With several new leaders in place, Prince George's County officials are looking to bolster the region's image and lure more businesses in the process.

County leaders recently celebrated the opening of the high-end Wegmans grocery store, but still struggle to attract upscale businesses, despite the abundance of affordable land and accessibility to Washington, D.C.

“The perception is that the bureaucracy in this county is not friendly,” said M.H. Jim Estepp, president and CEO of the Greater Prince George's Business Roundtable. However, Estepp added, that perception might not be totally accurate.

Still, the political stain left by the previous county administration's allegations of a pay-to-play scheme have caused an uneasiness among county residents and business developers, Estepp said.

Corruption allegations might not be the only thing hurting the county's business prospects. As of Monday, Prince George's had nine homicides, which prompted Police Chief Mark Magaw to bolster the county's Criminal Investigation and Narcotic Enforcement divisions.

The school system's standardized test scores are among the lowest in the state. Last week, Schools Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. outlined plans to align the system with the common core standards endorsed by President Obama. Under those standards, Prince George's County students will be required to read and comprehend complex text, to be better prepared for college work.

County Executive Rushern L. Baker III took office last month, vowing to fix these ailing systems -- a promise Estepp hopes will propel the county's business framework and allow the county to compete with neighboring jurisdictions.

“Confidence is now being restored in our county," Estepp said. "Now the county can focus on getting back on the right track and getting the work done."

On Thursday, Baker and the Board of Directors at The Prince Georges Financial Services Corp. announced that FSC First has approved more than $2 million in new funding requests to five small- and minority-owned businesses.

It's that optimism, business owner KC Ford said, that should entice more businesses to come to the county. Ford, who owns the GettingThere4Him Inc. consulting company, launched her business in Prince George's, despite the startling statistics.

“Crime, failing school system, these aspects are affecting many counties across America," Ford said. "Business must take on the attitude of this is an opportunity to grow [and] bring solutions to [the] crime and a failing system."

However, it's not just about bringing businesses to the county, it's about keeping local businesses afloat during the tough economy. Therefore, it's crucial for aspiring entrepreneurs to seek help from state and county agencies, said Anthony Ruiz, Regional Director for the Capital Region Maryland Small Business Development Center.

Small businesses, he said, can seek training and help from agencies such as SBI, the MBE program at the Prince Georges Community College, the Prince Georges Department of Economic Development and the Maryland Small Business Development Center.