2011 Frederick County Progress Report Now Available

The Daily Record has published the 2011 Frederick County Progress Report, titled "Open for Business." To read the online version, visit http://www.pageturnpro.com/The-Daily-Record/26644-Frederick-County-Progress-Report-2011/index.html#1

City of Frederick Energy Forum May 24th

Tuesday, 7:00pm - 9:00pm; City Hall Board Room, 101 N. Court Street, Frederick. Street Parking available as well as Court Street Parking Deck and the Church Street Parking Deck.

The purpose of the City of Frederick’s FREE energy forum is to provide local residents with an opportunity to be educated on their electric choices. Many City residents and businesses are not aware that as a Maryland resident, they have a choice as to who provides their electricity. Gathering information on all of the electricity providers can be overwhelming and challenging for consumers; this educational event would address the lack of electric choice awareness. This event will also help provide an accurate way for our consumers to obtain information on each provider.
Vendors will include: Constellation Electric, CQI, Direct Energy Services and Potomac Edison - 1st Energy.
You'll also hear from Frederick County on their Green Homes Challenge.
This event is FREE however seating is limited.
To register please go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2VGP8XY

City of Frederick Energy Forum May 24

7:00pm - 9:00pm; City Hall Board Room, 101 N. Court Street, Frederick. Street Parking available as well as Court Street Parking Deck and the Church Street Parking Deck.

The purpose of the City of Frederick’s FREE energy forum is to provide local residents with an opportunity to be educated on their electric choices. Many City residents and businesses are not aware that as a Maryland resident, they have a choice as to who provides their electricity. Gathering information on all of the electricity providers can be overwhelming and challenging for consumers; this educational event would address the lack of electric choice awareness. This event will also help provide an accurate way for our consumers to obtain information on each provider.
Vendors will include: Constellation Electric, CQI, Direct Energy Services and Potomac Edison - 1st Energy.
You'll also hear from Frederick County on their Green Homes Challenge.
This event is FREE however seating is limited. Please regisiter at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2VGP8XY

Frederick Procurement Fair 2011

Frederick County Office of Economic Development and the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development host our Second Annual Frederick Procurement Fair today. There were 14 of our largest employers exhibiting which included (Fort Detrick, Frederick Memorial Hospital, SAIC-Frederick, MedImmune, Lonza and more). With close to 200 attendees from lawn services, staffing companies, IT professionals to office suppliers, etc. We heard a comment from an attendee saying, "in 45 minutes I was able to set up six meetings for next week" and a comment from an exhibitor stating, I made contacts today that I will be able to work with now and other contacts that I'll need in the future, it was a great event."

If you are a Frederick County business and you would like to be added to the list of invitees for next year, please email Helen at HRiddle@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

New Web Portal Helps Maryland's Small Businesses Choose Employee Health Care

VIRTUAL COMPARE simplifies shopping for health insurance plans

Baltimore, MD (May 3, 2011) - Today, the Maryland Health Care Commission launches a new web portal to help small business owners choose a group health plan for their employees. The web portal, known as VIRTUAL COMPARE, provides information about plans available to small employers in Maryland, allowing a side-by-side comparison of benefits, premiums, and out of pocket costs. The portal also includes guidance about choosing health insurance; information about federal tax credits and state subsidies for small, low wage companies; and assistance in finding an insurance broker to apply for coverage.

"VIRTUAL COMPARE is an important piece of our commitment to transparency, assuring that information about the quality and cost of health plans and providers is available to the public," said Marilyn Moon, Chair of the Health Care Commission.

VIRTUAL COMPARE includes both standard and high-deductible versions of HMO and PPO plans. For each plan category, the web portal provides information about the base plan, the two most frequently sold base plans with riders, and two additional benefit designs selected by the carrier.

The web portal arose from 2009 legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Rob Garagiola. The legislation requires benefit and premium comparisons of health benefit plans issued in the small group market. Employers with up to 50 full time employees are eligible; self-employed individuals are not.

"Small businesses face real challenges choosing health insurance for their employees," said Senator Rob Garagiola. "I think they will appreciate a web portal that allows side by side comparisons of premiums, benefits, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs for plans in the small group market."

The web portal will allow the user to compare up to four health plans at a time. Since different plan features are important to different employers, the site includes a variety of sort functions, such as the lowest premium, ideal deductible, or the preferred delivery system. The employer can also choose to view only those products offered by one of the five largest carriers participating in Maryland's small group market.

VIRTUAL COMPARE provides estimated premiums and does not accept applications for coverage. Employers who want additional information or want to apply can contact the carriers directly, or can use the services of a health insurance broker. Employers who do not have an existing relationship with a broker will find information about brokers in their area by clicking on the "Find a Broker" button on VIRTUAL COMPARE. To be listed on VIRTUAL COMPARE, brokers must register using the "Broker Registration" link on the portal. To date, more than 600 brokers have pre-registered on VIRTUAL COMPARE.

VIRTUAL COMPARE also provides a wealth of additional information to help employers as they consider their purchase of a group health plan. Consumer Guides to Health Insurance for Small Employers provide advice to guide employers. A link to the IRS website will help small, lower wage employers determine their eligibility for a federal tax credit that recently became available through federal health reform. The site also includes information on the Health Insurance Partnership, Maryland's premium subsidy program for smaller, lower wage businesses who have not been offering health care benefits, and health plan quality and performance reports that compare the quality of services offered by each carrier.

The Commission awarded a competitive contract to Benefitfocus to design and develop VIRTUAL COMPARE.

To access the VIRTUAL COMPARE web portal go to: http://mhcc.maryland.gov/virtualcompare
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Electric Energy Forum Hosted by the City of Frederick

Local Biotech Firm Receives International Grant of $40,000

Santiago, Chile- Frederick Innovative Technology Center-based biotech company, LavaAmp, has been selected as one of 110 companies worldwide to participate in the prestigious and world-recognized program, Start-Up Chile. After receiving 329 applications, LavaAmp was chosen to receive $40,000 USD, a 1-year work visa and access to local financial and social networks– the objective is to raise capital, hire talent, create networks, and to start their businesses from Chile while leveraging and interacting fully with the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

LavaAmp is a handheld device for performing DNA analysis that is faster, can be run on AA battery power and is an order of magnitude less expensive than existing technologies. It is ideal for diagnosing infectious diseases in remote areas with little access to health care.
LavaAmp can be used for far more than field diagnostics, including areas like veterinary diagnostics, food safety, education and research. The aim is to offer not just a device for molecular diagnostics but to provide a full platform for researchers, doctors and hobbyists to develop their own tests for their specific needs.

Start-Up Chile is a program created by the Chilean Government, initiated by the Ministry of Economy and is executed by Corfo/InnovaChile, which seeks to attract early-stage entrepreneurs to bootstrap their businesses in Chile. In line with the national goal of converting Chile into the innovation and entrepreneurship hub of Latin America, the program plans to bring 1,000 projects to Chile by 2014.

For more information on LavaAmp, visit their website at www.lava-amp.com.