Governor Martin O'Malley announced that Media Rights Capital started filming today the second season of the Netflix series House of Cards in Maryland.

Wrapping up an eight-day trade mission to Israel and Jordan, Governor Martin O’Malley today announced the launch of the Maryland/Israel Development Partnership to fund joint development efforts by Maryland and Israeli companies working in the cybersecurity and life sciences sectors.

 Dr. Judith Britz, Executive Director of the BioMaryland Center, today announced that the Center has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Russia’s Pushchino BioTech Cluster.

Joined by more than 30 Maryland business, civic and higher education leaders, Governor Martin O’Malley today arrived in Israel to kick off a weeklong economic development mission that also includes a visit to the neighboring country of Jordan.

DBED announced today Alastair Mackay has joined the department as Senior Life Sciences Principal of the Maryland Venture Fund.

DBED today announced that three fund managers have been approved by the Board of Public Works to run a revolving loan fund for small, minority and women-owned businesses.

Joined tonight by hundreds of entrepreneurs at the Maryland Institute College of Art, Governor Martin O’Malley awarded $100,000 each to three Maryland companies in the State’s inaugural InvestMaryland Challenge, a national business competition which offered cash and in-kind awards as well as opportunities for startups to showcase themselves to potential investors.

DBED Secretary Dominick Murray announced today that the state has invested $500,000 in Cytomedix Inc., a regenerative medicine company in Gaithersburg.

DBED today announced that nine Maryland companies have advanced to the final round of the InvestMaryland Challenge, a national business competition offering three $100,000 top prizes and another $125,000 in cash and in-kind awards, as well as opportunities for startups to showcase themselves to potential investors.

DBED Secretary Dominick Murray announced today that the Maryland Venture Fund has invested $300,000 in Adlyfe, a biotechnology company developing diagnostic tests for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative brain conditions.

DBED today announced that 33 start-up companies have advanced to the next round of the State’s inaugural InvestMaryland Challenge, a national business competition offering three $100,000 top prizes and another $125,000 in cash and in-kind awards, as well as opportunities for startups to showcase themselves to potential investors.

Newly-named Director of Cyber Development Jeani Park will head the CyberMaryland delegation at RSA 2013, the nation’s premier information security conference, in San Francisco today through February 28, to promote the National Cyber Center of Excellence, bwtech@umbc, the University System of Maryland and other state assets.

DBED Secretary Dominick Murray and MD Biotechnology Center Executive Director Dr. Judy Britz joined officials from Johns Hopkins University and University of MD last night to award the 2013 BioMaryland LIFE Prizes to University of Maryland Dental School’s Dr. Mark Shirtliff and to Johns Hopkins Professor Dr. John Wong.

Dominick Murray, who was appointed DBED Secretary in December by Governor Martin O’Malley, has been confirmed unanimously by the Senate Executive Nominations Committee.

DBED has announced that 71 start-up companies have been selected to move to the next round of judging in the State’s inaugural InvestMaryland Challenge.

Gov. O’Malley today joined members of Maryland’s Federal Facilities Advisory Board for the release of the Board’s strategic plan, which outlines more than two dozen actions the State could take to better leverage the potential of government labs, military installations and other federal facilities to drive innovation and create jobs in Maryland.

Gov. O’Malley and Peter Greenleaf, chairman of the Maryland Venture Fund Authority, today announced that New Atlantic Ventures and Kinetic Ventures have been selected to receive funds through the State’s $84 million InvestMaryland program.

The State has approved the expansion of Baltimore City’s existing Enterprise Zone and the re-designation and expansion of the Salisbury-Wicomico Enterprise Zone.

DBED and Startup Maryland will host a free webinar on Wednesday, January 16 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the State’s InvestMaryland initiative as a national best practice for other states to model.

The Maryland Science Center annually generates $34 million in total spending for Maryland’s economy, according to an economic impact report released today by DBED.

Joined by business owners at new tech incubator Betamore in Baltimore City, Governor Martin O’Malley today unveiled Maryland’s first online business registration system.

Governor Martin O’Malley today announced that Maryland ranks among the nation’s leaders in cybersecurity jobs, according to the Cyber Jobs Report.

DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson today joined with Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney A. Katz to announce that Sodexo Inc. has re-signed the lease on its Gaithersburg North American headquarters building, ensuring the company and its current 567 full-time jobs will remain at the site for the next decade.

DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson announced today that the State has invested $300,000 in two start-up companies through InvestMaryland.

Gov. O'Malley today announced that HBO has begun filming the second season of the award-winning series VEEP in Maryland.

Gov. O’Malley and Peter Greenleaf, chairman of the Maryland Venture Fund Authority, today announced that Grotech Ventures – a local venture capital firm – has been selected as the first private venture firm to receive funds to invest through the State’s $84 million InvestMaryland program.

DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson today joined with Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett to announce the retention of Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.’s headquarters and 300 full-time jobs at their current site in Silver Spring.

Gov. O’Malley today announced that Ontario-based Protenergy Natural Foods is expanding its U.S. headquarters on the Eastern Shore with the purchase of the 67-acre site and 200,000 square-foot building the company currently leases in Cambridge.

Marking a year that positioned Maryland as a trailblazer in the Innovation Economy, launched programs and policies to create and retain jobs and celebrated the State’s history and culture, DBED today released its FY 2012 Annual Report.

As part of today’s MD Entrepreneur Expo 2012 hosted by TEDCO, DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson announced that the State has invested $1.1M in three start-up companies through the InvestMaryland program.

As part of a continuing effort to help Maryland’s small businesses create jobs and access new opportunities and markets, DBED applied for and has been awarded a $656,181 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

At Bethesda-based BrainScope today, the latest stop on the “Jobs and Opportunity” Tour, Gov. O’Malley highlighted InvestMaryland, the State’s pioneering $84 million venture capital initiative, as a prime example of why MD is well-positioned for success in the New Economy.

In an effort to build on the success of biotechnology companies like Telcare Inc., the Maryland Biotechnology Center, an office within DBED, today opened the application process for its FY 2013 biotechnology development awards.

As part of a continuing effort to expand MD’s global reach and identify new opportunities for trade and investment, DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson today announced the opening of the State’s first foreign trade office in Africa.

Gov. O’Malley today announced that independent film “Ping Pong Summer” will begin six weeks of filming in Ocean City in September.

MD welcomed 34.4M domestic travelers in 2011, an increase of 6.8 percent from 2010 and an increase of 26 percent from 2007's 27.2M visitors, according to a national survey of U.S. travelers conducted by D.K. Shifflet and Associates, a leading tourism industry research firm.

State hosts convention, competition and recognition during National Cyber Security Awareness Month in October

Linda Yurche, who spent two decades developing and managing successful marketing programs for Maryland nonprofit and media organizations, has joined DBED as Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Communications, Secretary Christian S. Johansson announced today.

Governor Martin O’Malley today addressed the inaugural meeting of the Maryland Advisory Commission on Manufacturing Competitiveness and swore in 16 new commission members. The event took place at MarquipWardUnited, a corrugated paperboard and folding carton manufacturer located in Cockeysville.

Governor O’Malley today announced that the State has approved the designation, re-designation or expansion of five Enterprise Zones around MD, enabling the jurisdictions to provide businesses located within the zones with income tax and property tax credits to help create and retain jobs.

DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson today announced that Thomas S. Dann has been named Managing Director of the Maryland Venture Fund.

Investors seeking a portion of the $8M available in FY 2013 for the State’s popular Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit submitted more than 125 registrations online this morning, DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson announced.

DBED Sec Christian S. Johansson issued the following statement on a change to the online registration for the State’s highly popular Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit. The registration was originally scheduled to begin tomorrow, July 2 at 9 a.m.

Following a meeting of the MD Venture Fund Authority, DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson and MD Venture Fund Authority Chairman Peter Greenleaf issued the following statement on the Authority’s progress in selecting private venture capital firms that will receive funds through the State’s InvestMaryland program.

DBED in partnership with Towson University’s Division of Economic and Community Outreach today unveiled a mobile-friendly version of the Department’s ChooseMaryland.org website.

DBED Secretary Christian Johansson and Paris Medicen Delegate General Francois Chevillard today signed a Letter of Intent to establish a partnership between the two regions on disease research and translational medicine.

The Maryland Venture Fund Authority, together with DBED, today hosted a free public forum on InvestMaryland – an  historic initiative created by Governor Martin O’Malley and passed by the General Assembly last year to invest in the State’s start-up and early stage companies.

Gov O’Malley joined DBED officials and Manish Kothari, president of Sheladia Associates Inc., for a tour of the company’s Rockville offices and an open discussion on how State resources can help Maryland businesses grow and thrive.

DBED today announced that it has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Hagerstown-Washington County Industrial Foundation to help develop an Economic Development Strategic Plan. The plan, expected to be completed by November, will help expand Washington County’s economic base by guiding smart investments, attracting new businesses and creating jobs to ensure high-paying jobs for future generations.

Gov. O’Malley today announced that feature film “Better Living Through Chemistry” will begin five weeks of filming in MD next month. The comedy film’s locations will include sites in Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties, Baltimore City and the Eastern Shore, with the potential to generate more than $7M in economic impact and 340 jobs for local crew, actors and extras.

In an effort to provide local economic development partners and site selection consultants with the most up-to-date information on available properties in the State, DBED has launched the first phases of a free online site selection database. The database, Maryland Business Properties, lists more than 400 available commercial, retail or industrial properties and 1,400 buildings in Maryland that can be leased or purchased and is updated weekly.

Gov. O’Malley addressed more than 60 business leaders from India and MD at the inaugural MD India Business Forum, a meeting to strengthen ties and boost two-way trade and investment between MD and India.

DBED and the Export-Import Bank of China today signed a cooperative agreement that establishes the Bank’s first U.S. location in MD. Under the agreement, the bank will open an office at the World Trade Center Baltimore – which also houses DBED and its Office of International Investment and Trade – for business development, project evaluation and relationship building with the U.S. market. The Bank will also consider providing funding for Chinese companies looking to invest in the United States.

DBED and the Maryland Venture Fund Authority today announced that Altius Associates has been chosen to oversee the selection of private venture capital firms that will make investments in Maryland seed and early-stage companies through the State’s landmark InvestMaryland program.

Businesses new to Maryland or those that expanded operations in the State announced the creation of more than 10,000 new jobs and $3.3 billion in capital investment in  2011, according to a report released today by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.

Governor Martin O’Malley announced today that the independent film “Jamesy Boy” will begin production in Maryland next month.  “Jamesy Boy”, the inspirational story of a young man attempting to overcome obstacles and turn his life around, was co-written and will be directed by Maryland native Trevor White, and will be produced by his brother Tim White.   Production will begin in early March and will film in Baltimore for five weeks.

When it comes to leveraging the arts to stimulate the economy, the diverse regions of Maryland present different challenges and opportunities. In 2001, Maryland pioneered a statewide arts and entertainment district program that empowers Maryland localities with a set of tax incentives to encourage artists, arts organizations, and other creative enterprises to locate in a targeted area.

The state of Maryland, Montgomery County and the National Institute of Standards and Technology launched on Tuesday the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence to speed development of cybersecurity solutions by tapping experts in the field from government, academia and the private sector.

U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis toured the GM Baltimore Transmission Plant in White Marsh on Wednesday as part of President Obama’s effort to spur investment and expansion in the country’s manufacturing sector.

About 200 Maryland tourism industry leaders convened in Annapolis earlier this month for Tourism Day – an annual advocacy event to make the case for tourism funding to state legislators by discussing the industry’s economic value.

Research Director Nancy McCrea and Economic Researcher Al Goyburu share the top 10 indicators that Maryland’s economy continues to perform.

Award-winning actors, filmmakers and film crews will soon descend on several locations in and around the Baltimore area to film the Netflix series House of Cards. Originally broadcast by the BBC in 1990, the political thriller starring Kevin Spacey and directed by David Fincher, who also directed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network, is being rewritten to fit Washington, D.C. as the backdrop.  With Baltimore’s vast inventory of locations and architecture, the City is able to easily transform into the nation’s capital with a touch of film magic. Production starts this spring and will continue into the fall.

2tor's move to a new Maryland headquarters supports the company’s aim to be near the highly-educated workforce the state has to offer.  The company plans to continue its hiring spree and currently has dozens of positions across the board, from account management, marketing, operations, human resources, analytics and administrative roles.  

Feeling sheepish about your winter wardrobe? Itching to try something new? Leslye Solomon, owner of Woolstock Yarn Shop, has just the solution. The entrepreneur has parlayed her passion for knitting into a multi-faceted business reaching customers across the nation and overseas. Fourteen years ago she opened Woolstock, tucked away in quaint Glyndon, a historic village that dates to the late 1800s.

DBED today announced that it has approved a $1.5 million loan for start-up Triple Ventures LLC, which manufactures and imports beverages, to help with the purchase of a 30,000 square-foot building in the Chesapeake Industrial Park in Cambridge.

Governor O’Malley publically announced that RG Steel has secured financing to resume operations at its Sparrows Point plant and bring nearly 800 employees back to work who were furloughed late last month.

“A line of credit has been secured to allow RG to fire up the furnace and get our steelworkers back to work again at Sparrows Point”.

Bambeco is among the business success stories being highlighted in a series of ads that DBED began running this week on local radio and on WashingtonPost.com to connect Maryland small businesses that may not qualify for traditional bank financing with State resources.

DBED today unveiled the first phase of a new interactive tool that allows businesses and citizens to map the State’s key business assets and resources.

Gov. Martin O’Malley recently announced that Papa John’s has become the first founding corporate partner of Star-Spangled 200 (SS200), Inc., the nonprofit affiliate of the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.

“Financing that Fits” to run for 10 weeks on local radio, Washington Post.com

With the opening next week of Righttime Medical Care’s urgent Care Center in Olney, Maryland residents will have access to the only urgent care facility in the area that accepts same-day appointments.

As part of Righttime’s commitment to providing the highest quality care, patients can make appointments either through Righttime’s Call Center or online and wait comfortably at home.

As part of the O’Malley Administration’s continued efforts to make it easier for businesses in Maryland to operate by making interactions with government more accessible, predictable and transparent, DBED today unveiled the first phase of Finance Tracker, a new on-line tool that allows people to look up what enterprises have received grants, tax credits, equity investments and loan enhancements from the Agency.

Marketing pros have long employed the ‘loss leader’ or product give-away to create brand awareness and generate new customers.  From the candy and cereal samples I regularly receive with my daily newspaper, to the classic “comp” coupon for restaurants or retail stores, free can get you in a business’s door – and get you hooked on their goods or services.

The 2012 Session of the Maryland General Assembly will begin January 11 with some very difficult decisions facing the legislature.  A billion dollar budget shortfall coupled with anticipated federal budget cuts will mean few new projects can be brought home to districts when dollars are so tight. Yet we need to do more to create and retain more high paying jobs in Maryland and improve our infrastructure. 

It is a little known fact that tucked away in a chic industrial space on East Pratt Street in downtown Baltimore is one of the world’s top designers and manufacturers of theme park attractions.

Premier Rides, which started up in the early 1990s to service theme park rides, soon began making inroads into an industry dominated mostly by European companies. 

While many are looking forward to what the New Year will bring, legislators, policy watchers and the like are busy gearing up for what promises to be a busier than usual legislative session. The 431^st Maryland General Assembly convenes in Annapolis on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. and will last for 90 days

With all of the focus today on creating jobs there is unprecedented interest in employment data. Who is gaining jobs and who is losing? How many jobs are being created by small businesses or by start-up businesses? Research by the Kauffman Foundation and others has shown that small and start-up businesses are outsized contributors to job creation. But we know very little about who is starting those businesses and where.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday beat last year’s sales records by a considerable amount and this year’s Christmas holiday season appears to be on track to surpass 2010.  If you are a smart shopper, waiting for the last minute to gain the “best deal” sounds like a great plan.  But perhaps an even better strategy would be to consider shopping locally.

Walking into the stunning facility at 1 Winning Drive would be a slightly surreal experience for any Baltimore Ravens fanatic. The putting green out front; victorious images from Super Bowl XXV; the Vince Lombardi Trophy displayed in all its glory—it’s all enough to make one think, “Is this really happening?” That is, until one reaches a whiteboard that reads, “Words not to use around me: Good Enough.

Gearing up for the implementation in 2012 of the State’s InvestMaryland initiative, Grant Street Group, tax auction consultants, has been selected to oversee and administer the auction of the State’s premium tax credits to insurance companies operating in Maryland with the goal of raising a minimum of $70 million.

If Old Saint Nick were thinking about expanding his operations South, Valley View Farms in Baltimore County would certainly be a strong contender.  The garden center, nearing its 50^th year, has become a mecca for all things Christmas and every fall transforms into a holiday wonderland, full of decorated trees, a huge outdoor lights display, and an International Christmas Shop featuring ornaments and gifts from all over the world.

The heavenly scent of fine chocolate wafts through the air.  Rows of chocolate Santas and Snowmen tied with gold holiday bows stand sentry on the shelves.   Gaze into the glass case and you will find beautifully hand-crafted confections in both milk and dark chocolate ready to be sold as an individual treat or in festive, gold-line boxes for gift giving. 

If the sound of the Joint Strike Fighter flying overhead didn’t tip off visitors, certainly the street signs did. Cautionary signs like “Aircraft Taking Off” and “Yield to Landing Aircraft” lined the roads on Naval Air Station Patuxent River on Maryland’s southern peninsula. But – as the Federal Facilities Advisory Board learned during a recent visit – NAS Pax River does much more than just fly jets.

In effort to spur commercialization and advance treatments for cancer and other diseases, the Maryland Biotechnology Center announced it has awarded a total of $1 million to five promising life sciences companies through its Biotechnology Commercialization Awards and Translational Research awards.

With a full head of steam, Western Maryland’s rich rail history converges each December in the storybook, mountaintop community of Frostburg, Maryland. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s North Pole Express chugs into the station of the nearly 200-year old university town arriving from Cumberland packed with families eager to share the thrill of riding over mountains and through tunnels on an authentic steam train.

Governor O’Malley, joined by more than 300 business leaders, entrepreneurs, educators,  legislators and industry stakeholders, gathered Friday for the Maryland Made Easy 2012 Symposium on Job Creation at the Miller Senate Building in Annapolis to discuss how to spur job creation in Maryland.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that, in 2009, there were almost 22,000 electronic shopping and mail-order houses in business in the U.S., employing some 320,721 workers. The value of retail sales by these establishments in December 2010 totaled $34 billion—the highest total for any month last year.

DBED Secretary Christian Johansson talks with MDBizMedia about the State’s recent trade mission to India and reflects on his cultural experiences.

Not many people actually want to talk to the Internal Revenue Service, but yesterday at Contract Connections, which matches small businesses with federal agencies and contractors, folks were lined up to chat with the tax collection agency. And for some 50 representatives of Maryland companies who spoke with Col. Jacob Hansen, USA, Ret., who directs the IRS Office of Procurement Agency-wide Shared Services, the encounter wasn’t painful.

Last week Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz joined Maryland Transportation Deputy Secretary Darrell Mobley, and Major General James Adkins to welcome the U.S. Navy Blue Angels to Maryland and to announce the Star-Spangled Air Show.  The air show will take place June 16-17, 2012 during Star-Spangled Sailabration, Maryland’s international maritime and air festival that kicks off the bicentennial of the War of 1812 in Maryland

Governor O’Malley takes a moment to talk about the importance of global trade while visiting the Tata Group in Mumbai, India. Governor O’Malley is leading a 6-day mission of over 100 Maryland business leaders, local elected officials and university officials to India so that we can expand opportunity for more Marylanders at home.

As Maryland’s six-day trade mission to India continued today in Mumbai, DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson joined Dr. V. Rangaraj, Chairman of the U.S. India Importers Council, to sign an agreement committing the two regions to boost trade.

As Maryland’s six-day trade mission to India continued today in Mumbai, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Secretary Christian S. Johansson joined Dr. V. Rangaraj, Chairman of the U.S. India Importers Council, to sign an agreement committing the two regions to boost trade.

Last week, Governor Martin O’Malley was joined by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and representatives from the U.S. Navy and Operation Sail, Inc. (OpSail) to announce Star-Spangled Sailabration, an international maritime festival that will launch Maryland’s three-year War of 1812 bicentennial efforts.  Star-Spangled Sailabration will take place June 13-19, 2012 in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and the Chesapeake Bay.

On the first official day of a six-day economic development mission to India, four Maryland businesses have already signed agreements with their Indian counterparts, boosting two-way trade and investment for Maryland and India.

Canadian manufacturer purchases FoodSwing assets, establishes U.S. operations in Cambridge.

Ethan Giffin was inspired to create a web company that would serve the vast needs of the growing e-Commerce industry.  So, in 2007, Giffin founded Groove Commerce, a boutique web agency providing enterprise-level services in downtown Baltimore.

In a place far removed from a tweed jacket atmosphere, you will find David instructing in his own classroom at The Colosseum Gym in Columbia, MD.

Like a musician serenading his fans; a pastor rallying his congregation; or a coach motivating his team, watching Mario Armstrong deftly move around a packed auditorium at UMBC Sunday evening was both inspirational and motivational.

Susan Garber, Co-Executive Director of AT:LAST, Inc., always knew she wanted to start a business that would make a difference in the lives of people. So when Maryland’s Department of Disabilities Technology Assistance Program approached her, she jumped at the chance to help connect individuals to the changing world of technology.

Maryland small business F. W. Haxel Flag Co. has been selected to make commemorative Star Spangled Banner flags in time for the bicentennial celebration.  Marylanders can now purchase the commemorative 15-star, 15-stripe American flags – replicas of the Star-Spangled Banner that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the National Anthem following the all-night British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814.

The Baltimore Sun featured a nice story today on the Brewer’s Alley brew pub in Frederick who just started their own brewery, Monocacy Brewing Co., and craft breweries in Maryland – a niche that is seeing an uptick in business.

Maryland abounds in its entrepreneurial spirit.  Home grown global companies such as McCormick, Phillips Seafood, Legg Mason and Under Armour are prime examples of how enterprising Marylanders used their expertise and experience to become well-respected national and global brand names.  Still others have created unique niches by focusing on what they know best and building perhaps less visible success stories.

Billed as the “premier international conference for military communications,” MILCOM 2011 is hosting an impressive lineup of Army, Navy and Air Force officers, defense contractors and industry experts at Baltimore’s Convention Center this week. The annual conference provides a forum to exchange ideas, share successes and challenges, explore new tactics and technologies, and understand and address current and future needs of war fighters.

Upon meeting Mike Brenner, he is unassuming. Dressed in a red plaid shirt and jeans, Brenner enters the Starbucks coffee shop with leather briefcase in hand, deep in conversation with one of Baltimore’s most well-known entrepreneurs and angel investors, Dave Troy. 

The stage is set and the buzz is building for the first state-wide Entrepreneur Expo. Mark your calendars for Monday, November 14 at the BWI Airport Marriott for this premier event featuring a who’s who of Maryland’s entrepreneurial community

The Korea-Maryland Bio Expo, the first of its kind in the State of Maryland, kicked off yesterday at the Baltimore Convention Center.  Expected to draw approximately 500 participants, up to half of whom from Korea, the event is hosted by Maryland-based JG Business Link International, and sponsored by DBED, the Maryland Biotechnology Center, and various other Maryland and Korean biotech and related entities.

Cyber crime is both expensive and common for business of all sizes. A study of 50 organizations, conducted by Ponemon Institute in 2011, found the median cost of cyber crime was $5.9 million dollars annually (an increase of 56% over 2010) with each company involved experiencing at least one successful cyber attack per week. That same study also found that good governance practices and implementation of enterprise security strategy help alleviate the costs associated with Cyber crime.

When Emory Knoll Farms was founded, the company’s goal was always centered around sustainability.  So when Maryland became the first state to create a benefit corporation designation, it made sense for Emory Knoll Farms to apply.

John Woodley, President and CEO of Trusted Technologies in Baltimore, Maryland is a visionary leader in cyber technology, who, when faced with the challenges of a down economy took the road less traveled.

The Free State has no short supply of ghosts.  It’s no wonder that communities around Maryland have crafted their own ghost walks and tours to introduce visitors to hometown haunts.  Each of these ghost tours is conducted by locals who know their history and have encountered spooky characters.  Check out these ghost tours and see the paranormal up close and personal.

MD Biotechnology Center Executive Director Dr. Judy Britz joined Johns Hopkins University and University of MD officials last night to award two 2011 BioMaryland LIFE (Leading Innovative Faculty Entrepreneurs) Prizes to University of Maryland Medical Center's Dr. James Gammie and to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s Dr. Sara Sukumar.

In recognition of Maryland Economic Development Week, DBED will highlight its financial assistance, tax credit and other business assistance programs throughout the week to ensure that the State’s business community is informed and educated on the resources and tools that exist to help them create and retain jobs, and expand their operations in Maryland.

Maryland’s first-ever Economic Development Week will be held from October 24 – 28, 2011.

DBED Secretary Christian S. Johansson today joined Greater Baltimore CEO and President Donald C. Fry and more than 40 economic development, business and community leaders at Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort in Allegany County to kick off Economic Development Week in MD.

Two consecutive weekends each fall, tens of thousands of boating enthusiasts arrive in Annapolis to get up-close looks at their dream vessels and mingle with manufacturers and vendors in the boating industry, and each other. They’ve been coming to the two Annapolis boat expositions – produced by U.S. Yacht Shows – for the past 40 years.

Almost two years have passed since Governor O’Malley unveiled his then nascent “CyberMaryland” strategy to position Maryland at the epicenter for cybersecurity innovation, opportunity and talent.

Sentinel IT was founded on the premise that there is more to life – and to business – than worrying about IT hassles. Through a range of consulting services, the company can offer small businesses with increased IT demands all the expertise and support of an in-house IT department without the high costs.

When Mark Dent drove by the remains of fire damaged Mount Vernon United Methodist Church in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore, he knew it was meant to be.  Dent, President of Chesapeake Systems, the region’s leading provider of Mac based support and service, was looking for new space to accommodate the company’s expansion.

Nearly 300 people joined Gov. Martin O’Malley, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and State Sen. President Thomas V. ‘Mike’ Miller Jr. at the Landmark Theatres’ Harbor East Cinema in Baltimore, Monday evening, Sept. 26, for a highlighted version of The War of 1812, a new two-hour PBS documentary that airs nationwide Oct. 10.

Everyone, at some point, has delivered donations to their local Goodwill or Salvation Army.  After a move or a spring cleaning, it’s common to have extra items – whether it’s clothes or household goods – that can be donated for someone else in need.  But what happens when donation centers get too many donations? That’s where Fab-Tech, a second-hand textile company based in Owings Mills, Md., comes in. 

“The War of 1812,” a new PBS documentary that airs nationwide on October 10, will be shown at the Landmark Theatres’ Harbor East Cinema on September 26 at 7:00 p.m.  The screening (a highlighted version) benefits Star-Spangled 200, Inc., the fundraising affiliate of the Maryland War of 1812 Commission. 

Alberto Lacaze and his partner, Karl Murphy, believe in artificial intelligence.  After leaving their posts at the National Institutes of Standards and Technology, the pair formed Robotics Research, LLC in 2002, and continued their research and development of unmanned and autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence.

Hundreds, including descendants of Harriet Tubman, gathered in Capitol Hill yesterday to rally in support of legislation that would create historic national parks in Maryland and New York in honor of Harriet Tubman, one of the most recognized leaders behind the Underground Railroad.  If the legislation passes, Maryland officials expect a long-term economic impact of $20 million annually to the State and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

This Sunday, September 11, 2011, the 10^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Maryland officials gathered to unveil and dedicate the State’s 9/11 Memorial of Maryland.  Over 1,000 guests, including the victims’ families, first responders, supporters and the public gathered at Baltimore’s World Trade Center, where the memorial rests, to honor the 68 Marylanders who lost their lives at the Pentagon, New York’s World Trade Center and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Governor Martin O’Malley visited Cambridge International on Thursday, September 8, to express his regards on the company’s 100th anniversary.  Cambridge International is the world’s largest and oldest manufacturer of metal belting and wire cloth.  The Dorchester County company has recently expanded adding 30 new employees to its current base of over 200 full-time workers.

Starting tomorrow, the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine will host a patriotic weekend September 9-11, 2011.  This three-day event will feature parades, fireworks, a military encampment of over 100 War of 1812 re-enactors, a symbolic ship-to-shore bombardment, noted authors, and a patriotic band concert.

When Drew Greenblatt purchased Marlin Steel Wire in 1998, the company manufactured custom steel wire baskets, shelves and hooks for bagel companies.  But when the Atkins diet became popular and bagels were no longer a hot commodity, Greenblatt had to change his target market.

Martin Knott, Jr. understands what it means to build a family business. President of Knott Mechanical, a second generation family-owned HVAC and plumbing business, Knott spent his boyhood and college years learning all aspects of his father’s business, turning an already successful company to a growing empire.

The authority that will oversee the implementation of InvestMaryland, the largest venture capital investment initiative in Maryland’s history, was sworn-in today by Governor Martin O’Malley at the World Trade Center in Baltimore.

Doing business the honest way is Seth Goldman’s cup of tea.  Since starting his company, Honest Tea, 14 years ago in his basement with his partner, Barry Nalebuff, Goldman, has never strayed from the company’s mission: to create and promote delicious, truly healthy, organic beverages with sustainable practices and social responsibility in mind. 

Just inside the tiny historic town of Berlin, Bryan Brushmiller is making a little history of his own. With an idea, a biochemistry degree from Salisbury, a beer making hobby, and no job, Bryan Brushmiller decided to open the first brewery in the town of Berlin. 

Just across the Maryland border, in the town of Delmar, Delaware, two brothers, Tom and John Knorr, spend their days brewing some of the Mid-Atlantic’s best beers. With backgrounds in the restaurant industry, the Knorrs newest adventure began in 2009 when they took over a small grocery store and transformed it into a brew house, where Evolution Craft Brewing Company was born.

Tucked away in the small rural town of Eden, population 793, is one of Maryland’s hidden gems – Bordeleau Winery.  Located on thirteen acres of land along Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the winery, named after the Bordeaux region of France, and meaning “the water’s edge,” was purchased by Tom Shelton in 1998. 

Cinnamon is loving and full of antioxidants.  Red Pepper is active and can help with weight maintenance.  This is some of the research McCormick & Co. does at their Technical Innovation Center in Hunt Valley.  From pet food to beverages, McCormick has a rich, 121 year history, in developing new flavors for the world.

Manufacturing has been a part of Maryland’s economic engine for centuries, and many Maryland companies have been part of that engine for hundreds of years. One such company, W.R. Grace (NYSE:GRA), a global company that specializes in chemicals and materials, has been a member of the Maryland business community since the 1800s.

This month, MDBizMedia talks with Marylanders about lessons learned from odd summer jobs. MDBizMedia sat down Sean McEvoy, DBED’s Director of the Office of Small Businesses, who spent his summers working on Park Avenue in New York City. McEvoy learned that it’s sometimes a dirty job working as a maintenance man.  

Helping Maryland become more business friendly is a major objective of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.  By connecting our members to other businesses throughout the State, we can broaden a company’s network of potential clients.

Now is the time!  Maryland has long been known as a great place to do business, especially if you have been doing business with the federal government.  But if recent economic data are any indication, it’s high time we focus on diversifying our economy.

This month MDBizMedia talks with prominent Marylanders about their lessons learned from odd summer jobs. MDBizMedia sat down John Marsh, DBED’s Interactive Director, who learned that valuable items don’t always belong in the trash.

Hundreds gathered for a rally at Rams Head Live on Friday in support of the 4,600 manufacturing businesses in Maryland, promoting the growth of more manufacturing in the State. 

For almost twenty years, Germantown, Md. based Earth Networks, has worked to monitor the health and weather of our planet.

July 21, 2011 marked the end of NASA’s space shuttle program, as the Atlantis safely landed on American soil. But Maryland’s own Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU APL) is sending many instruments into space in order to answer important questions on Earth.

This month MDBizMedia talks with prominent Marylanders about their lessons learned from odd summer jobs. MDBizMedia sat down with co-founder and CEO of Give Corps, Jamie McDonald, who learned that visibility and the willingness to do anything takes you far in life.

Hughes is just one of nine Maryland firms that made Black Enterprise Magazine’s annual list of Top 100 Largest Black Businesses for 2011, ranking the State 3^rd for the most companies on the list. The companies report a combined revenue of $1.5 billion and more than 2,000 employees.

Throughout her life and career, Jamie McDonald, current CEO of GiveCorps, has always placed a high priority on civic engagement.  After coming to Baltimore in 1986 to work for Alex Brown (now Deutsche Bank), McDonald became involved in a number of local non-profits.

This month MDBizMedia will be talking with prominent Marylanders about their lessons learned from odd summer jobs. To preview the project, Secretary Christian Johansson from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development sat down with us to discuss his odd summer jobs.

Connecting with executives of some of Maryland’s fastest growing and innovative companies is next on the agenda for members of the Maryland Economic Development Commission.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held a field hearing on the role of small businesses in strengthening the cybersecurity industry in Laurel yesterday, just miles from Ft. Meade – the headquarters for the National Security Agency (NSA) and the new U.S. Cyber Command, established in May 2010, and led by NSA General Keith B. Alexander.

Maryland welcomed 32.2 million domestic travelers in 2010, a 10.7 percent increase from 2009 and an 18.3 percent increase from 2007’s 27.2 million visitors, according to a national survey of U.S. travelers conducted by D.K. Shifflet and Associates.

During June, Maryland’s job growth statistically held steady, though we did record a modest drop of 300 jobs.

The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) awarded fifteen Maryland technology startups $75,000 each through TEDCO’s Maryland Technology Transfer and Commercialization Fund. 

Eddie C. Brown knows what it means to beat the odds.  Born to an unwed 13 year-old mother, the stacks were piled high against him. But you’d never know it.  Today, Brown heads one of the nation’s oldest African-American owned investment management firms.

With the announcement July 7 by ADP that private payrolls increased by 57,000, it seemed that recovery was back on track, albeit a bit slower.

Pathsensors, Inc., an environmental testing company housed at the University of Maryland Biopark in Baltimore, has taken its biodefense technology to a new level.  The company specializes in developing tests to quickly find pathogens in the infectious disease and biodefense sectors.

Chesapeake Bay Candle opened their first domestic factory, located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, on June 28^th, 2011.

For twelve years, Steve Borsh, Vice President and General Manager of Bakery Express, has made a point of getting to know all of his employees.

Fourth of July is quickly approaching and Maryland is planning events across the state throughout the weekend in order to celebrate the national holiday.

Standing inside the 125,000 square foot bakery plant of Bakery Express/Ms Desserts in Halethorpe, officials today unveiled a new permitting system that streamlines the review process and allows businesses to more easily obtain permits for development projects.  The new system – dubbed ‘Fast Track’ by officials – is part of the Maryland Made Easy initiative that Governor O’Malley unveiled in January.

Governor O’Malley joined leaders in Maryland’s bioscience industry in showcasing Maryland’s strengths at the 2011 BIO International convention held in Washington, DC this week.

Maryland’s life sciences industry employs 160,030 people — 71,600 directly – and accounts for 6.5% of the state’s GDP, roughly $17.6 billion in economic activity, supporting $500 million in income and sales taxes annually, according to a report conducted by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.

The world’s meeting and events industry gathered in Baltimore June 21-23 for AIBTM, the Americas Meetings & Events Exhibition. This is the first time a show of this magnitude has been held in the United States. Baltimore joins Barcelona, Abu Dhabi, Beijing and Melbourne, Australia as the host city of one of Reed Travel Exhibitions’ global hosted buyer shows.

On Tuesday, June 28 at the 2011 Bio International Convention in Washington, DC, Governor Martin O’Malley will host a panel discussion with four women who have established successful careers in the life science industry in Maryland.

To encourage physical fitness and bicycle tourism of the State, Governor O’Malley, on Saturday, June 18, kicked off the “Cycle Maryland” initiative during a bike ride on the Eastern Shore. The Governor joined Queen Anne’s County officials and cycling enthusiasts on a bike ride along the Cross Island Trail.

JMEA is a medical device corporation that specializes in medical implants and is based in Rockville, Maryland. JMEA was founded by Yeh, an information technology executive, and by Dr. Mohit Bhatnagar, an orthopedic surgeon and inventor.

NCI is responsible for cutting-edge research and has developed therapies for ovarian, skin and liver cancers, among many discoveries.  NCI is also the world’s only supply of a pediatric neuroblastoma (a sympathetic nervous system cancer) drug.

MDBizMedia recently sat down with Anand Iyer, President and Chief Operating Officer of Welldoc, Inc., based in Baltimore, Md.

The ninth annual AFI (American Film Institute)-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Documentary Festival runs June 20-26.

DBED Secretary Christian Johansson talks with MDBizMedia on his views on his experiences, and the cultures in China, Korea and Vietnam.

Governor O’Malley and a delegation of 68 business, higher education and public leaders embarked on a 10-day economic development and jobs mission to Asia. The mission resulted in an immediate $85 million in direct investment into Maryland and is expected to continue to yield positive economic benefits for Maryland going forward.

I joined the Governor’s Trade Mission to China to explore possibilities for new business ventures for my company.  While the trade mission continued on to Korea and Vietnam, I only had enough time to go to China.

The Maryland State Arts Council this Saturday, June 18, will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Maryland Traditions, the folklife program of the Arts Council, and traditional arts and culture of Maryland at their annual Folklife Festival. 

Poplar Island is one of many small islands on the Chesapeake. It lies off the coast of Talbot County, north west of Tilghman Island.

Governor O’Malley, Secretary Johansson, University of Maryland College Park President Loh, and many Maryland business owners debriefed local media on their recent trip to Asia in Annapolis yesterday.

This week I was able to witness the first official visit of a European leader during President Obama’s presidency.  German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived on the White House South Lawn at approximately 9:30 am on Tuesday, June 7^th.

Laura Neuman, Howard County’s new Economic Development head, has a lot of big plans for the county.  As the first woman to be named head of the economic development board, she big plans to make Howard County an entrepreneurial and technology based county.

The state’s number one attraction in Baltimore may get a face lift if city and state officials sign on to the Greater Baltimore Committee’s plans to redevelop the Inner Harbor.  The plans, unveiled last week and estimated to cost $900 million, will give the 31-year old attraction a new arena, a new hotel and expanded convention center, waterfront attractions and a new look for Rash Field.

Baltimore will be the host city to the 79^th annual meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors later this month, drawing in hundreds of mayors and their families to the city.

Maryland’s sailing ambassador, Pride of Baltimore II, will embark on a five month voyage to the East Coast, Canada and Great Lakes ports, stopping at over 25 ports promoting Maryland’s important contributions to the War of 1812 and the penning of the Star Spangled Banner.

On Friday, May 20, DBED Secretary Christian Johansson convened a dozen area thought leaders over lunch at the Silver Spring Civic Building to discuss the best directions in which Maryland can approach the new innovation economy for prosperous economic development.

Governor O’Malley today hailed Maryland’s space science assets and outlined a new initiative to increase business development and job growth.

Over 100 were in attendance for the ribbon cutting of TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) (NASDAQ:TSYS) cyber intelligence center in Hanover yesterday.  The secure wireless communication technology company’s new 36,000 square foot facility will house its cybersecurity group, its satellite operations center and its East Coast Lab and data center, and is expected to hire an additional 100 employees.

Joined by Maryland business leaders and elected officials, Governor Martin O’Malley today signed into law InvestMaryland  – HB173 – an historic initiative which will infuse a minimum of $70 million into promising start-up and early stage companies in Maryland, creating the largest venture capital investment in the State’s history.

A memorial for the 63 Maryland victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks is under development by the State of Maryland which plans to complete installation by the 10^th anniversary of this solemn occasion.  Today, Ziger/Snead the design firm retained by the Maryland 9/11 Memorial Advisory Committee will release renderings for the project before the Baltimore Public Art Commission.

It’s been 16 months since Maryland’s Federal Facilities Advisory Board (FFAB) was appointed, and the group has been busy.  Chaired by Kevin Kelly, the group’s mission is to foster greater interaction and collaboration between the State of Maryland, federal facilities and private companies. The group presented its recommendations to the Maryland Congressional delegation yesterday in Washington, DC.

The Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland Baltimore today announced the receipt of $23.4 million to support the next phase of research for a HIV/AIDS preventive vaccine.  The total funding was donated by a consortium consisting of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who donated $16.8 million, the U.S. Army’s Military HIV Research Program, who donated $2.2 million, and other research institutions, including the National Institutes of Health.

Tomorrow is the start of the 13^th Annual Maryland Film Festival, Maryland’s four-day event showcasing top-notch films from all over the world. Each year, the festival presents approximately 50 feature and 75 short films to tens of thousands of audience members.

Hundreds of Maryland small, minority, women-owned and veteran business enterprises gathered today at a daylong conference at a hotel near BWI airport to learn about opportunities in the green economy.

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, Rhode Island Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed and Rhode Island Speaker of the House Gordon Fox, and other Rhode Island officials, visited the University of Maryland Baltimore’s BioPark on a fact-finding mission to develop a life sciences-centered urban economic development based on the UMB Biopark model.

Naming a company is one of the most important decisions to make.  The name defines who the company is, what the company is about, and whether it will withstand the test of time.  When Delali Dzirasa, President and Founder of Fearless Solutions, developed his company name, he had this in mind.

With the Royal Wedding just days away, millions of families across the pond and across America will be watching this historic occasion. The wedding alone is predicted to bring in as much as $1 billion into the British economy. In Maryland, there are approximately 500 catering, rental formal wear and photography companies employing about 5,000 employees.

Thirty-seven percent of women among the employed population ages 25 and over obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 35 percent of men as of 2010, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau today.  The report showed that among all adults 25 and older, 29.6 percent of women and 30.3 percent of men had at least a bachelor’s degree.

Dozens of legislators, sponsors and supporters of the InvestMaryland legislation gathered last week in celebration of the bill’s passage at the end of the 2011 legislative session.  Supporters gathered at the Chesapeake Innovation Center to recognize the efforts of those who helped push the bill to passage.

After Christmas, the busiest of days is typically over for most businesses.  But as the December holidays draw to a close, Mary Sue Candies wraps up their Christmas production to prepare for its busiest season of the year: Easter.  For over 50 years, the Baltimore-based chocolate candy company has been producing mass amounts of chocolate candy Easter eggs for Easter baskets across the nation.

State, local and federal officials, including Governor Martin O’Malley, U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski and Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, today gathered at UMBC’s bwtech campus to open the new Advantage Incubator, Maryland’s first incubator dedicated exclusively to cybersecurity technologies and companies.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics today reported that Maryland’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 6.9 percent from 7.1 percent as the number of employed Marylanders jumped by nearly 12,000. Maryland’s unemployment rate remains below the national average, 8.8 percent.

The State’s Department of Business and Economic Development won a Silver ADDY award in the category of Elements of Advertising from the American Advertising Federation Baltimore.  In its 37th year of celebration, the competition draws more than 50,000 entries.

The State’s Department of Economic Development saw a number of big wins in this year’s legislative session which closed on Monday.

For over 100 years, Lion Brothers has been recognized as the world leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of apparel and uniform identification.  The company serves over 1600 customers worldwide, manufacturing products for companies like Nike, Adidas, Puma, and organizations like the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America.

A new U.S. Small Business Administration ruling went into effect to help women owned small businesses gain access to more federal contracting opportunities.  The ruling, issued October 7, 2010, went into effect on February 4, 2011.

The Maryland Biotechnology center hosted a day-long regulatory workshop today for a cluster of French biotechnology companies, including Cancer BioSante, Lyonbiopole and Medicin, and UBIFRANCE, looking to do business in the U.S.

Towson based Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE:SWK) joined state and local officials to announce a $12 million renovation to their Construction and DIY headquarters campus.  The renovation will help the company preserve 1,100 jobs and turn the campus into a world-class facility for product development and engineering.  Last month, the Stanley Black & Decker stock hit a 52-week high, trading at $77.41

Employers across the nation added 216,000 jobs in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The nation’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 8.8 percent from 8.9 percent last month.  The unemployment rate was a full percent higher (9.8 percent) only four months ago. The private sector was the major driver for March’s job growth.

Boxtone, Inc. a global Mobile Service Management Software and Services provider headquartered in Columbia, Maryland will be expanding their offices and creating 40 new positions.

The State’s Department of Business of Economic Development will launch the third phase of its Land of Opportunity campaign, this spring.

With 4,700 companies calling Maryland home and employing over 128,000 Marylanders, manufacturing has been a part of the state’s rich history for over 100 years.  Marylanders can be proud to know that many of the foods they eat, many of the clothes they wear, and many of the electronics and software they use are made here in Maryland.

Forbes Magazine named Baltimore the second best American city for minority entrepreneurs last week.  Atlanta was named first, and Washington, DC came in at eighth according to the magazine’s rankings.  The article ranked 52 American cities.

HBO has named Ed Harris to play John McCain in its new film Game Change, a film based on the bestselling book by the same name that follows John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign.

Maryland employers created 8,100 jobs in February according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today.  Maryland’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.1 percent from 7.2 percent, and remains better than the national average, 8.9 percent.

Maryland officials, including Business and Economic Development Secretary Christian Johansson and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, today unveiled a 7-foot scale model replica of The Pride of Baltimore II, Maryland’s maritime ambassador schooner.  The replica will be on permanent display in the Baltimore Visitor Center while the schooner travels across the globe.

Business leaders, government officials and dignitaries from Maryland, DC and the Western Balkan region convened today at the University of Baltimore for the U.S. Balkans Business Summit. The two-day event includes panels on energy, transportation, tourism, defense, manufacturing, and information and technology.  The first business summit of its kind, the event aims to promote bilateral trade and investment opportunities between American and Western Balkan governments and businesses, and exchange information and views relevant to strengthening economic relations.

As a small business owner for 12 years, Deborah Stallings understands the challenges small business owners face.

“My grandparents had been entrepreneurs – they always taught us if you can be an entrepreneur and have your own business, you should,” Stallings said.  “My grandparents were farmers. My grandmother was a mid-wife and also a seamstress. She made soap and sold soap.  So entrepreneurship was in the blood.”

When you enter the James Joyce pub, there is no mistaking you are visiting an authentic Irish pub.  Named after the Irish author, the bar feels like it’s been shipped straight from Ireland.  And there’s a reason for that.  It was.

Maryland officials, including Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and U.S. Congressman John Sarbanes, joined today with the Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition to raise awareness for a new federal health care tax credit, part of the Affordable Care Act, that is designed to make health care coverage more affordable for small businesses.

Since Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon in 1969, America’s exploration of the unknown has continued to grow, and Maryland’s space and satellite industry has been paving the way.  The NASA Goddard Space Flight Facility, for example, has called Maryland home for more than 50 years.  The Hubble Telescope was built, serviced and rebuilt in Maryland.

HBO announced today that it will film Game Change, a film based on the bestselling book by the same name that follows John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, creating over 1,900 jobs – 160 local production crew and 1,800 local actors and extras – for Maryland.

The World Trade Center Institute this evening will recognize seven Maryland businesses for their leadership in international business, and will honor Steve Phillips, President and CEO of Phillips Foods with the Governor’s International Award.

BWI-Marshall has been selected as one of eight airports in the U.S. to provide charter flights to Cuba.  The news was announced after the Obama Administration slackened the U.S. ban on direct flights to the country. 

U.K. based respiratory protection equipment manufacturer, Avon Protection Systems, today held a dedication ceremony unveiling the expansion of its North American Headquarters in Belcamp, Md.  The company designs, develops and manufactures chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) respiratory equipment for military, first responders and federal agencies worldwide.

Just one year after Governor O’Malley announced the Maryland Export Initiative, a program designed to complement President Obama’s National Export Initiative created to double our exports over the next five years, an increase that will support two million jobs in America, Maryland exports have increased by 10 percent over last year.  In 2009, Maryland exported $9.2 billion in goods and services, which was down from $11.3 billion in 2008.  The total exports were $10.2 billion in 2010.

Employers across the nation added 192,000 jobs in February, an increase from 63,000 the previous month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The nation’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 8.9 percent from 9 percent last month.

Maryland businesses announced plans to add more than 15,000 jobs in 2010, a 25 percent boost from 2009, according to a report released by the Department of Business and Economic Development.

Laid off steel workers of Maryland’s Sparrows Point Steel Mill may have their jobs back, as New York based investment firm, The Renco Group, Inc.,  earlier today announced that its new subsidiary, RG Steel LLC, will acquire the struggling Maryland based Sparrows Point steel mill from Russian owners Severstal.

When Darius Davis began his banking career over 25 years ago, he learned early that making personal connections was important.

To say that Jay Steinmetz is connected to the world is an understatement.  As he sits in his office at the headquarters of his successful inventory-tracking system company, Barcoding, Inc., he has two desktop computers, two laptops and an iPhone all being used at once.

Serina Roy went to college to get an accounting degree and became a certified public accountant because that seemed to be the most sensible thing to do.  But it wasn’t her calling.

When you ask Gregg Smith about his professional background, he’ll give you a shrug and nonchalantly tell you about the seven companies he has successfully started and then sold.  As if they were easy accomplishments. 

When Kimberly Brown started working part-time at Cell Systems, Inc. while studying to get her doctorate in chemical engineering, she didn’t know that was the last place she would work before starting her own business.

As evidenced by the crowd that gathered for InvestMaryland day in Annapolis last week, the entrepreneurial spirit in Maryland is high.  This week, in celebration of National Entrepreneurship week, we will take a closer look at some of those Maryland entrepreneurs who have made their ideas and dreams into reality.

One on one with Joseph Amprey, III, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Business Officer of Zyngenia, a biopharmaceutical company that spawned from MedImmune. 

Maryland Economic Development Week continues today with a look at DBED's tax credit programs, which spur job creation and investment in infrastructure, support start-up and early stage biotechnology companies and encourage research and development.

Gov. O’Malley today announced that independent film “Ping Pong Summer” will begin six weeks of filming in Ocean City in September.