Visit Baltimore : Innovation + Job News

Vehicles For Change, a nonprofit dedicated to providing vehicles to the disadvantaged in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia, is launching a new Art Van. The organization hopes the combination exhibit and ongoing art project on wheels will raise awareness for its program. 

The Art Van is a work in progress. Initial painting on the van's mural was done by the residents of the City Arts Apartments in Station North. After finding out about Vehicles For Change's desire to have an art car of their own, Danny Stuelpnagel, coordinator of the art cars exhibition at ArtScape, stepped in to coordinate the development of the Art Van.

Vehicles for Change will be taking the Art Van on tour this summer, visiting festivals and events around the state. The Art Van will be making appearances at the Annapolis Arts & Crafts Festival, Columbia Festival of the Arts, ROOTS Fest, and ArtScape.

At each stop, festival visitors will be encourages to explore the Art Van's interactive features. Festival goers will be encourages to contribute to the ongoing art project by taking up brushes to further embellish the Art Van. Visitors will also be able to interact with the Art Van by playing a game with the magnetic pieces attached to the van. The game is designed to raise awareness about the challenges faced by low-income families without cars.

Vehicles For Change has donated more than 3,500 vehicles to the disadvantaged in the area since its inception in 1999. The Art Van is being underwritten by Precision Tune and PNC Bank. The festivals at which the Art Van is appearing have waived exhibitor fees for the community outreach project, and local merchants have donated the prizes used in the game.

Author: Amy McNeal

Source: Robin Yasinow, Vehicles For Change

 

The newly opened Fells Point Farmer's Market offers the neighborhood fresh opportunities for growth. Merchants offering meat, herbs, produce, baked goods and more are setting up shop in the square on Saturdays, providing the neighborhood with both new food choices and a gathering spot.

 

Opened under the auspices of Fells Point Main Street, the market has been an immediate success.  Vendors are being added to the mix, with five new vendors expected to be added in the next few weeks.

For some vendors, this market provides the opportunity to start their businesses and explore the possibility of pursuing their passions as a profitable enterprise. Baker Teresa Pessaro had been creating her vegan treats for friends and clients for some time before she decided to take a shot at expanding her enterprise Goody Goody Gumdrops with a stall at the market.

"There's been a good, positive response. There's so many people in the neighborhood, and with the water taxi and tourists, you meet a lot of different people. I've gotten good feedback." says Teresa Pessaro.

The market is focused on both building a better community in Fells Point and providing opportunities for residents to get fresh food. Fells Point Main Street is looking to expand the market's offerings, and find ways to give back to the neighborhood.

"We're all about supporting the neighborhood, getting people to shop local and stay local. What a better way than to make it so that people can wake up, grab a head of lettuce or something from the market and stay in the neighborhood." says Fell's Point Main Street volunteer Nathalie Mageria.

The market will run every Saturday until November 12. Fells Point Main Street is accepting applications for new vendors, and recruiting volunteers.

Author: Amy McNeal

Sources: Nathalie Mageria, Fells Point Main Street; Teresa Pessaro, Goody Goody Gumdrops

 

Tourism is heating up for the summer in Baltimore. As the city enters a summer packed with headline-making events like the Grand Prix and Baltimore Pride, the hospitality sector is looking forward to a busy and profitable season. 

"Tourism is lifting itself, and doing very well," says Tom Noonan, President and CEO of Visit Baltimore. 

At the Inner Harbor, increased tourism spending is providing opportunities for growth. The Rusty Scupper, a staple of the Inner Harbor tourist trade, expects revenues to increase 25% this year. The National Aquarium and The Maryland Science Center are also experiencing increases in visitor traffic and revenue. Baltimore's popular free bus service, The Charm City Circulator is experiencing increased ridership, and expects to reach 2 million riders this year. 

Visit Baltimore has taken the expected increase in tourism seriously. Through its Certified Tourism Ambassador program, Visit Baltimore aims to have hundreds of specially trained personnel around the city to provide welcoming help to visitors. The program will train hospitality industry workers, police officers, cab drivers and workers in other tourism related industries to help tourists navigate the city and answer questions about history, venues and landmarks. 

"We're training a knowledgeable force, so that as a guest you'll run into someone who is certified, has taken a class and passed an exam," adds Noonan. 

Hotel occupancy is increasing, fueled by both a rebounding travel market and a healthy convention business downtown. Baltimore's hoteliers are adding approximately 2,500 new rooms to handle the increased demand. The city's hospitality profile will increase with the addition of the new Four Seasons Hotel in 2012.

Author: Amy McNeal

Source: Tom Noonan, Visit Baltimore

Award winning cafe chain Miss Shirley's has entered the burgeoning Baltimore food truck scene, launching their first food truck in Tide Point on June 1.  

The launch of the new truck comes during a period of concern for entrepreneurs as Baltimore's city government explores regulations and permit issues with the growing trend. The City's first step was to establish new "Food Truck Zones" in locations around the city. After attending a June 1 meeting on the issue, and hearing about the steps being taken to resolve concerns about food trucks in the city, Miss Shirley's feels confident that their truck with keep rolling.

"I think the city is open to the food truck phenomenon," says Jennifer Mcillwain, marketing manager with Miss Shirley's. "We understand being sensitive to our surroundings, we're restaurant owners too. We'll be in private lots that we've been invited to."

Miss Shirley's envisions using the food truck as both a revenue source and a marketing tool. The truck will be visiting different Baltimore areas on a rotating basis, including setting up for business in private lots in Tide Point, the Rotunda, and the Morgan Stanley building. The menu features a variety of breakfast and lunch favorites, including blueberry pancakes, Miss Shirley's Gumbo, the Maryland Omelet, and several sandwiches.

"There's a demand for bringing Miss Shirley's to the people. It's staying with the times," Mcillwain says.

Business is up from 2010 for Miss Shirley's and the cafe chain will be growing in 2011. Miss Shirley's plans to open a new location in Annapolis in the fall. The company is looking to hire new workers for several kitchen positions, including line cooks and sous chefs, to replace staff that will be moving to the new Annapolis restaurant.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Jennifer Mcillwain,  Miss Shirley's

Charm City has been gaining ground as a tourist destination for LGBT travelers, fueled by a highly coordinated outreach effort on the part of Visit Baltimore and the Baltimore LGBT Tourism Advisory Committee.

"Showing LGBT travelers that your city is welcoming is the right thing for any city to do," says Tom Noonan, President and CEO of Visit Baltimore. "The fact that any city creates a unique and robust outreach program is an attention grabber."

When Visit Baltimore and the Advisory Committee began their effort to market the city as a LGBT travel destination four years ago, only two Baltimore hotels had received the Travel Alternatives Group's designation as certified LGBT friendly hotels. The city now has 25 TAG certified hotels.

Visit Baltimore is looking to carve out a niche as a welcoming destination for gay families as well. Baltimore Pride will feature a new family fun zone this year. Welcoming events are also planned for the Zoo and the Aquarium.

"Most LGBT Tourism dollars go toward attracting couples and singles, and families are ignored. We're also trying to market Baltimore as a destination for families with kids," says Barry Werner, a member of the Baltimore LGBT Tourism Advisory Committee.

Attracting more LGBT tourists to Baltimore has been a long term goal for Visit Baltimore. With tourism as the second largest source of jobs in the city, LGBT tourism dollars are an important potential revenue source for the sector. In order to reach more LGBT tourists with Baltimore's message of welcome, Visit Baltimore has recently launched a cooperative marketing campaign with more than 20 city businesses. Full-color, four-page inserts in LGBT publications in the Northeast market tout the city's cultural attractions, restaurants, and accommodations.
 

Writer: Amy McNeal
Sources: Barry Werner, Tom Noonan, Visit Baltimore

Baltimore's growing tourism niche has been a boon to the members of the Better Baltimore Bed and Breakfasts Association. With more tourists coming to town, innkeepers around Baltimore are adding staff and looking at ways to encourage more tourists to choose a bed and breakfast for their vacation home.

"We're noticing that things are getting back on track," says Barry Werner, a founder of Better Baltimore Bed and Breakfasts. "Some of our members have recently had record months."

The Association has teamed up with Betterwaytostay.com to offer promotions that encourage travelers to choose a bed and breakfast when planning a trip. Through the "B&Bs Kick Gas!" promotion, bed and breakfasts around the country are offering discounts to guests who might be turned off from traveling by high gas prices. In Baltimore, members of the Better Baltimore Bed and Breakfasts Association are offering discounts on stays of two nights or more when couples show proof of carpooling on the trip.

Baltimore's bed and breakfasts are also expanding staff as the tourism season kicks off. As more owners of inns ramp up their summer promotions, several local inns are hiring innkeepers and additional staff.

"Many of our members are hiring innkeepers to help with day to day tasks, and free up the owners to concentrate more on marketing,"  continues Mr. Werner.

The Better Baltimore Bed and Breakfast Association was formed in September 2010. The Association will be launching an expansion effort to include associate members from other hospitality businesses  in upcoming months.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Sources: Barry Werner, Better Baltimore Bed and Breakfasts Association, Better Way To Stay

Sometimes scaling back one plan can mean expansion of others. In the case of the Senator Theatre, a North Baltimore landmark with a recent history often centering on uncertainty, a recent change of plans will shift the 1939 art-deco building from mixed-use entertainment site with one movie screen to a multi-screen movie house with a smaller amount of dedicated space for eating and drinking.

On Saturday, March 19, operators James "Buzz" Cusack and Kathleen Cusack announced that 307 new cinema seats will be spread among three new theaters in the building just south of the intersection of York Road and Northern Parkway. Instead of previous plans for a small-plates restaurant in the large contiguous space north of the current movie auditorium, the building will be segmented to allow for a variety of first-run movies with different target audiences to be shown. There is also potential for new screening technology to be rolled out in the smaller boutique theaters, following the Senator's selection for a THX audio overhaul in 2003 that never completely came to pass.

"We're trying to get our hands on a digital 3-D projector for the summer when we're still just a single screen, but they're hard to come by and they're expensive," Kathleen Cusack says. All of the Senator's new equipment will be digital, which marks a major change from its current 35 mm and 70 mm film equipment.

Despite scrapping plans for a full restaurant on the site, the Senator will still add a wine bar and Sofi's Crepes, which also has a location in the Charles Theatre in the Station North neighborhood. The Charles is also operated by the Cusacks, who hold a 40-year lease on the city-owned Senator Theatre.
 
Writer: Sam Hopkins
Source: Kathleen Cusack, Senator Theatre operator

Forget about your New Year's dieting resolution -- it's Restaurant Week again in Baltimore County and Baltimore City.

The County launched its first two-week celebration of area restaurants on Jan. 14. The two week-long event offers diners deals on prix fixe menus ranging from $10 for lunch to $35 for dinner at more than 40 restaurants from across the County.

"From fine dining to family dining, you will find something to suit your taste and wallet during Baltimore County Restaurant Week," says Keith Scott, president and CEO of the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce. A full list of participating restaurants, menus and reservation links can be found at www.BaltimoreCountyRestaurantWeek.com.

In FY 2010, Baltimore County's restaurant sales brought in $1.2 billion, ranking second highest in Maryland; Montgomery County led with $1.5 billion.

"As a lifelong County resident, I am always pleased to find new ways to enjoy all the County has to offer," says John Olszewski, Sr., chair of the Baltimore County Council. "Baltimore County Restaurant Week is a great opportunity for folks to try something new or visit a favorite spot."

Baltimore City's Winter Restaurant Week will welcome diners to more than 85 area restaurants for the third year starting Jan. 21. Participating establishments located throughout Baltimore will offer special three-course dinner prix fixe menus for $35.11 (liquor, tax, and gratuity not included). Many will also offer three-course lunch prix fixe menus for $20.11. Select restaurants will also offer additional value-added opportunities including chef's dinner, wine flights, and wine pairings to accompany the prix fixe meals.

A complete list of participating restaurants for Baltimore's Winter Restaurant Week is available online at www.BaltimoreRestaurantWeek.com. The site will include menus for most of the participating restaurants, parking information, and a map of restaurant locations. Consumers are urged to book their reservations early before the restaurants are booked.

As an added bonus, for every restaurant that participates in Baltimore's Winter Restaurant Week, Visit Baltimore and Downtown Partnership will donate $50 to The Journey Home, an agency that provides services to assist the homeless in finding permanent and supportive homes. Diners can also make a $10 donation by texting the word JOIN to 20222. Money raised from Friday, January 21, 2011 to Sunday January 30, 2011 will benefit The Journey Home.

Source: Baltimore County Office of Economic Development, BACVA and Downtown Partnership
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Two guys are sitting in their hammocks when one turns to the other and says, "Hey let's hit a happy hour." Sounds like the opening line of a joke, but for Brian Chaplin, a Baltimore-area bartender, and Tom Camposano, a fireman, it turned into their big idea.

"We looked at our iPhone because we thought we'd be able to find a good solution. But we couldn't find anything we were happy with that had had good information," Chaplin recalls.

So the two decided to create their own app. They hired a developer to write the code and Chaplin bought TK and a book on how to use them. Their goal was to design an app that offered users the most accurate and up to date information.

The easiest way to do that was the pair decided was to have bars subscribe to the service. Bars receive access to a private website that allows them to update their information whenever they choose. The new details are instantly available.

Bars can also use the app's "dispatch" function to send blasts out to app users to alert them to last minute drink and dining specials, or any other information they want to get out. "That's limited only by their creativity. We wanted it to be more than just a tool to send out information, but also a means of communication too," Chaplin explains.

The application also needed to have a user-friendly interface, be fun to use and have the look and feel of Baltimore, says Chaplin. "There're a bunch of happy hour apps out there that are national, but they don't give you that warm and fuzzy feeling. We put that into it and people have really responded well to it."

One year later, and Chaplin and Camposano's Dilly Dally Apps, Llc, released the app. "We kept adding new features and making it better, but finally we got it to the point where we think it's a cool thing."

A one-year subscription to the service is $250. Chaplin says they kept the price low to make it possible for any bar owner to join the service. "We want to capture the majority of bars. That was another problem with the other apps, they were missing a lot of bars. So we set the price low so that bars would be interested in joining."

The free "Baltimore Happy Hour" app is available at the Apple App Store. It includes a map which displays participating bars with a drop down menu to select specific neighborhoods. There's also a list of member bars and the dispatch page where bars post their alerts. The taxi page enables users to call a cab with a single click and contact page for users to interact with the app's owners.

Users of the app can also send updates via buttons linked to their Twitter and Facebook accounts or email their friends to let them know which bar they'll be headed to that day. The messages will include the name of the bar and that day's special.

Chaplin says that he hopes to generate a grassroots movement among the app's users. "They can help us spread the word by showing the app to bar owners and also liking our Facebook page."

Future plans include an app for the Droid as well as expansion into the suburbs to the north and south of the city.

Source: Brian Chaplin, Dilly Dally Apps
Writer: Walaika Haskins

While the economy -- both nationally and across Maryland -- continues to slowly regain momentum, there are some bright spots to report according to recent reports released by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. 

Maryland continues to see modest job gains In June, despite a tepid national labor market, the agency repors. The state economy added 1,600 seasonally adjusted jobs, 1500 in the private sector,  for a 0.1 percent monthly growth, while, nationally the US lost 125,000 jobs for a 0.1 percent monthly loss. Maryland's total employment was up compared to year-ago levels (not seasonally adjusted) for the first time in two years. June marks the fourth month in a row that Maryland has added jobs in the private sector.

While the pace of job generation slowed considerably in June, just over 40,000 jobs have been restored to Maryland's business base since January.

Maryland leisure and hospitality employment grew by 5,800 seasonally adjusted jobs in June, more than any other major sector, driven by accommodation/food services job growth, according to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. During the first half of the year, this sector added 21,900 jobs, ranking it best in the country with 9.7 percent growth. At the year's halfway point, the sector accounted for over 60% of total Maryland job creation and over 80 percent of private job creation Nationwide hospitality accounted for 14 percent of job gains.

Professional/business services added 2,800 jobs in June for a 0.7 percent monthly growth rate. Within this sector, professional, scientific & technical (PST) services employment grew by 2,000, for 0.9 percent monthly growth (sixth best in the nation). During the first half of 2010, PST added 7,100 jobs in Maryland, for 3.1 percent growth and third best in the country.

Construction added 1,300 jobs in June for 0.9 percent monthly growth and added jobs for four straight months (seasonally adjusted) for the first time in about three years. During the first half of the year Maryland construction added 6,600 jobs, good for 4.6 percent growth, sixth best in the country.

In more good news, Gallup's Job Creation Index for the first half of 2010 ranks Maryland No. 7 among the Best Job Markets.  During the first half of 2010, 32 percent of employed Marylanders said that their employers were expanding their workforce. This was the fourth highest positive response among states. Conversely, 21 percent said their employers were shedding payrolls. The Index is calculated as the difference between the former and latter poll result. Based on these polling results, Maryland's 2009 Job Creation Index was 11, tying for seventh best among states.

And as if that wasn't enough positive job news,  another just released report from the Center on Education and The Workforce at Georgetown University has found that the share of jobs in the U.S. economy which required postsecondary education increased from 28 percent in 1973 to 59 percent in 2008. That's good for Maryland because by 2018, 66 percent of jobs in the state -- some 2 million -- will require some postsecondary education. That will put D.C., Massachusetts and Maryland in the lead nationwide,  with the three regions sharing total jobs requiring a graduate degree, according to report.

Source: Deparment of Business and Economic Development
Writer: Walaika Haskins

It's time for racing fans to start their engines. Izod IndyCar Series officials, Gov. Martin O'Malley, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Jay Davidson, CEO fo the Baltimore Grand Prix and Baltimore Racing Development made it official that August 5-7, 2011, The Baltimore Grand Prix will see Indy car racers hit the streets of Baltimore at speeds of more than 230 mph.

"This is an historic day for Baltimore and the State of Maryland, as well as the entire East Coast region, as we have finalized plans for the Izod IndyCar Series racing in Baltimore in 2011," says Davidson.

The August 2011 race will be the first of a planned five-year deal between the City and the Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body for the Izod IndyCar Series. With the deal, Baltimore joins a select group of cities, including Long Beach and Indianapolis, hosting an open-wheel racing event.

"This three-day festival of speed will not just include car racing, but will feature family-friendly activities, offer great entertainment and much, much more," says Davidson.

The Baltimore Grand Prix will offer racing enthusiasts as well as those new to the sport, a combination of racing and festivities that will begin Friday morning and culminate on Sunday with the big event - the Izod IndyCar Series race. Organizers are planning a variety of non-racing activities including a family fun zone, go-karting, beer gardens, extreme sports demonstrations, and professional beach volleyball. Live music will also be a major component all weekend that will feature local artists performing during the day and nationally-known acts in the evenings.

Source: Jay Davidson, Baltimore Grand Prix and Baltimore Racing Development
Writer: Walaika Haskins

 

Expedia has selected The Westin Baltimore Washington Airport - BWI as one of the world's top hotels. It marks the second time that the hotel, open just two years, has been featured on the elite "Select List."

The Expedia Insiders' Select List is an annual award that recognizes the top 1 percent of hotels in Expedia's global marketplace. The Westin - BWI was selected based on more than one million hotel reviews submitted by Expedia travelers that acknowledged the hotel as consistently providing superior service, exceptional guest experiences and remarkable value.

"It's an honor to have our guests vote us to the Expedia Insiders' Select list for the second consecutive year," says Fletcher Mayes, General Manager of The Westin Baltimore Washington Airport-BWI. "We value our customers' feedback and continually strive for excellence to create a unique travel experience for our guests."

Source: The Westin Baltimore Washington Airport
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Pride of Baltimore, Inc. (PoB), the nonprofit organization that manages Baltimore's famed tall ship, Pride of Baltimore II, named Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick, state superintendent of schools and Dr. Andres Alonso, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools as the 2010 PRIDE Persons of the Year.

The two educators were chosen as part of the PoB's decision to reprioritize and focus on education, "In light of the upcoming War of 1812 bicentennial in a few years, and we have entered into a partnership with the Maritime Industries Academy High School to work on enhancing their STEM -- science, technoloy, engineering and math -- curriculum. We have also recently begun a partnership with the Johns Hopkins School of Education to help us with that. We're going to have 'Teach the Teachers' and 'Train the Trainers' programs onboard Pride II for STEM programs," says Linda Christenson, executive director of PoB.

The goal is to increase learning opportunities for area students, she adds. One local aspect, is the PoB's partnership with the Port of Baltimore through which the two entities will work to increase awareness among Baltimore City students, including those at the Maritime Academy, about career opportunities at the Port.

"A more far-reaching [facet] is to use the ship in terms of windspeed and currents to enhance the curriculum and make it more fun frankly for students to learn science, technology, engineering and math. And these programs won't just be limited to Maryland. We will use these at all ports of call as the ship sails internationally," says Christenson.

Dr. Grasmick and Dr. Alonso were selected as a result of their unwavering commitment to educating Maryland's future leaders. As the State Superintendent since 1991, the organization cited Dr. Grasmick's strong focus on student achievement, teacher quality, parent involvement and early childhood education. Under her leadership, Maryland is nationally recognized for its many educational achievements. For the second straight year, Education Week's 2010 Quality Counts report ranked Maryland's public school system as first in the nation, showing that Maryland consistently placed at the top of its class in the report's six determining categories, receiving the nation's only B+ average, according to the non-profit. 

It is Dr. Alonso long career that has been defined by his fervent commitment to students and their families. During his tenure as CEO, Dr. Alonso has reshaped the organization of Baltimore City's Public School System, empowering principals and revolutionizing the way education in the city is funded. Dr. Alonso's achievements have been recognized throughout the community. In 2009, he was named as only the third recipient of the "Howard Pete Rawlings Courage in Public Service" Award by the Greater Baltimore Committee, and also was appointed to the prestigious No Child Left Behind Committee for the Aspen Institute, a bipartisan effort to improve federal education policy to spur academic progress and close the achievement gap.

"I'm always slightly surprised by these awards. Superintendent is a tough job and you're always getting thrown to the wolves. It's surprising to get moments of appreciation. I work unbelievably hard and I think people know it. It helps alot to know that people feel like I've done some good for the city. I'm honest about what needs to be done, and I think that's why the work I'm doing is appreciated. It's never about the work I've done, but the work that needs to be done. I try very hard to give credit to the work our teachers and administrators are doing and the need for parents to be a part of what we do. There are huge challenges, but there's no reason we should not be trying to overcome those challenges," says Dr. Alonso.

Source: Linda Christenson, Pride of Baltimore, Inc.; Dr. Andres Alonso, Baltimore City Public Schools
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Visit Baltimore launched its new campaign intended to help draw tourists and conventions to Baltimore. The "Find Your Happy Place in Baltimore" campaign kicked off with a Guinness World Record that saw 261 proud citizens forming the world's largest human smiley face.

The Find Your Happy Place in Baltimore concept is derived from extensive research that shows people, more than ever, are looking to do things that make them happy after the long economic downturn, says Visit Baltimore. According to the study, people are going back to the basics and embracing the simpler things in life that make them smile and laugh � spending quality time with family and friends and traveling, among others. Visit Baltimore is capitalizing on the national mood and trend with a comprehensive program that promotes those places and things in Baltimore that are certain to make visitors happy.

The campaign is a citywide partnership that kicks off Memorial Day Weekend with an integrated marketing platform that includes advertising on television and radio, in print, and online in key target markets such as Pittsburgh, central Pennsylvania, metropolitan Philadelphia, Richmond and Washington, D.C. Partnerships with the Maryland Science Center, National Aquarium and Baltimore Orioles, among others, are allowing Visit Baltimore to extend the campaign's advertising reach and promotional schedule to ultimately influence more potential visitors with a singular marketing message. Find Your Happy Place will run through December 2010, coinciding with an exhibition at the American Visionary Art Museum, "What Makes Us Smile," opening in October.

"Partnerships with our tourism community have become the cornerstone of our marketing efforts in recent years," says Tom Noonan, president and CEO of Visit Baltimore. "We work very closely with our hotels, attractions, museums and restaurants to gain their support and input so we can create the best sales and marketing promotions for Baltimore. We are in this together and that team spirit has never been more prevalent."

Baltimore's entire tourism community has been encouraged to participate in the Find Your Happy Place in Baltimore campaign by designating happy places at their locations and offering their own packages, special events and discounted offers that are sure to make people happy. A special microsite, www.BmoreHappy.com, will direct visitors to happy stays hotel packages; give them the ability to build custom itineraries based on what makes them happy; and provide details on how to enter a "Sweet-stakes" to win great prizes including a cruise from Baltimore on Royal Caribbean, a trip to Sarasota, Florida for Orioles spring training and a variety of other prizes.

Similar to what was done for the Waterfront Invasion in the summer of 2009, there will be Happy Place d�cor around the harbor that will reinforce the Happy Place in Baltimore message. People can even pick up a "Happy Detector" at the Baltimore Visitor Center to uncover hidden codes around the city that will provide them with entries in the Sweet-stakes.

According to Visit Baltimore, the campaign, which costs $500,000 for advertising, was funded by hotel taxes.

Tell us what you think:

Source: Visit Baltimore Writer: Walaika Haskins

Getting around the Inner Harbor may test the patience of drivers most days, but a new deal approved by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the City Council will turn the streets of Downtown Baltimore into a world-class race track in August 2011.

The 5-year agreement will allow for an IndyCar® 'Baltimore Grand Prix' street-racing event around the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards. "This is a game-changer for Baltimore," Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said after voting to approve the agreement.

The brainchild of Baltimore Racing Development (BRD), the Baltimore Grand Prix will be a three-day event that is expected to draw 100,000 indy racing enthusiasts from across the globe to Charm City and bring in some $80 million dollars to the local economy.Over five years, the race is expected to generate $11 million in direct city tax revenue, create nearly 2000 full-time equivalent jobs and $250 million in spending injected into the City's economy, according to the Economic Impact Report released by BRD.

Mayor Rawlings-Blake says that in addition to filling City hotel rooms and restaurants, the street race will "change the way the world sees Baltimore," as a result of global media exposure to millions of Indy Racing League (IRL) fans who attend similar events in Monte Carlo, San Paulo, Long Beach, and St. Petersburg. The race will be broadcast on national television to more than 3.5 million domestic viewers. Related media and marketing exposure is valued at an estimated $27.5 million over five years, according to the economic report.

As part of the agreement, Baltimore Racing Development will:

• Share event revenues with the City and pay an annual event fee.
• Comply with the City's Minority/Women Business Enterprise Program (MBE/WBE).
• Spend $12 to $14 million on race preparations, using primarily local businesses and labor.
• Create a 'Community Benefit Fund' of no less than $500 thousand over five years to make grants to community organizations in neighborhoods impacted by the event.

"BRD is deeply committed to Baltimore City. For us, making sure that all City residents, businesses, and communities benefit from this event was a top priority," says Jay Davidson, president of BRD. With the approval of today's agreement, the final sanction agreement between BRD and IRL is expected to be completed in the next two weeks, according to both organizations.

BRD and the City have already begun developing an Event Management Plan to address construction, public safety, traffic, parking, and other community impact issues. The event has already received letters of support from surrounding community associations eager to prepare for the event.

The agreement is an important milestone in making the Baltimore Grand Prix a reality. The event is a three day racing festival with many related events which will be free and open to the public. The race will include several ancillary events including a parade, fireworks, concerts, charity receptions, and celebrity races.

According to the BRD, the next step is for the Indy Racing League (IRL) to sign a sanctioning agreement. That should happen by May 31.

"The Indy Race is a huge event for Baltimore. People travel from around the world to attend and spend money in our hotels, restaurants, and attractions while they are here," says Visit Baltimore President and CEO Tom Noonan. "The national media coverage alone is worth millions of dollars in free advertising for the city that will generate new awareness of Baltimore with convention planners and leisure travelers."

Under the terms of the agreement, the City must modify and improve certain streets and sidewalks and other transportation-related infrastructure to comply the standards of the Indy Racing League.

Funds to improve roadways for the 2011 � 2016 Baltimore Grand Prix will come from two sources: Federal Highway Aid under the Surface Transportation program (STP) and a grant repayment agreement based on the City's share of state Highway User Revenues (HUR). The total estimated cost of improvements is $7.75 million comprised of $5 million STP funds and $2.75 in repayable HUR grants. In accordance with federal and state rules, these funds may only be used transportation-related expenses, and may not be diverted to other City programs.

Source: Baltimore City Mayor's Office
Writer: Walaika Haskins