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Biotech executives and investors won't have to camp out overnight Tuesday to apply for the state's biotech tax investment credits.
Last year, a surge of applicants lined up outside state offices in Baltimore in anticipation of the July 1 application opening date. This year, applicants seeking a portion of the $6 million available for the credits can wait inside the University of Maryland BioPark at 801 W. Baltimore St. before delivering their requests at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
"We witnessed first-hand last year the unprecedented interest in Maryland's biotech tax credit program, with investors lining up for hours and even camping out overnight to be among the first to apply for the credits," said Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) in a statement. "With more and more biotech startups emerging in the State, we expect the program to attract even more applicants this year, underscoring the critical need for seed and early stage funding essential to the continued growth of Maryland's world-class biotechnology community."
Over the past three years, the state has spent $18 million on the program, leveraging more than $36 million in private investment for 39 Maryland biotechs, according to the statement.
Information: www.choosemaryland.org.
Mandel new co-chairman of business group
Maryland Business for Responsive Government named former Gov. Marvin Mandel, a Democrat, co-chairman, joining Ellen Sauerbrey, a Republican former delegate.
"I am accepting the Co-Chairmanship in an effort to help MBRG to grow and expand its influence," Mandel said in a statement. "I look forward to working with businesses throughout Maryland to improve the State's business image both locally and nationally."
"Working together as Co-Chairs, Governor Mandel and I can provide true bi-partisan leadership for MBRG," Sauerbrey said.
Association raises $15.5M for nursing schools
Donors including hospitals, insurers, health-care and other companies, and individuals on Tuesday pledged $15.5 million over five years to help Maryland nursing schools train more nurses.
The goal is to double the number of nurses educated in the state. The first grants are designed to increase the number of graduating nurses by 300 and add 20 faculty positions, according to a statement from the Maryland Hospital Association.
"Less than two years ago we predicted that unless we increased the number of nurses being educated in Maryland we would be short 10,000 nurses by 2016," said association president and CEO Carmela Coyle. "Today we are thrilled to announce real progress and are committed to maintaining the momentum we need to reach our goal of adding 1,500 students."
The goal of the fundraising campaign, called Who Will Care?, is to raise $60 million.
Malone fined $1.4M in Discovery securities case
Media mogul John C. Malone will pay $1.4 million in connection with charges that he violated premerger reporting and waiting requirements when he acquired Discovery Holding Co. voting securities, federal antitrust officials said in a statement.
The Department of Justice's Antitrust Division, at the request of the Federal Trade Commission, filed a suit in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., against Malone. The department also filed a proposed settlement to settle the charges.
Malone violated the reporting and waiting requirements from August 2005 through last July, prosecutors said.
Malone is chairman of Liberty Media Corp. and CEO and chairman of Discovery Holding Co. of Englewood, Colo. Discovery Communications of Silver Spring was created as a public company last year when Discovery Holding and Advance/Newhouse Communications combined their interests in Discovery into a new company.
Montgomery launches online
federal contracting tool
The Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, along with the county chamber of commerce, demonstrated a new online tool to help businesses get federal stimulus and other contracts.
About 300 local business owners and representatives attended a half-day workshop in Silver Spring to learn about the Stimulus Opportunities System, designed to help businesses identify and compete for all federal contracting and grant opportunities.
The system is provided through the county agency's contract with netXccel Inc. County officials expect it to be operational by next week.
Also participating in the workshop were the county's Department of General Services, the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the Maryland Energy Administration, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
Information: www.smartmontgomery.org.