Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (pictured above with Maryland Chamber President and CEO Kathy Snyder) spoke to the Maryland Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives today in Annapolis. It was an interactive session that hit on a number of topics of importance to Maryland’s business community.

Brown discussed how the O’Malley Administration’s legislative package and budget reflects its commitment to economic expansion and job growth in Maryland. His presentation focused on four issues:

Education: Brown said, “Our budget reflects our commitment to education. An educated workforce makes for a more productive workforce.”

Economic development: The Lt. Governor said the Administration is committed to funding economic development initiatives, including $70 million for business development programs (including $20 million to support small or minority business entrepreneurs), $2 million for the Sunny Day Fund to capitalize on extraordinary economic development opportunities for Maryland, $5 million for technology transfer/development and for incubator programs, and more.

Health care availability: “We’ve put together a legislative package that will begin to move us in the right direction,” Brown said. The package includes a number of initiatives, including the creation of a Maryland Health Insurance Exchange to enable small business owners to provide to their employees, on a pre-tax basis, access to a broad range of affordable policies.

The establishment of a BRAC Sub-Cabinet: The Sub-Cabinet, headed by Brown, will coordinate and marshal the planning and financial resources of State government to support the missions of military installations in the State. The goal will be to meet the economic opportunities as well as wide-ranging challenges presented BRAC.

Read more about the O’Malley Administration’s 2007 legislative goals here.