Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett has proposed replacing the county’s economic development agency with a public-private authority. As reported in the Washington Business Journal:

County Executive Ike Leggett, speaking in North Bethesda as a panelist during the Washington Business Journal’s inaugural On the Road event, announced Tuesday he intends to replace Montgomery County’s economic development agency with a public-private authority, along the lines of Fairfax County’s Economic Development Authority.

The goal of the authority, Leggett said, will be putting economic development responsibilities — branding and marketing the county and dealing with myths and negative perceptions the business community has of it — in the hands of the “people in the field.”

That is, business leaders.

“Rather than be at the table,” the county executive told about 100 Montgomery County private sector leaders gathered at the North Bethesda Marriott, “I’ve decided to literally give you the table.”

The article notes that details for the authority are still to be worked out, and that a formal proposal for the new authority is expected in May with the county council considering the proposal over the summer.

For more information read the full article in the Washington Business Journal.