Amanda Bosland, Author at Rockville Economic Development, Inc

Governor Moore Announces $10 Million for Small Business Grants to Strengthen Local Economies Across Maryland

"Together, we will continue to make Maryland more competitive by moving in concert with entrepreneurs and small businesses – not in conflict with them.”

Annapolis, MD, Feb. 21, 2024 – Governor Wes Moore today announced $10 million for small business and community development grants through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Project Restore 2.0 and Business Boost grant programs. The funding will activate vacant spaces in business corridors, support small businesses with start up or expansion funds, create jobs, and increase local economic activity—all to make Maryland more competitive.

“When storefronts close down, our entire state feels it. Now is the time to work in partnership with the private sector to revitalize our business districts, and that’s what this grant funding is about,” said Gov. Moore. Together, we will continue to make Maryland more competitive by moving in concert with entrepreneurs and small businesses – not in conflict with them.”

Project Restore 2.0 will provide $8 million to designated Main Streets, Arts and Entertainment Districts and other economic development organizations in a designated Sustainable Community. Grants of up to $300,000 per applicant will go to organizations that have identified priority vacant storefronts or buildings in local business districts. Those organizations would then sub-grant the funding to businesses for rental assistance, renovation and equipment to activate those vacant spaces. Businesses that receive sub-granted funds will have until December 2025 to open and be operational.

Business Boost is launching its first round of grant funding with $2 million that will be awarded directly to eligible small business owners in amounts between $20,000 and $50,000. The businesses must be new or expanding and located in designated Sustainable Communities. Preference will be given to businesses that are home-based and seeking their first commercial location, are designated as a Minority Business Enterprise, that are innovative, focused on regional strengths to grow local economies, or leverage partnerships between school districts or other education institutions in Maryland.

“By strengthening the successful Project Restore grants to fill storefronts on Maryland main streets and launching Business Boost, we are building on what we know to be the best way to help grow Maryland communities’ economies: from the center out, empowering locally-owned businesses, and bringing life back to vacant storefronts,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “These grants are just the beginning of the department’s renewed efforts to double down on the hearts of our cities and towns, maximizing the positive impact of our funding to create lovable places and help businesses choose to set up shop in Maryland.”

Applications will open on March 13 for small business owners to apply through Business Boost and for economic development organizations to apply through Project Restore 2.0. For more information on either grant opportunity, go to https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Business/Pages/Small-Business-Grants.aspx.

Link to press release: https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press/pages/governor-moore-announces-10-million-for-small-business-grants-to-strengthen-local-economies-across-maryland.aspx

Business Spotlight: Snowden Funeral Home

“A Legacy of Celebrating Life”

Could you share the origin and history of Snowden Funeral Home?

Snowden Funeral Home was established over one hundred years ago and has been operated by the Snowden family through four generations. The founder of the firm, George Russell Snowden, handled his first funeral service in 1909 in Howard County, Maryland. After graduating from the Hennard School of Embalming in New York City, he advertised that he was open for business. His hearse was a spectacle to see riding through the county, being drawn by four beautiful white horses. In 1926, Snowden Funeral Home established its Rockville location at North Washington Street.

Because of ill health, Mr. Snowden turned the business over to his son, Robert L. Snowden, in 1936. Having worked with his father, from meager beginnings, Robert L. had to borrow money and equipment to maintain a properly equipped funeral home. In 1947, Robert L.’s wife, Alma P. Snowden, became a licensed Maryland funeral director and worked side by side with her husband Robert. Her active participation in funeral service ended when she retired in 1971.

The funeral home on North Washington Street has since undergone changes to its original structure. In 1947, the original wood structure was moved from its foundation, so that business was not interrupted, while a new structure was built. In 1947 a new brick building for the funeral home was built and an adjoining property was added to expand the business.

In 1974, Robert L. Snowden retired and turned the funeral business over to his son, George R. Snowden, Sr., and daughter, Irene Snowden Curry. After the passing of their father in 1979, George and Irene made it their mission to exemplify the same passion and concern for bereaved families which they learned from their parents. Today the Snowden family’s legacy of celebrating life is managed and operated by the leadership of George R. Snowden, Jr.

How has your business adapted its services and practices over time while maintaining a connection to historical roots?

Although a lot of things have changed since the establishment of Snowden Funeral Home, such as using horse drawn hearse, having wakes at the residence of decease, and meticulously hand carving outer burial containers. What has not changed is our resolve to serve every family that God entrusts us to care for at life’s only inevitable stage.

Today the Snowden family’s legacy of celebrating life is managed and operated by the leadership of George R. Snowden, Jr. In 2009 George R. Jr. along with his wife Dia H. Snowden took over the helm as the fourth generation, overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations of the funeral home.

What makes Snowden Funeral Home unique?

Aside from being the only African American funeral home in Montgomery County, Snowden Funeral Home embodies its motto ‘Personal caring service.’

It is the hope of the Snowden Family that the Funeral Home continues to operate as a family business in the generations to come, and to serve the people of the area with dignity and pride. The Snowden family exemplifies a family with deep roots of strength and unity.

Are there any community events or initiatives that Snowden Funeral Home has been/will be involved in?

Through the years, the Snowden Family has been generous in their participation and collaboration with churches, community events as well as many charitable organizations. Snowden Funeral Home supports sports teams in the City of Rockville, donates to scholarship funds of many organizations in the County, contributes to many community promoted events and sponsors a back-to-school, Believe to Succeed, backpack campaign to help our youth start the school year off needed school supplies.

What advice would give to new businesses aiming to become long-standing within the community?

First and foremost, having a heart of service is paramount to maintaining good relationships with others. Caring about their needs and making an effort to ensure that you leave an impression of making someone feel important and cared for.

About Snowden Funneral Home

Founded by George Russell Snowden, Snowden Funeral Home P.A. has been family-owned and operated since the early 1900’s. Throughout four generations, Snowden Funeral Home continues to provide premier professional services to families at its Rockville location since 1926. Learn more at https://www.snowdencares.com/

Celebrating and Elevating Rockville’s Black Businesses

In recognition of Black History Month, REDI launched an ongoing project that highlights Black-owned businesses in our local economy while also connecting them to resources that support growth including:

Workshops, seminars and one-on-one business counseling through the Maryland Women’s Business Center
Business incentives and grants like the Rockville Small Business Impact Fund, Rockville MOVE Program and the Business Expansion Fund
Updates with industry-specific resources, funding resources and more through REDI’s newsletters

Business Name	Category	Address	Website
ACB Precision Focus Photography	Photographer	15209 Frederick Rd, Rockville, MD 20850	http://www.acbprecisionfocus.com/
Wilniq Auto Body & Mechanical Repair	Auto Body Shop	15563 Frederick Rd Shop J, Rockville, MD 20855	https://wilniq.business.site/
S.L. Johnson Plumbing and Heating	Plumber	330 N Stonestreet Ave Suite T, Rockville, MD 20850
Creative Motion Events by Fay	Event Planner	Rockville	https://www.creativemotionevents.org/
Island Pride	Restaurant	823 Hungerford Dr, Rockville, MD 20850	http://www.jamaicanfoodrockville.com/
York Castle Ice Cream	Ice Cream Shop	827 Hungerford Dr, Rockville, MD 20850	https://www.facebook.com/York-Castle-Ice-Cream-1222731884411060/#_=_
Excalibur Moving and Storage	Moving and Storage	12221 Parklawn Dr, Rockville, MD 20852	http://www.excalibur-movers.com/
Black Lion Coffee & Café	Café	9705 Traville Gateway Dr, Rockville, MD 20850	http://blacklioncafe.com/
Revered Medical, LLC	Medical Clinic	6246 Montrose Rd, North Bethesda, MD 20852	https://reveredmedical.com/
Illumnovate	Project Management	9709 Key West Ave, Rockville, MD 20850	https://illumnovate.net
Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce	Business Organization	15800 Crabbs Branch Way, Suite 300. Rockville, MD 20855	https://www.marylandbcc.org/
Fight into Fitness	Boxing Gym	15213 Display Ct, Rockville, MD 20850	https://www.fightintofitness.com/
Impaired Artistry Institute	Studio	966 Hungerford Dr, #31B, Rockville, MD 20850	https://www.impairedartistryinstitute.org/
DMV Movers, LLC	Moving	15955 Frederick Road, Rockville MD 20855	https://dmvmoversllc.com/
Rife International, LLC	Renewable Energy Consultant	2275 Research Blvd., Suite 500, Rockville, MD 20850	https://rifeintl.com/
Betah Associates, Inc.	Business Consultant	199 E. Montogomery Ave., Rockville, MD 20850	https://www.betah.com/
At Eaze Massage	Massuese	5801 Fishers Ln, Suite 108, Rockville, MD 20852	https://www.ateazemassage.com/
WFT Engineering, Inc.	Engineering Consultant	1801 Research Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850	https://wfteng.com/
Unlimited Detailing	Auto Care	2383 Lewis Ave, Rockville, MD 20851	https://www.unlimiteddetailinginc.com/
Omega 3 Nutrition	Food Manufacturing	1313 E Gude, Rockville, MD, 20850	https://eatomega3.com/
Walk in Closet Beauty Bar	Personal Care	211 E Middle Ln, Rockville, MD 20850	https://walkinclosetbeauty.com/
Bubblegum Spa	Event Location/Planner	1680 E Gude Dr #100, Rockville, MD 20850	https://bubblegumspa.com/
Snowden Funeral Home	Funeral Home/Services	246 N. Washington Street, Rockville, MD 20850	https://www.snowdencares.com/
Ethiopis Restaurant	Restaurant	825 Hungerford Dr, Rockville, MD 20850	https://www.ethiopisrestaurant.com/
Lion Solutions, LLC	Information Technology	7361 Calhoun Place, Rockville, MD 20855	https://lionsolutions.com/
Hammer & Stain Rockville	Arts & Decor	107-B Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD 20850	https://www.hammerandstainrockville.com/
First Choice Primary Care	Medical Practice	9715 Medical Center Drive, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20850	https://www.firstchoiceprimary.com/
TruBlu Cleaning Pros	Commercial Cleaning	1451 Rockville Pike, Suite 250, Rockville, MD 20852	https://www.trublucleaning.com/

We encourage and appreciate the submission of additional Black-owned businesses in Rockville!

Investments in Rockville companies exceed $455 million in 2023

In 2023, Rockville companies received $455 million out of $2.2 billion in investments throughout Montgomery County

Press Release published by Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)

Montgomery County, Maryland, companies had a strong year of investment in 2023, with more than $2.2 billion generated through more than 100 deals. Companies in a wide range of industries, from life sciences and technology to manufacturing and real estate, brought in substantial investments, showcasing a positive economic direction going into 2024.

Life sciences companies in Montgomery County continue to be a powerful driver of investment, with more than $500 million dollars generated in 2023. Montgomery County anchors the thriving Biohealth Capital Region, which rose from #4 to #3 in the top 10 of U.S. biopharma clusters.

Recent highlights for Montgomery County’s ongoing life sciences success include:

Deka Biosciences closed $60 million to continue developing drugs for patients suffering from cancer and autoimmune diseases;
Welcoming Amgen to Montgomery County through a $28 billion acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics, now building its North American technical center in Rockville;
The impact of two life science leaders and soon-to-be neighboring companies: MilliporeSigma and Horizon Therapeutics, together represent more than $500 million invested in new facilities;
Selecta Biosciences merging with Cartesian Therapeutics, which included a $60.25 million private financing deal for Cartesian.

“Deka Biosciences has grown exponentially as part of Montgomery County’s Business Innovation Network,” said Deka President & CEO John Mumm. “We wouldn’t be where we are without them. They have completely enabled us to grow faster than I’ve ever grown a company before,” he explained about the incubator facility.

Nine companies in the manufacturing sector received funding in 2023, including MasPanadas, a home-grown success story. With a recent influx of investment, MasPanadas is in the process of building a space that will triple its square footage to 18,000, while adding another 70 employees.

“Our company continues to thrive here with exceptional growth in annual sales and our client base including having our products in national grocery chains,” said Margarita Womack, founder of MasPanadas. “Montgomery County has been a great partner providing connections to programs, tax credit assistance and funding. We are excited about our growth and expansion plans.”

Another highlight in the manufacturing arena is Eat the Change, which received a $14 million venture capital investment. Co-owner Seth Goldman, who is also co-founder of PLNT Burger and Honest Tea, said: “Downtown Bethesda may not be Silicon Valley or Route 128, but with its active startup community and experienced workforce, it has served us well as the perfect location to launch and scale a mission-driven tea brand…twice! Our success with Honest Tea helped us launch Just Ice Tea in 90 days, and then close our Series A $14 million financing in just 60 days. Just Ice Tea, a product of mission-based Eat the Change, is now the nation’s top-selling organic tea brand and we look forward to continued expansion into mainstream channels.”

Technology leaders continue to thrive in Montgomery County, with close to 50 companies receiving funding. Companies include Quantum Xchange, GivHero, and Aledade. Rockville-based N5 Sensors received $2.5 million in funding for its proprietary cloud-connected ecosystem of smart sensors to keep people safe from environmental hazards. N5 Sensors’ CEO Abhishek Motayed says the company has grown from seven people to over 25 in their three years in Montgomery County. “We plan to open a second facility, a high-tech semiconductor manufacturing center, to support advanced R&D and product delivery for different critical markets from defense to environmental detection.”

Montgomery County is a welcoming home to businesses with a diverse economy, top talent pools, access to funding and anchored by major federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

“By many measures, 2023 was a very good year for the Montgomery County economy and I applaud the successful efforts of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We are expanding our economy by building on our strengths as well as opening our doors to new opportunities. We are better equipped to address challenging issues, and we are making progress. This was reinforced during our economic development trips to Taiwan, India, and Vietnam last year. People, around this nation and throughout this world, know Montgomery County, Md., as a welcoming and diverse place with a wealth of talent and plenty of possibilities. I am looking forward to more economic success in 2024.”

“The robust investment in Montgomery County companies is a testament to our pioneering spirit, diversity, and exceptional climate for business growth,” said Bill Tompkins, president and CEO of Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. “While the country as a whole has experienced a downturn in funding, investments in Montgomery County businesses, especially in life sciences, continues to be strong.”

Here are the Rockville companies that raised funding through IPO, private funding and venture capital in 2023:

Accelerator/Incubator

Virtual Apprentice

Grant

Axel Informatics – $125,760,000

Initial Public Offering (IPO)

OS Therapies – $10,000,000

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

Private Equity

Quince Orchard Psychotherapy
CytoTest – $840,000

Seed

MasPanadas
NeuroCytonix – $4,010,000
N5 Sensors – $2,500,000
AuthMind – $8,490,000

Venture Capital (VC)

Kaigene
OS Therapies – $2,000,000
X Energy – $25,000,000
Rise Therapeutics – $200,000
Bearn – $1,000,000
Polaris Genomics – $1,000,000
AgNovos Bioscience – $31,470,000
Ally Behavior Centers
ConstructivIQ
Machfu – $500,000
CellPhire Therapeutics – $2,000,000
X Energy – $235,000,000

View the entire list of Montgomery County companies here: Montgomery County, MD Investments in 2023

View the full press release here: https://thinkmoco.com/blog/2023-moco-investment

AstraZeneca expands US manufacturing footprint with $300 million Rockville manufacturing facility

The state-of-the-art facility will bring 150 new highly-skilled jobs

Wilmington, De., Feb. 6, 2024 – AstraZeneca is investing $300 million in a state-of-the-art facility in Rockville, Maryland to launch its life-saving cell therapy platforms in the US for critical cancer trials and future commercial supply. More than 150 new highly skilled jobs will be created to initially focus on manufacturing T-cell therapies to enable clinical trials to be conducted around the world. Over time, the site may expand its focus to support other disease areas.

The site represents the latest investment in cell therapy for AstraZeneca following collaborations with Quell therapeutics, AbelZeta, Cellectis, and the acquisition of Neogene Therapeutics.

Pam Cheng, Executive Vice President of Global Operations & IT and Chief Sustainability Officer, AstraZeneca, said: “We are incredibly excited that more than 150 new highly skilled jobs are being created to bring our scientific work and therapies to clinical trials which could transform the lives of patients around the world. This new $300 million investment will accelerate our ambition to make next-generation cell therapy a reality, ensuring that we are ready to scale and meet the demands of patients.”

The facility in Rockville, MD is located less than five miles away from one of the company’s five global R&D centers and sits within the booming life sciences corridor in Maryland. With close proximity to several universities, the life sciences ecosystem provides an attractive environment for recruiting new and experienced talent.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore said: “AstraZeneca and the State of Maryland share a deep commitment to innovation. It makes us the perfect pairing for this next-generation cell therapy facility. This significant investment in our life sciences sector will help maintain Maryland’s leadership in the industry and sharpen our competitive edge. We are deeply grateful for AstraZeneca’s partnership and continued commitment to our state.”

The Rockville facility will join AstraZeneca’s global manufacturing and supply network of nearly 30 manufacturing and supply sites in 16 countries, which are either currently operational or under development across the company. In the US, AstraZeneca’s manufacturing sites focus on the production of small molecules and biologics, harnessing leading pharmaceutical technology and development. Together, the US manufacturing sites employ more than 2,600 full-time employees and deliver more than 9 billion doses of medicines annually.

View the full press release here: https://www.astrazeneca-us.com/media/press-releases/2024/astrazeneca-expands-us-manufacturing-footprint-to-accelerate-ambitions-in-next-generation-cell-therapy-discovery-and-development.html

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Learn more at https://www.astrazeneca-us.com/

Rockville biohealth companies shortlisted for BioBuzz 4th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Awards

The awards celebrate the people, programs, and organizations who go above and beyond to support the success of the community, industry and patients

BioBuzz, a regional biohealth media, event and industry hub, has announced the finalists of its 4th annual awards in the BioHealth Capital Region. BioBuzz’s annual awards celebrate the people, programs and organizations who go above and beyond to support the success of their communities, industry, and the patients that ultimately benefit.

Six categories are recognized annually:

The ‘Jonh Holaday’ BioHealth Leadership Award – Presented to a servant leader who carries on the legacy of late renowned scientist, CEO, philantropist, mentor and community leader, John Holaday, Ph.D. whose personal credo was ‘do well by doing good.’
The Community Builder Award – Presented to a thoughtful community builder that fosters intentional collaborations and meaningful contributions of time, energy and expertise to support the biohealth ecosystems in the BioHealth Capital Region.
The Workforce Champion of the Year Award – Recognizes a program or organization that has made a measurable contribution to enhancing the biotech workforce within the BioHealth Capital Region.
The Startup of the Year Award (New) – Recognizes outstanding achievements and innovations of startups within the field of life sciences
The Breakthrough Life Science Company of the Year – Awarded to a company that has pursued its mission with dedication and perseverance, and built momentum towards commercialization with a substantial breakthrough in the past year.
The Employer of the Year – Recognizes a life science company that has built an exceptional workforce, and developed an employee-centric culture that keeps employees engaged and empowers company ambassadorship.

Finalists among the six award categories include the following Rockville-based life science leaders, companies and organizations:

Jeff Galvin, CEO of American Gene Technologies and AddImmune (John Holaday BioHealth Leadership Award finalist)
Rich Bendis, Founder & President, BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (Community Builder Award finalist)
Bio-Trac at Montgomery College, led by Mark Nardone (Workforce Champion of the Year finalist)
BioHub Maryland lead by BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (Workforce Champion of the Year finalist)
MilliporeSigma (Employer of the Year finalist)

Voting for the BioBuzz 2023 awards ends on Thursday, February 29th.

Business Spotlight: Lion Solutions

“We Listen, We Observe, We Collaborate, We Deliver.”

What services does Lion Solutions offer?

Lion Solutions is an Enterprise Information Technology Services and Solutions company that delivers technology modernization for public sector government, non-profit and private organizations across Infrastructure Operations for Managed IT Services, IT Professional & Support Services, Operations & Maintenance, Data Center Management, IT Project Management, Continuity & Contingency Planning, IT Hardware & Software Procurement and IT Staffing.

What motivated you to start Lion Solutions?

I’m a native Washingtonian, raised in a single-family household and the oldest of 2 younger siblings. Technology was always an interest to me at a very young age, as video gaming with my Atari 2600 and Commodore 64 propelled my interest in technology. Through my middle-school and high school years I took any and every computer class that was available including “Introduction to Programming”, “Computer Applications”, “DBase” and “Early DOS 6.x”. I later attended Community College in Prince Georges County and transferred to Strayer College as a Computer Information Systems major. Later attended Computer Learning Center in Laurel, MD. and specialized in Network Information Systems and certified as Certified Novell Administrator – CNA back in 1997.

As I developed through my professional career as a subject matter expert, technical lead and mid-level manager which started in April 1998 through January 2016 across many disciplines in Enterprise IT Service delivery, it was time to take my next big step into the next level of leadership, which for me was Entrepreneurship. Lion Solutions was then born on January 19th, 2016.

What makes Lion Solutions unique?

Our approach and mindset to customer relationship building is key to our success as we have adopted the mindset of “We listen, We observe, We collaborate, We deliver” approach of doing business. My 26+ years of subject matter experience and technical leadership is the motivation to the way our team approaches “Leadership, Integrity, Opportunity and Network” LION which everyone is responsible for bringing this type mindset to the customer table. We also organically believe that “customer and community” are one in the same, so our community partners are just as important as our paying customer partners. We must engage and collaborate successfully with both audiences to truly drive change, opportunity and success!

Can you share a milestone that has defined your business’ presence in its industry?

We have a newer initiative that we are truly excited about that is scheduled for programming and launch in calendar Q2 ’24 called our “Career Catapult Bootcamp Program” which focuses on promoting and offering Information Technology training to minority and disadvantaged individuals who are either just newly interested in tech, seeking career change into tech, age discriminated in present job or justice impacted. This program is the bridge to tech-equity for those “who believe they can” or “wonder if I could” be that next tech professional. We focus on supporting and motivating the growth of filling the technology job shortage around technology professionals by providing this 12 – 15hr aggressive bootcamp program through our CompTIA Delivery Partnership. This program will be offered in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area as well as Charlotte, North Carolina in the later year. It’s going to be AMAZING outcomes in our community!

Why did you choose to run your business in Rockville?

I have been living in Montgomery County for almost 20 years and wanted to be sure my business was built in this community. I also spent most of my adolescence growing up in Prince Georges County (our neighboring county, much respect) and made a move to this community to be physically closer to my oldest child during her elementary years. There was a GovCon Incubator Program that provided the necessities, resources and business guidance to support the growth of small businesses that specialize in government contracting which brought our home base out to this specific Rockville community. We have most recently opened a second office presence in Silver Spring, MD.

About Lion Solutions

Lion Solutions is a certified disadvantaged small business that specializes in providing Enterprise IT Services and Solutions to public, private and non-profit organizations. With over 25+ years of experience delivering IT Enterprise Services to Federal Civilian Government we focus on delivering modernized solutions to support digital transformation efforts in driving those missions forward leveraging our customer collaboration focused approach of doing business into the future. Learn more about Lion Solutions at www.lionsolutions.com.

WorkSource Montgomery introduces the Montgomery County Career Advisory Program

MoCo CAP helps address the College and Career Readiness pillar in the Blueprint for Maryland's future

MoCo CAP, short for Montgomery County Career Advisory Program, is a collaborative effort headed by WorkSource Montgomery, along with partners Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Montgomery College, and the Universities at Shady Grove. The goal is to address the College and Career Readiness pillar laid out by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future legislation.

This multi-phase program will ultimately work with the nearly 90,000 MCPS students in grades 6 through 12 to equip them to meet the required standards. They will explore their skills, interests, and values in order to pursue a more intentional life after graduation.

To achieve these goals, MoCo CAP Career Coaches are placed in every MCPS middle, high, and special school throughout the county. Working closely with MCPS educators’ ongoing efforts in the classroom, these Career Coaches aid students with personalized career advising as they learn to advocate for themselves and explore diverse areas of interest. Coaches also help students navigate post-graduate options, including attending a 2- to 4-year traditional college or vocational school, beginning an apprenticeship, pursuing military service, or other career pathways.

What does MoCo CAP Mean for employers?

One of MoCo CAP’s goals is to close the skills gap between employers and employees in Montgomery County. Career Coaches will help students connect their education and the world of work, as well as present more opportunities for students to get training and real-world experience.

Employers can collaborate in a variety of ways to aid students:

Participate in virtual info sessions
Act as guest speakers
Support career fairs & networking events
Offer workshops & training sessions
Sponsor various opportunities
Host mentorship, internship, or apprenticeship programs

Working with MoCo CAP offers not only more opportunities for students, but also for employers, including:

Exposing a pool of potential future employees to new career options and nuting talent aligned with your specific business needs
Displaying and expanding corporate social responsibility by contributing to education and skill development
Exposing your business and brand to the MoCo community at-large, including students, families, educators, etc.
Building relationships with educational institutions, potential partners, and other businesses supporting the program
Collaborating with students to foster a culture of innovation with fresh perspective

For more information, contact mococapindustry@worksourcemontgomery.com or visit the MoCo CAP website.

Renovus Capital Partners announce investment in Behavioral Framework

Founded in 2017 in Rockville, Behavioral Framework helps children diagnosed with autism and their families understand, improve and lead functional productive lives

Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 3, 2024 – Renovus Capital Partners announced an investment in Behavioral Framework, a leading provider of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Behavioral Framework was founded in 2017 in Rockville, Maryland by Angela West, with the mission of helping children diagnosed with autism and their families understand, improve, and lead functional, productive lives. Behavioral Framework’s best-in-class clinical model leverages the scientific principles of ABA, a family-focused mindset, and an organization-wide commitment to excellence to unlock each child’s potential. Pathways, a division of Behavioral Framework, provides autism diagnostic services. Behavioral Framework’s dedicated team serves children and families across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Renovus to Behavioral Framework and usher in the next chapter of our growth as we continue to build a world-class autism services organization focused squarely on the needs of our clients and their families,” said Kyle West, Behavioral Framework CEO. “There is a critical need nationwide for autism diagnostics and ABA therapy. Operating from our shared values and vision, the Renovus team will help us accelerate our growth and provide life-changing diagnostics and therapy to as many children and families as possible.”

“Kyle and Angela have established a strong leadership position in the growing ABA space with a unique focus on compassion for the people they serve and achieving measurable results on their behalf,” said Jesse Serventi, Founding Partner at Renovus. “We are proud to support a passionate team as we seek to advance the important impact Behavioral Framework is making in the lives of children and families affected by autism, while growing to reach new communities.”

“Our success in helping our clients achieve meaningful outcomes is built around holding ourselves to the absolute highest standards, individualized care, and a family focus,” said Angela West, Behavioral Framework Chief Clinical Officer. “Our decades of experience have taught us that strong leadership combined with research-based programming and compassionate care are fundamental keys to better outcomes for patients on their path to independence. Renovus shares this commitment and we look forward to their support in the coming years.”

A team led by senior banker Erika Haanpaa of Cain Brothers, a division of KeyBanc Capital Markets, served as exclusive financial advisor to Behavioral Framework.

About Behavioral Framework

Behavioral Framework is a leading family-owned and locally operated provider of ABA therapy, and an INC 5000 company, with a vision of providing exceptional care and better client outcomes for children diagnosed with autism and their families. Behavioral Framework was founded out of a strong desire to deliver consistent and superior care with a holistic and collaborative approach that serves the whole family. Learn more at https://www.behavioralframework.com/

TEDCO announces 2024 SBIR/STTR proposal lab cohort including five Rockville companies

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program are the nation’s largest source of non-dilutive government early stage/high-risk funding for startups and small businesses.

Columbia, Md., Jan. 9, 2024 – TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced the selection of 25 Maryland companies to participate in the 2024 Small Business Association (SBA) Federal and State Technology Partnership Program (FAST) SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab cohort. This program, now in its sixth year, supports companies in the cohort, allowing them to work closely with TEDCO experts on preparing polished proposals for up to $275,000 in federal awards through the SBIR/STTR Phase 1 program.

“TEDCO is proud to have a variety of programs and opportunities dedicated to supporting entrepreneurial innovation throughout Maryland,” said TEDCO CEO Troy LeMaile-Stovall. “Through this program, TEDCO can continue our work supporting Maryland companies when applying for the SBIR/STTR funding opportunities.”

What is SBIR/STTR?

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, housed in 12 federal agencies and coordinated by the U.S. Small Business Administration, are the Nation’s largest source of non-dilutive government early stage/high-risk funding for startups and small businesses. These competitive programs are designed to encourage small businesses with potential for commercialization to engage with Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D). The awards-based program enables small businesses to explore their technological potential while providing an incentive to profit through commercialization.

Proposal Lab Participation Leads to Higher Success Rates

In collaboration with the Rockville, Md. woman-owned OST Global Solutions, this six-month lab will connect companies with experts from TEDCO’s Network Advisor program; these experts will provide the cohort with actionable feedback through two proposal reviews, thereby increasing the company’s likelihood of award.

Throughout the proposal lab, TEDCO will bring in experts from selected government SBIR/STTR program offices to provide information and answer questions on everything from timing, to writing style, and to what makes a proposal compelling.

“I am honored and humbled by the overwhelming response to the FY24 Proposal Lab program,” said Kimberly Mozingo, director of TEDCO’s Federal Programs. “The 45 companies who applied are tackling some of the most pressing global challenges facing humanity today. While we could only select 25 for this cohort, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to all applicants for their dedication and commitment to making a positive impact on our world. Our Proposal Lab team eagerly anticipates working with the cohort to craft compelling, compliant, and competitive Phase I SBIR or STTR proposals.”

The Maryland Companies Selected for the FY2024 Cohort

Advanced In Vitro, LLC, based in Frederick, Md., is a biotechnology company specializing in non-animal assay technology and consulting services.
Aloe Therapeutics, based in Darnestown, Md., is working on a locally delivered immunotherapy to deliver cancer cures.
Aquatic Circle LLC, based in Cumberland, Md., is creating nature-based solutions for nutrient recycling, water processing, and waste treatments.
BeneKinetic, based in Rockville, Md., is developing a revolutionary fully automated AI Coach that improves motivation with virtual group physical therapy exercises, resulting in faster and fuller recoveries from acute and chronic conditions.
Conjectura LLC, based in Rockville, Md., is working to leverage AI to build ethical and trustworthy AI systems, focusing on the design of effective Machine Learning architectures, and interoperability for a wide area of applications.
Crave Away, based in Oakland, Md., is a biotechnological sciences company specializing in the development of addiction cessation products.
CurveAssure, Rockville, Md., is developing an AI Coach to improve motivation with virtual group physical therapy exercises, resulting in faster and fuller recoveries from acute and chronic conditions.
Drūl, based in Baltimore, Md., is creating a device to use saliva to track and monitor oral health.
EC-DOC, based in Fort Washington, Md., sells Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) credits and byproduct chemical commodities produced from electrochemical direct ocean capture of CO2.
Forager Station, Inc., based in Frederick, Md., is commercializing electrochemical direct lithium extraction (DLE) from saltwater brines using thin, durable, lithium-conducting solid electrolyte membranes.
Gambix, based in Oakland, Md., is an AI company specializing in website building through natural language processing.
Imagining Reality Insights & Solutions Inc. (IRIS), based in Baltimore, Md., is a Maryland C Corporation that develops technological solutions to educational challenges, starting with IRIS READS, a suite of games using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology to support literacy and language skills for children.
Infinite Focus Schools DBA Clymb, based in Baltimore, Md., is a mindfulness and emotional health app for youth.
Lensguide Imaging Technology Inc. (LEGIT), based in Rockville, Md., is developing a nano-photonic imaging micro-endoscope for painless, immediate in vivo cancer detection.
LightSiNC NanoTech LLC, based in Poolesville, Md., is providing customized design, fabrication and testing services for photonics chips from visible to infrared using silicon nitride and silicon carbide nanophotonics platforms.
Mesozoic Technologies, LLC, based in Easton, Md., is a family-owned winery that’s expanding into brandy and has developed an automated still system.
NEOPATHOLOGY CORP., based in Frederick, Md., is developing technologies and products that facilitate processing and development of diagnostics and interpretation of biological processes in health and diseases, and in-vitro diagnostics to address the burden of specific cancers, the shortage of expert pathologist and pathology services, and the inadequacies of pathologist and oncologists to leverage contemporary toolsets for better clinical care.
Odin Electric, based in Centreville, Md., is developing nuclear Small Modular Reactors (SMR) generators for large institutions with individual buildings and/or homeowners with large homes.
SCS Laboratory Solutions, Inc., based in Rockville, Md., was formed to support the development of a device to extend the shelf life of and improve the safe handling of anhydrous and explosive chemicals in synthetic, organic, and research chemistry laboratory spaces.
Somnair, based in Baltimore, Md., is a preclinical medical device company developing a non-invasive neurostimulation device for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
Studio 60 Technologies, LLC, based in Saint Leonard, Md., is building a personal GIS navigation assistant that will support the mobility impaired. The application will collect navigational data and update in real time. Studio 60 uses natural language processing, machine learning, and decision support systems to provide users with up-to-the-minute routing instructions.
SwiftDock, based in Owings Mills, Md., is a logistics startup developing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) package delivery system featuring integrated docking stations, ensuring complete separation between customers and our UAVs.
Sybal Corp, based in North Bethesda, Md., is working on a cloud-based solution to provide governance support for regulated industries.
TSESSEBE Technologies, L.L.C., based in Gaithersburg, Md., is a digital health technologies company that delivers technologies for the business, work and personal lives of minority small business owners and the general public.
Voting Buddy, Inc., based in Ashton, Md., helps voters identify like-minded politicians/candidates through an interactive communications platform and community.

For more information about the SBIR/STTR Proposal lab, please visit https://www.tedcomd.com/funding/tech-transfer/federal-tech-transfer/sbirproposal.

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