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Sam Lloyd
Assistant Secretary for Small Business
Sam Lloyd is DBED's Assistant Secretary for Small Business, a position created by the O'Malley Administration to focus on Maryland's small business needs. Formerly Director of Minority Business Development for Baltimore City, Sam successfully directed one of the city's most important initiatives: increasing minority and women-owned business participation in Baltimore contracting and procurement activities.
Prior to that position, Sam has served in a number of private-sector roles, including Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff at Fisk University; Sales Vice President at AT&T Wireless Services, and President and General Manager of American Cablesystems of California. He also served the state of Maryland during the 70s and 80s as Assistant Secretary for Economic Development at the Maryland Department of Economic and Community Development and Executive Director of the Maryland Commission on Human Relations.
Sam has served on a number of boards including the Maryland Stadium Authority, the Baltimore Development Corporation, the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, and the Baltimore City Heritage Area Association. He received a J.D. Law degree from Catholic University and a B.A. in Political Science from Morgan State University.
You can reach Sam at 410-767-3213 or slloyd@choosemaryland.org.
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Marketing Maryland at the Preakness
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Year after year, the running of the Preakness Stakes provides DBED and other state agencies an excellent opportunity to showcase Maryland for existing and prospective businesses. And this year's race was no exception.
Maryland's corporate village was packed with friends old and new this year as Big Brown made his run for Triple Crown immortality. Click here to read how DBED markets Maryland at the Preakness and don't forget that our local economic development partners are encouraged to participate each year. |
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DBED offers vets loan program
Many people are not aware that DBED offers a loan program for veterans seeking accessibility accommodations. With assistance from the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, DBED provides loans via the Military Reservist and Service-Related No-Interest Loan Program.
The program includes no-interest loans for disabled veterans and the businesses they work for to make their home, automobile or place of employment accessible. For more information, including an online application, click here.
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Governor signs BRAC legislation
Last week, the communities most affected by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process will get some much-needed assistance. Governor O'Malley signed legislation authorizing  the creation of BRAC Zones to better handle growth resulting from base realignment. The BRAC Community Enhancement Act makes available financial incentives to local governments to provide necessary infrastructure to encourage BRAC-related businesses and households to locate within existing locally designated state priority funding areas.
While all jurisdictions are eligible to apply for BRAC Zone designation, priority will be given to areas that are served by public transportation and have the greatest capacity for economic growth.
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Wavebob splashes down in Maryland
Governor O'Malley welcomed Wavebob, Ltd. to Maryland earlier this week and helped them announce the opening of their North American headquarters in Annapolis. Citing Maryland's highly educated workforce and progressive energy and environmental policies as determining locational factors, the Irish company plans to invest more than $10 million in Maryland and grow to 15 employees in the coming years.
 The company is developing a unique Wave Energy Converter - 'Wavebob', which harnesses the immense power of the ocean to produce clean, renewable energy. Wavebob has invested significantly in research & development over the past six years and is now considered one of the world's leading wave energy technologies. |
Governor seeks relief for watermen
 On May 2, Governor O'Malley joined Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin to announce steps to protect Maryland's watermen by seeking a disaster declaration from the U.S. Department of Commerce. A declaration will make Maryland's watermen eligible for emergency disaster funding to ease the economic burden placed on the crabbing industry as it faces a 34 percent reduction in the female crab harvest.
Funds would be used to provide alternative economic opportunities for watermen and the processing industry, while state regulators work with the industry to rebuild stocks and restructure the fishery. Governor O'Malley, working with legislative leaders in the recently completed session of the General Assembly, set aside $3 million in state capital funding to provide funds to employ watermen in restoring key Bay habitats.
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State seeks sports marketing director
The Army-Navy football game, the NCAA Men's Division I Lacrosse Final Four, the Dew Tour and the International Motocross of Nations are just a few of the big name sporting events Maryland has hosted in the last few years.
These events generate huge crowds, hundreds of jobs and significant economic impacts. That's why DBED is working with the Maryland Stadium Authority to conduct a nationwide search for a new director of sports marketing. The consultant's primary responsibility will be to develop and implement a strategic plan to attract sporting events to Maryland. The state has a number of great facilities including FedEx Field, Comcast Center, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, M&T Bank Stadium, and several minor league ballparks that could help attract major events.
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County Corner
Each month, this section will provide a snapshot of our local economic development partners statewide.
Garrett County
Led by director Jim Hinebaugh, Garrett County's Economic Development Department has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. The county has been steadily transitioning from a primarily natural resource and agriculture economy to one that includes light manufacturing, tourism, service, distribution, retail and technology-based businesses. In the process, the county's property tax base quadrupled while the average annual unemployment rate fell from 13.7 percent in 1997 to 4.5 percent in 2007. Meanwhile, the county's manufacturing base is still growing, bucking the national trend with further growth expected and expansions planned for ClosetMaid, Garrett Container Systems, Phenix Technologies, and Pioneer Conveyor.
"With continued focus on the county's top three strategic priorities - workforce development, affordable housing, and infrastructure development - the county is positioning itself for further economic growth," said Jim Hinebaugh.
Garrett County has taken aggressive action to improve the local skill base and educational attainment. The county recently launched the Commissioners' Scholarship Program which provides two years of tuition-free education at Garrett College for all graduating students. Later this year, the county expects to start work on a Career & Technology Center facility which will involve a partnership with Garrett College, the Garrett County Board of Education and the local business community.
Work is expected to begin later this year on a new technology-focused business park at McHenry with an affordable housing component. The 150-acre business park will be located adjacent to the county's recently expanded airport, about a half mile from Garrett College and Deep Creek Lake.
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