SUMMARY
In a typical community, the commercial/industrial component provides enough tax revenue to offset most infrastructure costs. This is not the case in many suburban areas like Charles County, Maryland whose growth is predominantly residential with little commercial/industrial development. This article examines Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) as an innovative economic development strategy that can address this imbalance. A framework is outlined for the development of a PPP in Charles County that will benefit the county by increasing the supply of improved, ready-to-occupy commercial/industrial sites, and by acting as a tool to improve communication between citizens and the government.