In District 6, we need a different kind of economic strategy — one that is rooted in our own residents, that builds local capacity and ownership, and that creates the kind of stable, sustainable prosperity that actually changes lives. I have three pillars to get there: hiring local, supporting small business, and making sure workers have what they need to succeed.
Hire Local: Keeping Opportunity in District 6
When businesses open in District 6 — whether they are new retail establishments, contractors working on county projects, or employers benefiting from public incentives — they should hire from the community they are serving. This is common sense. And it is achievable policy.
As County Council member, I will push for local hiring requirements and incentives attached to county contracts and economic development agreements. When the county gives a business a tax break, a grant, or a favorable zoning decision, that business should be expected to give something back — specifically, by prioritizing qualified local residents for hiring.
This is not about restricting who can work where. It is about ensuring that when public resources are used to support private economic activity, the public — and especially the residents of District 6 — benefit in concrete, measurable ways. We should be tracking local hire rates and holding businesses accountable when they fail to meet their commitments.
I will also work to connect District 6 residents with job training and workforce development resources that prepare them for the jobs our economy actually needs. Too many residents are eager to work and fully capable of succeeding — but they lack access to the credentialing, training, or networks that open doors. Bridging that gap is a legitimate role for county government, and I intend to play it.
Small Business: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Small businesses are the backbone of any healthy local economy. They are often owned by community members, they employ local workers, they generate local tax revenue, and they contribute to the character and vitality of neighborhoods. In District 6, we have an abundance of entrepreneurial energy — people with skills, ideas, and drive who want to build something for themselves and their families.
What they often lack is access: access to capital, to business networks, to mentorship, to customers, and to the information and resources that more established business owners take for granted. That is a gap county government can help close.
I will work to launch a regular series of District 6 small business events — not just ceremonial ribbon cuttings, but substantive gatherings that connect entrepreneurs with lenders, experienced business owners, potential partners, and county resources. We should be building an ecosystem where a first-generation entrepreneur in District 6 has real pathways to capital, real access to expertise, and a genuine community of peers to learn from.
I will also advocate for the county to use its procurement power to support small and local businesses. When the county needs goods and services, District 6 businesses should have a genuine shot at winning that work. Simplifying procurement processes, providing technical assistance for small businesses to navigate bids, and setting targets for local and minority-owned business contracts are all tools we should be using.
And we need to think about the physical infrastructure of small business. Affordable commercial space is increasingly scarce, and small businesses are often priced out of the neighborhoods where they would most naturally thrive. The county can play a role in preserving and creating affordable commercial space — through community development financing, commercial stabilization programs, and partnerships with community land trusts.
Worker Support: Childcare, Transit, and the Infrastructure of Opportunity
There is a persistent gap in how we talk about economic development: we focus heavily on businesses and jobs, but we often neglect the infrastructure that makes it possible for workers — especially workers with families, workers without cars, workers living paycheck to paycheck — to actually access and hold those jobs.
Two of the most significant barriers are childcare and transportation. For a parent with young children, the lack of affordable, reliable childcare is not a minor inconvenience — it is often the difference between working and not working. And for a resident of District 6 without a car, the gap between where they live and where the jobs are can be an insurmountable obstacle if transit connections are inadequate.
As County Council member, I will be a persistent advocate for expanded access to affordable childcare in District 6. This means pushing for county investment in childcare subsidies and vouchers, supporting the development of new childcare facilities in underserved areas, and advocating at the state and federal levels for the funding our community needs. A county that is serious about economic opportunity for working families must be serious about childcare.
On transit, I will work to improve connections between District 6 and the employment centers our residents are trying to reach. This means engaging with WMATA and Prince George's County transit authorities to ensure that bus routes, schedules, and transit hubs actually reflect where people live and where they need to go. It also means pushing for better pedestrian and cycling infrastructure that makes it possible to move around District 6 without a car.
Economic stability is not just about what happens at work. It is about whether our residents can get to work, whether their children are cared for while they are there, and whether the wages they earn are enough to sustain a decent life. Those are the questions I intend to answer with policy — with real, concrete action that makes a difference in people's daily lives.
Together, these three pillars — local hiring, small business development, and worker support — form the foundation of an economic strategy that is built for District 6 residents, by a leader who comes from this community and is accountable to it. That is the kind of representation I am offering, and that is the change I am committed to making.