In December 2007, the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) released its fifth State of the Region Report. The report ranks the Baltimore area with 19 other benchmark U.S. metropolitan areas by examining relative economic health and performance. The 2007 edition, like previous editions starting in 1998, is a joint initiative between the GBC and the BMC.

"We were pleased to have the opportunity to work with GBC again on this important regional initiative," said Larry Klimovitz, Executive Director of the BMC. "We look forward to continuing this effort in future years."

The purpose of the report is to provide a comprehensive and objective analysis of the Baltimore region’s competitive advantages and disadvantages as compared to a diverse set of other metropolitan areas throughout the United States. The report contains rankings of 105 economic indicators using the most up-to-date information available from a variety of sources.

"It’s absolutely critical that we, as a region, take a comprehensive and honest look at our strengths and weaknesses as compared to other peer regions across the nation," said Donald C. Fry, President & CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee. "The State of the Region report is a tool that guides us on how to build on our success and tackle tough challenges—together."

BMC staff compiled and ranked the data in the report while the GBC, along with the Jacob France Institute-University of Baltimore, conducted the data analysis, composed the report’s findings and managed its publication.

Mr. Fry and Richard Clinch, Director of Economic Research at the Jacob France Institute presented the report and a summary of its findings at a meeting of the BMC Board of Directors in January 2008.