IN ANNAPOLIS IN SEPTEMBER.

THERE IS TIME FOR THAT ONE.

BUT THEY BRING MUSIC FREE AND PAID MUSIC FROM MARYLAND DOWN TO CITY DOCK AND WE WILL HAVE A MINI STAGE AN AREA CORDONED OFF AT THE AIRPORT.

WELCOME VISITORS AT THE AIRPORT FOR SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL AND BRING THEM DOWNTOWN FOR LOTS OF ENTERTAINMENT.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO KRISTEN PIRONIS AND CLINT STERLING AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE".

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY.

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