Public private partnerships, or P3s, can provide innovative solutions to advancing county projects from economic development and broadband deployment to stormwater management and green infrastructure investment. MACo’s Summer Conference session, “Perfecting the Potential of Public Private Partnerships,” took place on Friday, August 18, at 1:00 pm. Attendees lucky enough to find space in the standing-room-only session heard best practices from national experts and real examples of successful P3s from the private sector and Maryland county officials.

Sallye Perrin, Senior Vice President, WSP USA provided a detailed overview of what constitutes a successful P3 and how they can advance projects such as bridge bundling and LED street lighting installations. Ken Ulman, CEO, Margrave Strategies dynamically presented on all of the benefits coming to fruition from economic development in Greater College Park: over 30 projects and $2 billion in public and

private investment. Jim McCormick,  CIO, Caroline County showed how government and the private sector can partner to advance broadband in rural communities. Adam Ortiz, Director of Prince George’s Department of the Environment rounded out the session with a detailed description of his department’s innovative P3 to address the retrofit of 2,000 impervious acres with green infrastructure. The Honorable Steve Hershey, MD State Senate moderated the fast-paced, detailed session.