The state is working to help buisnesses that may not qualify for traditional bank financing.
The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development is encouraging businesses to look at four available programs, which will receive a total of $23 million in federal funds through the Small Business Jobs Act.
The four programs are:
The Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority, which provides credit guarantees to small firms that may not meet established credit criteria.
Maryland Industrial Development Financing Authority, which provides loan guarantees.
Maryland Venture Fund, which invests in early stage businesses to help with the cost of bringing new products to the market.
Neighborhood Business Works, which provides gap financing to new or expanding small businesses and nonprofits in sustainable communities.
Information on all programs is available at ChooseMaryland.org.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Frederick Works! One Job at a Time
The Frederick Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) yesterday announced a new initiative to boost the local economy from Frederick County Workforce Services and the Frederick County Workforce Development Board.
The county will partner with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, City of Frederick Economic Development Department and Frederick County Economic Development Office to launch Frederick WORKS! One Job at a Time, an initiative that encourages businesses to be part of the unemployment solution by filling at least one new job in 2012.
Championed by the Board of County Commissioners, Mayor Randy McClement of The City of Frederick and local municipality leaders, Frederick WORKS! One Job at a Time is modeled after similar programs in communities throughout the United States that have been successful in generating new job opportunities and getting the unemployed back to work. According to economists, each new employee added to the workforce increases the gross domestic product on average by $100,000. Impact at the local level has the potential to be substantial and lasting.
Board President Blaine Young commented, “If each business in Frederick County were to hire just one person this year, the economic impact would be enormous. Even if only a small portion of our businesses hired just one person this year, there would still be a significant and measurable impact on our local economy. We commend Workforce Services and our partners for launching this initiative and furthering this board’s ‘business-friendly’ strategic goals.”
By publicly recognizing employers that have hired or plan to hire in 2012, Frederick WORKS! One Job at a Time partners hope to bring attention to the fact that businesses are hiring in Frederick. “This can serve to boost the local economy in yet another way through a shift in perception – a positive momentum – that can begin to increase overall consumer and investor confidence,” Director Laurie Holden of Workforce Services explained.
Workforce Development Board President Terry O’Malley, vice president of Human Resources at Frederick Memorial Hospital, is eager to recognize companies that want to make an impact on the local workforce and economy. “There are approximately 8,500 businesses in Frederick County. The goal of this campaign is to have at least 1,000 of those businesses participate – about 12 percent of all Frederick County businesses,” stated Mr. O’Malley.
Businesses that would like to join the One Job at a Time initiative and become a part of the solution can complete and submit a simple form through the Frederick County Workforce Services website at www.FrederickWORKS.com/onejob.
The general public is also welcome to visit www.FrederickWORKS.com/onejob to learn more about this effort, including program updates and a list of participating employers. All are invited to follow the initiative on Twitter: @FredWORKSOneJob and on Facebook by searching for the “Frederick WORKS! One Job at a Time” Community Page.
The county will partner with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, City of Frederick Economic Development Department and Frederick County Economic Development Office to launch Frederick WORKS! One Job at a Time, an initiative that encourages businesses to be part of the unemployment solution by filling at least one new job in 2012.
Championed by the Board of County Commissioners, Mayor Randy McClement of The City of Frederick and local municipality leaders, Frederick WORKS! One Job at a Time is modeled after similar programs in communities throughout the United States that have been successful in generating new job opportunities and getting the unemployed back to work. According to economists, each new employee added to the workforce increases the gross domestic product on average by $100,000. Impact at the local level has the potential to be substantial and lasting.
Board President Blaine Young commented, “If each business in Frederick County were to hire just one person this year, the economic impact would be enormous. Even if only a small portion of our businesses hired just one person this year, there would still be a significant and measurable impact on our local economy. We commend Workforce Services and our partners for launching this initiative and furthering this board’s ‘business-friendly’ strategic goals.”
By publicly recognizing employers that have hired or plan to hire in 2012, Frederick WORKS! One Job at a Time partners hope to bring attention to the fact that businesses are hiring in Frederick. “This can serve to boost the local economy in yet another way through a shift in perception – a positive momentum – that can begin to increase overall consumer and investor confidence,” Director Laurie Holden of Workforce Services explained.
Workforce Development Board President Terry O’Malley, vice president of Human Resources at Frederick Memorial Hospital, is eager to recognize companies that want to make an impact on the local workforce and economy. “There are approximately 8,500 businesses in Frederick County. The goal of this campaign is to have at least 1,000 of those businesses participate – about 12 percent of all Frederick County businesses,” stated Mr. O’Malley.
Businesses that would like to join the One Job at a Time initiative and become a part of the solution can complete and submit a simple form through the Frederick County Workforce Services website at www.FrederickWORKS.com/onejob.
The general public is also welcome to visit www.FrederickWORKS.com/onejob to learn more about this effort, including program updates and a list of participating employers. All are invited to follow the initiative on Twitter: @FredWORKSOneJob and on Facebook by searching for the “Frederick WORKS! One Job at a Time” Community Page.
Maryland is #1 again!
This week, we received the great news that Maryland's public schools were named #1 in the country for the fourth year in a row by Education Week Magazine. Thank you to our Frederick County Public Schools students, parents and educators for being a part of this extraordinary effort!..
Thursday, December 22, 2011
MD has the highest concentration of employed doctorial scientists and engineers
Workforce
Maryland has the highest concentration of employed doctoral scientists and engineers. The state ranks first in employed PhD scientists and engineers per 100,000 employed workers. Maryland also ranks first in mathematical sciences (71), first in biological sciences (398), first in health (63), and third in physical sciences (197) per 100,000 employed workers.
Maryland ranks second in the percentage of professional and technical workers (26.1%) in the workforce.
Maryland ranks second in the percentage of the population age 25 and above with a graduate or professional degree (16.4%), and third in the percentage with a bachelor’s degree or higher (36.1%).
Maryland ranks fourth in the concentration of technology jobs, which employ 87 of every 1,000 private sector workers. Further, the state ranks fourth by employment in space and defense systems manufacturing, sixth in computer systems design, and eighth in engineering services.
Maryland ranks fifth in federal government employment, with 131,855 non-military federal jobs in 2009. On a per capita basis, the state ranks third with 231 jobs per 10,000 residents. Non-military federal jobs generate $11.4 billion in total wages in Maryland, ranking fourth among the states. Further, these jobs pay better in Maryland than in any other state, with an average annual wage of $87,767, which is 28% higher than the national average.
Maryland has the highest concentration of employed doctoral scientists and engineers. The state ranks first in employed PhD scientists and engineers per 100,000 employed workers. Maryland also ranks first in mathematical sciences (71), first in biological sciences (398), first in health (63), and third in physical sciences (197) per 100,000 employed workers.
Maryland ranks second in the percentage of professional and technical workers (26.1%) in the workforce.
Maryland ranks second in the percentage of the population age 25 and above with a graduate or professional degree (16.4%), and third in the percentage with a bachelor’s degree or higher (36.1%).
Maryland ranks fourth in the concentration of technology jobs, which employ 87 of every 1,000 private sector workers. Further, the state ranks fourth by employment in space and defense systems manufacturing, sixth in computer systems design, and eighth in engineering services.
Maryland ranks fifth in federal government employment, with 131,855 non-military federal jobs in 2009. On a per capita basis, the state ranks third with 231 jobs per 10,000 residents. Non-military federal jobs generate $11.4 billion in total wages in Maryland, ranking fourth among the states. Further, these jobs pay better in Maryland than in any other state, with an average annual wage of $87,767, which is 28% higher than the national average.
Riverside Tech Park attracts AT&T, Tox Path
AT&T's Government Solutions Division and Tox Path Specialists signed leases representing nearly 20,000 square feet of R&D and office space at St. John Properties' Riverside Technology Park in Frederick. AT&T, led by Senior VP Thomas Harvey (left), will relocate 50 employees from Virginia in part to be closer to a key government contractor. To accommodate its rapid expansion from a start-up to an industry-leading biotech, Tox Path will move 20 employees from the Technology Innovation Center in Hagerstown because of Riverside's proximity to the National Cancer Institute's new state-of-the-art R&D facility.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Frederick County Diabetes Coalition Announces Restaurant Challenge Winner
The Frederick County Diabetes Coalition is pleased to announce that La Paz Mexican Restaurant is the winner of this year’s Frederick Restaurant Challenge. The Challenge was coordinated by the Frederick County Diabetes Coalition and held in November to coincide with American Diabetes Month. The Challenge featured ten restaurants who agreed to offer a healthy meal option for people with diabetes (or for anyone wishing to eat healthier). During the month of November, nearly 250 diners chose and rated the healthy meal offered by these restaurants. An average rating was calculated for each restaurant who received at least 15 votes. La Paz edged out the competition and received a plaque, donated by Trophies Unlimited, to recognize their achievement.
New this year, a prize was also awarded to the participating restaurant who sold the greatest number of healthy meals. The winner for this category is Acacia; they had 84 diners order and submit a vote for their healthy meal. Acacia received a gift certificate for a massage donated by the YMCA of Frederick County.
Angela Blair, Chairperson for the coalition states, “On behalf of the coalition, I wish to commend all ten restaurants for participating and for demonstrating that healthy meals taste delicious! We also want to recognize the restaurant patrons who tried the healthy meals and voted. Their positive feedback and interest creates the demand for restaurants to offer healthy meal options as part of their standard menu. This is the ultimate goal of the Challenge.”
Ten restaurants elected to participate in this year’s event: Acacia, Asian Bistro, Brewer’s Alley, Firestone’s Culinary Tavern, La Paz, Mariachi Restaurant, Mexicali Cantina, Subway (69 S. Market St.), Subway (913 W. 7th St.), and Wegmans.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
USDA Funding Assistance Available for Businesses Affected by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee
Senator Benjamin Cardin announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved 2011 disaster designations for several counties in Maryland, including Frederick County. Any business who suffered a loss during Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee may be eligible for USDA disaster funding assistance.
Please visit http://fsa.usda.gov/FSA/stateoffapp?mystate=md&area=home&subject=landing&topic=landing for more information.
Please visit http://fsa.usda.gov/FSA/stateoffapp?mystate=md&area=home&subject=landing&topic=landing for more information.