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Maryland students earn math and science accomplishments
I am proud to say Maryland has a great pipeline of young mathematicians and scientists preparing now for the jobs of tomorrow. Maryland high school students have had a banner year in science and math.
In the Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology (2007-2008), 11 students from around the state were named national Semi-finalists and two additional seniors were named Regional Finalists. These students engaged in research on topics ranging from cancer cures to theoretical computer science. Maryland students also placed highly in the Intel Science Talent Search and Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.
Benjamin Lu and Louis Wasserman were regional finalists and finalists in two of the competitions, and Philip Sandborn of Wilde Lake High School was the first Maryland student to win First Place at the JSHS Nationals. My congratulations to Benjamin, Louis, Philip and all the students who will soon be joining Maryland's highly educated workforce. For a complete list of student science and math accomplishments, click here.
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Technology infrastructure a big reason for MD's success
As we move toward a knowledge-based economy, Maryland is continuing to develop a well-deserved reputation as a technology powerhouse. But just how well do we stack up against other states when it comes to our technology infrastructure?
In June, the 2008 Milken Institute State Technology and Science Index confirmed Maryland's prowess in technology with a No. 2 ranking in the study's Technology Concentration and Dynamism Composite Index, which measures the strength of a state's technology clusters. Since the study was last conducted in 2004, Maryland climbed an impressive four spots with nearly nine percent of its companies in the high-tech industry, outpacing our neighbor and economic development rival Virginia.
This is a tremendous win for Maryland and shows that we are well positioned for future growth. Thanks to our strategic location near many federal facilities, our unparalleled workforce and our excellent higher education system, we are continuing to attract cutting edge companies and rank among the top states for technology. And, with the initiatives recently unveiled by Governor Martin O'Malley, Maryland will continue to strengthen its position as a national and world leader in the research and development of groundbreaking new science with the potential to reshape the landscape of 21st century medicine.
I hope that you enjoyed this series on Milken's rankings, which clearly show that Maryland has what it takes - workforce, technology infrastructure and ability to attract research dollars, among other assets - to thrive in a technology economy.
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TEDCO honored
The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), may soon be running out of room to display all of their awards. Two weeks ago, TEDCO was awarded the 2008 Excellence in Technology-Based Economic Development (TBED) Award by the State Science and Technology Institute at their 12th annual conference in Cleveland. TEDCO was recognized for providing startup funding to 114 companies through the Maryland Technology Transfer Fund (MTTF) program.
The award follows a national competition emphasizing approaches to building and sustaining tech-based economies. TEDCO is one of four agencies to receive this prestigious recognition. Just a few months ago, TEDCO was named the most active early-stage investor in the nation for the fifth consecutive year. |
Tough decisions
Although Maryland's economy is still strong, no state is immune to the ongoing national economic downturn, forcing Governor O'Malley and governors nationwide to make some tough decisions.
Here in Maryland, we are a bit better off than most states, thanks to our diverse economy and Governor O'Malley's financial stewardship last year. However, two weeks ago, the Board of Public Works was unanimous in approving more than $345 million in state spending reductions required to balance Maryland's FY 2009 budget.
Each agency was asked to identify areas for potential savings and DBED was no exception. Budget reductions totaling $10 million were spread out over 12 areas to make sure that each major program remained fully operational.
While today's economy requires that we operate with fewer state resources, rest assured that all of DBED's major business, tourism and cultural incentive programs are still in place and that we are working harder than ever to maximize the remaining funds to attract and grow businesses, create jobs and promote Maryland's tourism and cultural assets.
For a full list of DBED and other statewide budget cuts, click here.
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Save the date
Listen up!
Another Smart Growth Listening Session is on tap for Tuesday, October 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Aberdeen High School. The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) and the Task Force on the Future for  Growth and Development in Maryland are hosting these public forums across the State, where residents are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas for future growth in Maryland. Topics include sustainability, the environment, regional development, historic preservation, transportation and education. Come out and make your voice heard. For more information, click here.
International Economic Summit brewing
On November 10-11, the Africa Trade Office (ATO) will host an International Economic Summit focusing on "Brewing Up Business With Africa" at Martin's Crosswinds in Greenbelt, MD. The fee is $65 and the summit will be a two-day program including workshops, business to business meetings, a tour, VIP Cocktail Party and Gala. This year's market sectors will include agriculture exporting, IT & communications, alternative energy, and many others. For more information, click here.
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Cumberland serves as
"Capital for a Day"
On October 10, I attended a series of events with Governor O'Malley and Lt. Governor Brown in Cumberland during "Capital for a Day," a program launched by Governor O'Malley to bring the State Capital and the undivided attention of his full cabinet to every corner of Maryland.
Prior to the Governor's cabinet meeting, which was held at the new Allegany Arts Council facility in Downtown Cumberland, Governor O'Malley announced the exciting results and key findings of the first ever statewide survey of the arts, revealing that Marylanders overwhelmingly participate in and value the arts. Click here for the press release and survey results.
Other highlights of the trip included a downtown walking tour with business owners and a luncheon sponsored by the City of Cumberland. At the luncheon, I had the honor of introducing Governor O'Malley and enjoyed hearing from Greater Cumberland Committee Executive Director Colleen Peterson, who spoke regarding Cumberland's efforts to enhance the overall business climate in Allegany County, including the development of a Youth Leadership Program. All told, it was great day and nice to be back in Cumberland to reconnect with old friends and colleagues.
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Germantown Innovation Center open for business
On October 20, I joined officials in celebrating the Grand Opening of the Germantown Innovation Center located at Montgomery College. DBED has invested $1.4 million to date on the facility, which features 45 offices and 11 wet labs, along with two clean rooms, two conference rooms, two huddle areas, a large multi-purpose room, full kitchen, a tenant services coordinator and several green-design elements. Nine companies, including four international companies from China, New Zealand, India and Ireland, have already leased a total of 14 offices and employ about 25 employees combined.
The Montgomery County Department of Economic Development has enjoyed tremendous success with their incubator program. With the opening of the Germantown Innovation Center, the county now has more than 150,000 square feet of incubator office and lab space, housing more than 125 companies and over 350 county employees. Since 2000, the county's Business Innovation Network has graduated more than 85 companies that have created more than 1,800 jobs and occupy well-over 500,000 square feet of commercial space. Click here for the press release.
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| International News and Notes
On September 25, DBED was a premiere sponsor in the World Trade Center Institute's 20th Annual Embassy Day at the Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center. Deputy Secretary Clarence Bishop spoke at the luncheon and our International Trade and Investment team staffed a booth and met with companies and officials. The event allowed businesses to explore new markets domestically and abroad, identify new opportunities with embassies and companies, and connected more than 600 area business leaders with embassy officials representing 75 countries.
Last week, the Governor announced that $85,000 in matching grants were awarded to 17 Maryland companies to help them market their products and services in overseas markets. The grants, made through DBED's Export MD program, are awarded to small businesses to help offset the cost of international marketing initiatives, including trade show fees, travel expenses, brochures and website development. In Fiscal Year 2008, the Export MD program awarded a record number of grants totaling $105,000 and the demand for the program is continuing to grow. Click here to view the press release.
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Welcome back, HBO
Maryland and HBO have enjoyed a long and winning relationship and I'm happy to report that the cable network will be returning to shoot a pilot episode for a potential new HBO series. Slated to begin shooting in the Baltimore area this fall, The Washingtonienne is a half-hour comedy about the diverse professional and personal lives of three smart, sophisticated 28-year-old women working on Capitol Hill. The project will be executive produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, Alison Benson, Sarah Condon and Stacy Traub.
 Maryland's Film Production Rebate Fund was among the factors in securing the pilot episode. Initiated in 2004, the program helps to preserve Maryland's outstanding film base by offering a partial rebate of local production expenditures and encourages producers to film on-location in the state, employing local film crews in well paying and highly-skilled jobs. We hope the Washingtonienne will join Maryland's long list of HBO's award-winning projects, which include Something the Lord Made, the mini-series The Corner, and TV series The Wire. |
Lt. Governor Brown presides over first BRACSTAT meeting
On October 8, Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown presided over the first official meeting of BRACSTAT. A management tool based on the highly touted CitiStat and StateStat programs, BRACSTAT tracks progress on the specific items laid out in the Maryland State BRAC Action Plan and provides matrices to measure the arrival of jobs, residents and students to Maryland.
 All 10 Cabinet agencies that comprise the BRAC Subcabinet participated in the first BRACSTAT meeting and will continue to participate in future meetings. The meeting was broken into two presentations. The first focused on workforce creation and economic development and included BRACSTAT reviews of the Departments of Labor, Licensing and Regulation and DBED, as well as the Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland Higher Education Commission and the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs. The second presentation focused on infrastructure and housing and included reviews of the Departments of Housing and Community Development, Planning, Environment and Transportation.
BRAC higher education gets a boost
Higher education for students of BRAC families affected by the move just got a little easier. The University of Maryland's flagship university, College Park, has graciously allowed the use of their transfer evaluation system for students at 49 New Jersey institutions of higher learning. Out of state students considering transferring can use the system to learn about course equivalencies and recommended transfer programs, and get their transcripts evaluated. By entering his/her information into the system, a student should be able to get some idea of the transferability of their completed coursework. Interested students should click here for more information.
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The Edge is published by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. For a complete archive, visit our Publications page.