424 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

Maryland, of Baltimore and Washington. As each of these areas in-
creasingly develops and prospers, so shall Frederick.

Nor need Frederick depend on the growth of its affluent metro-
politan neighbors exclusively, for Frederick claims a unique combina-
tion of human and natural resources within its own boundary lines.
These assets, properly developed and publicized, are valid and vital
reasons for internal growth.

Frederick can afford to stand alone, proud of its independent at-
tributes; but Frederick cannot afford to passively and complacently
assume that the prosperity and progress of its metropolitan neighbors
must inevitably penetrate its boundaries. This is a hope for tomorrow.
Frederick must capitalize upon its immediate and independent po-
tential for progress today!

You, the distinguished, articulate, responsible leaders of the Fred-
erick community, share my concern and my confidence in Frederick's
future. You know, even better than I, the great potential of your
county. Your participation in the Frederick Rotary, your interest in
government and community development, represents and is repre-
sentative of the new and abundant energy prevailing throughout Fred-
erick County. A great new vitality and excitement have been generated
by the realization that Frederick stands on the threshold of great
growth, progress and prosperity. Yet this energy must be translated
into constructive action and concrete programs if Frederick County is
to cross that threshold in this decade.

Today, I want to talk economic development; to show you what
the State has done and is doing to create a favorable climate for eco-
nomic expansion; to discuss in some depth present and proposed pro-
grams directed toward helping Frederick across that threshold of
promise.

Recent professional studies reveal that the primary incentive to
large scale investment is the availability of diversified public services
— chiefly education, water, sewage, roads and public safety. Industries
are attracted to the communities which offer these services. It is in-
teresting to note that in the list of priorities sought by prospective
commercial and industrial developers the relative tax structure of a
state was low on the list. Service rather than cost was the critical con-
sideration.

The fiscal reform legislation enacted by the 1967 General Assembly
has enabled local governments to maintain and expand these priority