Baltimore County Looking To Create Jobs

TOWSON, Md. (AP) -- Baltimore County has established a committee to look at ways the expansion of the Port of Baltimore can create jobs.

The 16-member committee will advise the county on how to use industrial properties on the Sparrows Point peninsula near the Seagirt Marine Terminal. The port is preparing to receive new larger cranes to service larger ships that are to begin sailing through the Panama Canal in 2014. County officials say the expansion will make Baltimore one of only two East Coast ports that can handle the new ships.

The announcement comes as RG Steel is preparing to shut down its Sparrows Point steel mill in June, laying off about 2,000. County Executive Kevin Kamenetz says the committee will also study unused areas of the site.

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