Innovation + Job News
Constellation Energy, the parent company of Baltimore Gas and Electric, has dedicated a new installation of wind turbines in Western Maryland. Constellation launched the project in 2010 upon acquiring wind power start-up Criterion Wind.
The 70-megawatt Criterion Wind Project consists of 28 wind turbines positioned through an eight-mile stretch along Backbone Mountain in Garrett County. This is Maryland's first major wind power generation facility. The new facility is expected to produce enough electricity to fulfill the needs of 23,000 households.
The energy produced by the Criterion Wind Project facility will be sold to Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, which entered into a 20-year agreement to purchase the power. Old Dominion is a non-profit wholesale power provider that serves public electric cooperatives in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.
Constellation Energy is continuing to expand its green energy profile. A participant in Maryland's Generating Clean Horizons initiative, Constellation is working toward developing a 17.4 megawatt solar-based power generation installation. The project is slated to be developed on land that will be leased from Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg. The finished installation will be the largest solar photovoltaic power system in Maryland.
Upon completion, the system is expected to produce more than 22 million kilowatt hours of emissions-free electricity per year.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Kevin Thornton, Constellation Energy
The Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership has signed an agreement with Singapore's national water agency, PUB. The Memorandum of Understanding is intended to help establish collaborative relationships between Maryland-based government, science, and business groups and similar groups in Singapore. The MD-AEP's goal with this agreement is to create opportunities for the two groups of urban water management experts to work together to establish fruitful partnerships. MD-AEP wil also be working with Singapore to expand that country's urban water export model to other Asian nations.
MD-AEP led a 14 member delegation of Maryland environmental impact and water experts to Asia to participate in Singapore International Water Week 2011 in early July. The delegation was led by MD-AEP Founder and President Peter Gourlay. Also included in the team were representatives from KCI Technologies, I.M. Systems Group, Formos, and wastewater solutions company Everpure Hi-Tec Water Solutions.
Members of the delegation met with their counterparts in Singapore and high ranking government officials, and showcased Maryland's water sciences industries to conference attendees. MD-AEP also represented 10 other Maryland firms involved in water impact science and technology, including the Institute for Marine and Environmental Technology and the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership will continue working to establish relationships with other Asian countries with the goal of bringing together private sector and public sector companies to address the growing water and conservation problems faced by many countries in the rapidly developing region.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership
Blueprint Maryland, a non-profit, non-partisan business analysis group, released its first report, "Maryland's Business Climate and Vulnerability to Federal Downsizing" on July 25. The report focuses on potential job losses in Maryland in the wake of proposed federal spending cuts. Also included in the report is an assessment of Maryland's economic climate.
Conducted by the Sage Policy Group, the report presents an inventory of Maryland's assets in terms of education, infrastructure, quality of life, taxation, employment, intellectual capital, and other factors. The inventory aims to identify the relationships between these aspects of life in Maryland and the performance of the state economy.
The study also offers a model of the potential effects on Maryland's economy that could be caused by the proposed 22% reduction in federal spending recently recommended by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. The study goes on to examine what impact this reduction could have on the state's employment numbers and the effects that such a reduction in federal spending could have on the state's future economic development.
The report's findings indicate that a 22% reduction in federal spending would potentially cause the loss of nearly 150,000 federally-related jobs statewide. In their model scenario, Blueprint Maryland finds that Maryland's unemployment rate could potentially rise from 6.8 percent to 11.8 percent.
The study recommends that Maryland's focus should be on increasing private sector employment, including encouraging development in the alternative energy industry, a review of Maryland's labor union laws, and retraining programs for Marylanders living in rural areas.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Chevy Weiss, Blueprint Maryland
Baltimore Artist Spoon Popkin is using her unique perspective on pets and people to create businesses that allow her to pursue her creative passions. Her two endeavors, Popkin's Pet Portraits and Damn Good Doormats, were inspired by her own circumstances, and have allowed the artist to flex her creative muscles while capitalizing on two things that appeal to the consumer market: homes and pets.
"I've been painting my own animals since 1988 for fun. Around 2005 a friend asked me to paint her kitty and I loved it. She was ecstatic and it was a great change from painting humans. Another friend requested a portrait, then another and before I knew it I was in business," Popkin says.
Popkin paints her pet portraits either on-site in the customer's home or through photographs of the client's pet. In addition to using traditional painting styles, the artist also does pet portraits using Japanese sumi ink. Popkin has painted pet portraits for several celebrities, including Jeff Lewis of Bravo TV's "Flipping Out" and Nicole Hollander, author and creator of the syndicated cartoon "Sylvia".
Popkin was inspired to start Damn Good Doormats after a search for a doormat for her newly purchased home turned up too many impersonal examples. Damn Good Doormats offers a variety of pop culture and meme-related doormats.
"I make custom and original doormats to order. I [also] have over 40 designs in stock. Some of the most popular mats are 'The Honey Badger Don't Care', 'The Pride of Baltimore', 'Keys Wallet Cell Phone', Bigfoot, various dogs, cats, and wood grain," Popkin continues.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Spoon Popkin
Scarborough Fair Bed and Breakfast is celebrating. The Federal Hill inn was recently awarded a Certificate of Excellence by travel site TripAdvisor in recognition of their 248 perfect reviews.
"We are very happy that all of our hard work and genuine care for our guests is noticed and appreciated. Few understand the amount of emotional and physical labor that goes into not just being an innkeeper, but being a good one," says Innkeeper Barry Werner.
Scarborough Fair's Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor is also a plum for the Better Baltimore Bed and Breakfasts Association, which Werner helped to found. The association was established to unite bed and breakfast owners in the city to create promotions and draw attention to Baltimore's growing bed and breakfast scene. With the addition of the award to Scarborough Fair, five of the seven inns in the association have now received Certificates of Excellence from TripAdvisor.
"I think this award will help us to get many more reservations in the upcoming year. With so many of our association's members winning as well, it shows that our group of B&Bs are literally offering some of the very best accommodations available," Werner says.
Currently, Scarborough Fair is beginning planning and promotions for their annual "Scarecation Celebration" in October, celebrating haunted history and attractions in Baltimore.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Barry Werner, Scarborough Fair Bed and Breakfast
As emerging consumer markets in Asia continue to heat up, US manufacturers are seeking new ways to get their goods into the hands of overseas consumers. Companies like 20 North are establishing a niche that facilitates the process.
"Let's face it; there is a shrinking market for many consumer products in the US due to the economic downturn. We all need to look overseas for new customers and many of them find the products and brands we enjoy highly attractive," says 20 North Managing Director Richard Palarea.
20 North aims to provide a pipeline to the emerging consumer market in India by providing manufacturers of US consumer goods with a marketing, distribution, and supply chain that allows them to sell their products to the Indian market without having to establish their own sales and distribution presence.
The company allows consumers in India to shop for consumer goods at their website, with the item's price, including shipping and duties, listed in rupees. 20 North then processes the order for the manufacturer, who receives payment for their goods in US dollars and ships the order to a US warehouse for reshipment to India.
"There is a huge demand in India for specialty products that we take for granted here, such as iPhone accessories, home improvement products, gadgets and household items, watches, and niche apparel. We are solving the problem of 'where can we find more sales' for these types of manufacturers by connecting them to our already-built pipeline directly into India," Palarea says.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Richard Palarea, 20 North
SoloParenting.com launched recently to provide advice, resources, and a supportive community for single, separated, and divorced parents. Founder Tanzi Craig was inspired to launch the website and create an online community for solo parents when looking for online support following her own separation.
"I remembered being awake at 3 a.m. during the initial months of separation, scared and lonely, with no one to talk to about everything I was freaking out about. Then I thought, there's got to be a website that has info about all the things that keep you up at night. When I searched I really didn't find what I was looking for. So I decided to create [it]," Craig says.
The website is designed to be a portal for single parents to access resources that will make them feel less isolated. Peer-to-peer advice and articles on finances, dating, travel, activities, and relationships offer perspectives to single parents that encourage them to be connected to the community. SoloParenting.com also offers anonymous message boards for solo parents to connect with one another.
"There were an awful lot of blogs out there by single parents but those are awfully narrow and you really have to look around for someone with whom you feel connected. Plus their advice might be right on but they aren't psychotherapists, physicians, attorneys, experts about different topics. I allow readers to submit questions for these types of experts and get real answers back," Craig continues.
The growing website will be looking to expand its offerings in the area soon, with webinars and workshops designed to help single parents deal with their unique challenges. The site is also looking to add more contributors and experts to its roster.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Tanzi Craig, SoloParenting.com
Baltimore Entrepreneur James Cullen was looking for more fulfillment from life than his career as a lawyer was providing. He found an outlet for his creativity by becoming a designer of custom stickers. His growing sticker company, My Custom Sticker, recently launched a new website to sell both pop culture and custom sticker designs directly to the public.
"I was walking my dog, and I noticed that every other car in my neighborhood had a Nantucket sticker on one side of their bumper and a Maryland Club parking sticker on the other. I happen to know the Maryland Club only has 12 parking places. It struck me that people like to advertise what they do, what they're proud of, where they belong, or what they like," Cullen says.
The Hunt Valley-based company is growing. My Custom Sticker employs 9 people, but is looking to add staff. The company recently added four designs from the popular BBC television series Doctor Who to their catalog. My Custom Sticker has expanded their catalog for wide appeal, from 50 designs at launch to over 1600 designs today.
"We started out doing area-specific souvenirs using text, but what began to set us apart is our graphics. For example, we have over 100 dog breeds. We have everything from New Age to Celtic to hunting and fishing to sports. Our stickers give you an inexpensive way to display what makes you unique and how you relate to everyone else," Cullen continues.
The company is focusing now on developing a business-to-business website, allowing wholesale clients to buy in bulk or create their own designs. My Custom Sticker expects to have the new B2B site up and running by the end of this year.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: James Cullen, My Custom Sticker
Maryland's growing game industry was on display at Artscape this weekend. Sponsors MAGfest and Innovate Baltimore helped put together the showcase, held in the Pinkard Gallery at the Bunting Center on the campus of the Maryland Institute College of Art. Innovate Baltimore co-founder Ben Walsh organized Gamescape to encourage area video game fans to take a look at what Baltimore's game industry has to offer.
"I was inspired to create Gamescape because I love video games and wanted to share what the local community is creating. This gives us a chance to highlight the creative artists and technologists working in Maryland to create video games. We're hoping to inspire more people to pursue it as a career, and possibly follow the artists they see this weekend," Walsh says.
Over a dozen game designers and companies from Baltimore and other areas presented displays and demos of their most recent games, from iPad applications and Flash games to first person shooters and interactive story games. Gamescape also featured a fine arts display from prominent area game designers, and workshops by professional game developers to connect with artists considering game development as a career choice. Classic arcade games were also on display.
"With all of the great universities around, Baltimore has a ton of great emerging developers. However, historically, many of those graduating students have left Baltimore, so it is hard to find veteran experience. But Baltimore has many wonderful amenities, including affordable housing, that make it an appealing place for aging developers to come and raise a family," Walsh continues.
Walsh is currently launching a new Baltimore-based game company, Pure Bang Games. Their newest game, "My Pet Rock", was demonstrated at this year's Gamescape.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Ben Walsh, Innovate Baltimore
Inspired by stories he sees when filming in troubled parts of the world, Baltimore documentary filmmaker Richard Lakin is looking to use his company, 18 rabbits digital media, to inspire change and draw attention to the problems faced by people in some of the world's most challenged places.
"Most of our pop media is obsessed with the trivial; the scandals of political figures, what Kim Kardashian is up to, or yet another vampire story. When I'm on these travels, I meet a lot of people who are serious about making a real change in the world. Telling their stories is my way of clearing out some of the clutter and focusing on real issues," Lakin says.
The company has partnered with foundations, NGOs, and non-profits from the US and around the globe to create social media strategies that draw attention to the work being done in countries like Honduras and Kenya. 18 rabbits also works with organizations to promote corporate responsibility, sustainability initiatives, and education.
"I believe that social media has the ability to change perceptions and influence policy, and that is my approach to web campaigns. Some people still think that promoting their cause on outlets like Facebook and Twitter is not something to be taken seriously, and use traditional media outlets for their branding, marketing, and public image. They are being left out of the global conversation," Lakin notes.
18 rabbits digital media recently entered into a partnership with an organization that promotes sustainable business practices and corporate social responsibility initiatives in the Middle East/ North Africa region, and will be providing content production and web strategies.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Richard Lakin, 18 rabbits digital media
NASA is studying air pollution in the Baltimore/DC area. In flyovers of the region, the agency is measuring air quality in several spots throughout the corridor. The flights are intended to measure the accuracy of air quality measurements taken from satellites.
Measuring air quality from satellites can be a challenge. Satellites that measure air quality can have problems distinguishing between pollution that is measured high in the atmosphere and pollution closer to the ground that affects quality of life. NASA is using P-3B research aircraft to conduct the flyovers.
The measurements will be coordinated with satellite measurements to test the accuracy of the satellite equipment and help air quality scientists determine ways to refine the technology to provide better measurements. NASA's DISCOVER-AQ, which stands for Deriving Information on Surface conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality, is led from the Langley Research center in Hampton, VA. The mission is an Earth Science Team research program in concert with the Maryland Department of the Environment and the EPA.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Maryland Department of the Environment
The head of Baltimore's Marion I. and Henry J. Knott Foundation says an expansion of Maryland's million-dollar Community Investment Tax Credit program to include corporate donors could help non-profit organizations expand their physical investments in the city, in addition to boosting programming.
"When I directed Light Street Housing, we used the CITC program to develop new relationships and garner tens of thousands of increased donations," says Knott Foundation executive director Greg Cantori.
Under the CITC, organizations that have received grants from foundations or other grantmakers can distribute tax credits to donors in order to spur more strategic giving. Donors, in turn, receive a tax credit that can be added to state and federal deductions the same year, or rolled over for as many as five years.
Donors can find non-profit organizations that match their giving goals and have available tax credits on the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's GIVE Maryland site, here: http://www.mdhousing.org/givemaryland/
Writer: Sam Hopkins
Source: Greg Cantori, Knott Foundation
In June, the Living Classrooms Foundation broke ground on a new youth sports field in Patterson Park with the support of Under Armour and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. As that project moves forward, Living Classrooms is adapting a historic two-story firehouse on Caroline Street in the Perkins Homes community.
The first floor of the firehouse will include a multi-purpose space for after-school programming to add to the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center on East Fayette Street. The first floor will also include a community technology center. The second floor will hold offices for Living Classrooms staff and the Perkins Homes Tenant Council as well as conference rooms and space for community health fairs.
Perkins Homes is part of the Living Classrooms Target Investment Zone in East Baltimore, and the firehouse will be renovated with the help of participants in Project SERVE, Living Classrooms' initiative to lower recidivism and raise the employment rate among those re-entering Baltimore communities following incarceration.
Writer: Sam Hopkins
Source: Talib Horne, Living Classrooms
Energy efficient lighting solutions has been a growth driver for Mobern Lighting in Laurel. The company has increased staff by 40% over the last six months, adding 30 positions, and is planning to expand with a national distribution chain.
"We have been constantly adding staff. We are still looking for a good operational person and inside sales help. We have been growing at a rate that is not sustainable with current staff," says Mobern Lighting President William Stone.
Mobern Lighting specializes in manufacturing high quality commercial grade lighting for new construction and providing energy efficient retrofit lighting for existing structures. Some of their biggest clients include Rexel and Dominion Electric. Mobern's products have been used in several recent local projects, including energy efficient lighting work done at Baltimore Washington International Airport, The National Institute of Science and Technology, and Camden Yards.
"Our biggest challenge is handling our expansion from a Mid-Atlantic Regional concern to a manufacturer with a national presence. We are adding warehouses in other areas of the US and will need to be able to manage them effectively," Stone says.
In addition to manufacturing and developing energy efficient lighting products, Mobern Lighting also works to educate distributors, contractors, and business leaders about the benefits of choosing green lighting. The company holds classes and seminars to encourage greater use of green lighting technology in both new construction and retrofit projects.
"I feel strongly that a company should be an extension of the community it serves. With that in mind I hire locally, belong to various local organizations, and try to take an active role in community endeavors. We have donated energy efficient product to local non-profits to help minimize their electrical costs and consumption," Stone says.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: William Stone, Mobern Lighting
Maryland leads the country in university conducted life sciences research per capita, according to a new report published by The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. The Life Sciences Maryland: Jobs and Economic Impact Report was released by Governor O'Malley at the BIO 2011 International Conference in Washington, DC.
The life sciences sector has been a major source of new job growth in Maryland in the last decade. Between 2002 and 2010, the life sciences sector was responsible for one third of Maryland's job gains. Life sciences jobs pay an average of 76% more than other jobs in the state, with an average salary of more than $91,000. The majority of the region's jobs in life sciences are in Research, Testing and Medical Labs, and Drugs and Pharmaceuticals. These specializations account for 94% of Maryland's life sciences jobs.
Life sciences activity, including private sector jobs, Federally related jobs, and academic activity accounts for 71,618 Maryland jobs, or 3% of all jobs in the state. There are 15 Federal facilities, 16 universities or colleges, and over 500 private companies conducting life sciences research in Maryland. With more than 1700 private companies supporting and producing products for the life sciences sector in the state, Maryland ranks fifth in the country for overall concentration of jobs that are directly tied to life sciences.
Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development