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Mike Hayes
Managing Director, Office of Military and Federal Affairs
A distinguished military career prepared Mike Hayes well for his role as Managing Director of the Office of Federal and Military Affairs. Mike is responsible for protecting the viability of Maryland's military bases and helping Maryland businesses access opportunities for technology commercialization through partnerships with Maryland's military installations. Mike coordinates with Lieutenant Governor and BRAC Sub-cabinet Chair Anthony G. Brown and Executive Director Asuntha M. Chiang-Smith to implement the 2005 BRAC decisions that will bring as many as 60,000 new jobs to Maryland over the next decade. The Office of Military and Federal Affairs staffs both the BRAC Sub-cabinet and the Maryland Military Installation Council, and acts as a liaison with the State's military alliances.
During 33 years as a commissioned officer in the Marine Corps, Mike served in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm. He earned a host of military decorations including the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and four Presidential Unit Citations. A native of Milwaukee, Wisc., Mike earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin. He is also a graduate of both the Naval and National War Colleges.
You can reach Mike at mhayes@choosemaryland.org.
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Economic Development 101
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If you're interested in advancing your skills and knowledge of the economic development field, the Maryland Economic Development Association has the course for you.
This five-day Chesapeake Basic Economic Development course on July 14-18 at the Higher Education and Learning Center in Harford County includes topics from strategic planning and business retention and attraction to technology-led economic development. Click here for more information. |
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East Baltimore Development, Inc. wins award
East Baltimore Development, Inc. received the 2008 Excellence in Economic Development Award for Urban or Suburban Economic Development.
 The award, presented by the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration, was presented for EBDI's commitment to sound, research-based, market driven economic development in helping grow the local economy. Congratulations, EBDI!
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Governor announces bold vision for Bio in Maryland
On Monday, I joined Governor Martin O'Malley, along with scientists and researchers at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Cell Engineering, as he unveiled a new vision for Maryland's bioscience industry. Under the BIO 2020 Initiative, the State of Maryland will invest $1.1 billion in Maryland's bioscience industry over the next 10 years, one of the largest state bioscience investments in the country to attract and grow biotechnology companies in Maryland.
The initiative includes the creation of the Maryland Biotechnology Center, a proposal to double Maryland's Biotech Investment Tax Credit, as well as plans to grow Maryland's Technology Incubator Network and Maryland's nation-leading Stem Cell Research Fund.
The Governor's plan is a comprehensive, targeted initiative to leverage Maryland's science and technology assets and nationally acclaimed workforce to attract and grow the bioscience opportunities of tomorrow.
Click here for an overview of the plan, or here for the press release.
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New DBED staffers helping small businesses
I am pleased to announce four new small business specialists have joined the DBED team. These specialists will provide expertise in technology; financial counseling; mergers and acquisitions; and succession and strategic planning.
The new small business specialists, Stacey Harvey-Reid, Daniel L. Hutzell, Robert L. Edd, Jr., and B. Adam Suri, will work directly with Maryland small businesses to provide specialized business counseling to foster job creation and economic development. With a staff of 14, the Division of Small Business offers programs and services to promote entrepreneurship and assist the growth and development of Maryland's small business community. Today, Maryland is home to more than 400,000 small businesses, which employ more than one-half of the State's workforce.
If you are a small business owner with questions, please don't hesitate to give the Division of Small Business a call at 410-767-6300.
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New Comcast Service Center brings 500 new full-time jobs
Governor Martin O'Malley joined Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson and state and local economic development officials for a ribbon cutting ceremony for Comcast's new Advanced Service Center in Prince George's County. The 92,000-square foot regional call center brings 500 new full-time jobs  to the County, primarily customer service agents who will provide technical support for Comcast High-Speed Internet, Comcast Digital Voice and various advanced video products.
In December 2007, Comcast announced plans to open the center, which is located at 1301 McCormick Drive in Largo. To assist with project costs, a DBED $500,000 conditional loan was used in conjunction with a $50,000 loan pledged by County Executive Johnson through the Prince George's County's Incentive Leverage Fund. Comcast is also eligible for a workforce grant of up to $200,000 from DBED to assist with training needs, as well as local and state property tax credits.
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Individual Artist Awards honor 97 Maryland artists
This past weekend, DBED Deputy Secretary Clarence Bishop joined Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) chair-elect Scott Johnson and MSAC Executive Director Theresa Colvin to recognize 97 Maryland artists at the 2008 Maryland Individual Artist Awards Ceremony at the Maryland Institute College of Art's (MICA) Brown Center.
The MSAC-hosted program honors the accomplishments of Maryland artists and provides individual grant awards ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 to further advance their artistic endeavors. A total of $250,000 was awarded through the program this year in such categories as Dance Solo Performance, Fiction, and Photography and Sculpture. Congratulations to all of this year's recipients who help to improve the quality-of-life for all Marylanders.
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County Corner
Each month, this section will provide a snapshot of our local economic development partners statewide.
Somerset County
Executive Director Danny Thompson oversees economic development for Somerset County, the state's southernmost county on the Eastern Shore. Home to the upcoming July 16 J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake, the county is located within 100 miles of three major metropolitan areas. An area rich in lush natural resources, rural Somerset's major industries of tourism, seafood and agriculture are being joined by some new additions. "I'm really excited about the opportunities for growth with our new broadband infrastructure and expanded industry clusters such as aerospace and renewable energy," said Thompson.
 Crisfield and Princess Anne - both Enterprise Zones - are the two major business and industrial centers of the county. Thompson takes pride in having Lankford-Sysco Food Services, home to the company's third largest distribution center in North America. McCready Memorial Hospital, Handy International, PNC, Eastern Correctional Institute and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) are also based in Somerset County.
Thompson and his staff are keeping busy. Plans are moving forward for a marine/barge terminal, a hotel conference center, and a proposed ethanol plant. ODDI Atlantic manufacturing plant recently completed a 20,000 square foot expansion after purchasing the spec building through DBED with the One Maryland program. Also, Green Light Biofuels started operating this past year and Wal-Mart finalized the purchase of a site for a proposed 750-job distribution center.
"The rural quality of life on the Eastern Shore and the growing business atmosphere makes Somerset County an attractive place to live and do business," said Thompson.
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