News Archives - Page 12 of 18 - Rockville Economic Development, Inc

REDI seeks Managing Director for the Maryland Women’s Business Center

Maryland Women's Business Center is a program of REDI created to meet the need of entrepreneurs, especially women-owned businesses in Maryland

REDI, an innovative and highly successful nonprofit economic development agency located in beautiful Rockville, Maryland, is seeking a dynamic, talented and experienced candidate for the position of Managing Director for the Maryland Women’s Business Center to help sustain the progress and continued growth experienced by the community over the last 20+ years.

REDI is a public-private partnership established to strengthen and broaden the City of Rockville, Maryland’s economic base through business entrepreneurship, expansion, retention, and recruitment programs. Rockville, with a population of nearly 70,000, is a vibrant community developed over 14 square miles and is poised for future success. The city is located just 12 miles northwest of the nation’s capital and 35 miles southwest of Baltimore with easy access to Washington, D.C. Rockville is served by two Metro rail stations, several major highways, and three major airports. Uniquely positioned along the I-270 Bio-Tech Corridor, Rockville is in the center of a variety of technology-based businesses and a daytime labor force of over 80,000 people. There is also a wealth of existing key business clusters providing Rockville a competitive advantage in a variety of areas including the life sciences, advanced immunology, hospitality, cybersecurity, quantum computing, advanced technologies, video gaming, professional services companies and entrepreneurship. Rockville possesses a strong sense of community and benefits from an educated, ethnically diverse and engaged citizenry, stable neighborhoods, annual celebrations, and a wide range of recreational and cultural opportunities. The City’s downtown serves as the county seat for Montgomery County, one of the most affluent and well-educated counties in the United States.

REDI, the City’s economic development agency since being established in 1997, is governed by a Board of approximately 20 Directors appointed by the Rockville Mayor and City Council and consists of volunteer business representatives and residents who generally live and/or work in the City, including the Mayor and City Manager. The CEO reports directly to the Board of Directors and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the operation, including two full time employees directly related to economic development. The CEO also is responsible for overseeing seven employees supporting the mission of the Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC), an innovative program created in 2010 and certified by the SBA in 2013 to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, especially women-owned businesses, at every stage of building and sustaining their business.

The Managing Director for the Maryland Women’s Business Center reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer for the Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI). The MWBC is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, as well as other Federal and local funding sources, including hosting more than 120 workshops a year, interacting with more than 1,600 clients through its various services and programs. The Managing Director, responsible for overseeing an annual budget of $1M and leading a staff of seven, plus other contractors and volunteers, will facilitate the daily operations of the Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC) in Rockville, Bowie, and a satellite location in Frederick.

A key responsibility of the Managing Director is overseeing the fiscal management of MWBC to ensure resource and programmatic goals are met, existing grants are effectively managed and other funding sources are identified and pursued. The Managing Director will develop MWBC’s annual budget, track actual expenses to budget and report to REDI’s Board of Directors and its Executive and Finance Committees on the financial position of the Center and market risks, and develop and manage relationships with diverse stakeholders, including funders, community members, nonprofits, businesses and government officials at local and national levels. The Managing Director will also publicize programs through a variety of mechanisms including media opportunities, website, social media, print channels and trade show attendance, and build and maintain a network with organizations that support entrepreneurs. The position also supervises the training and business counseling programs to ensure a diverse population of women is supported in compliance with funder requirements.

Click here to view the recruitment brochure

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range $90,000 – $110,000 DOQ/E, Plus Excellent Benefits

Desired Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s in Business or a related field with at least seven (7) years in relevant business and/or program management experience. Experience with women’s business issues, public speaking skills with training experience, and proficiency in languages other than English is desirable. A Master’s degree and a PMP or other types of project management certification is preferred. The selected candidate will have a proven track record of creating, launching, and managing successful similarly sized projects, possess strong financial acumen with demonstrated experience in budget planning and forecasting, and should have a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and be able to balance competing interests. Compensation will be negotiated based on experience and education. REDI will provide the new Managing Director with full-time position benefits, paid holiday, annual leave, healthcare benefits, and a 3% matching contribution to a simple IRA plan.

Special Instructions

The position is open until filled with a first review of candidates occurring on Wednesday, August 31, 2022. For more information, please contact Art Davis at Art.Davis@BakerTilly.com or by phone at 816.868.7042. Following the first review date, the lead consultant will evaluate all applications against the posted qualifications and may invite a select number of applicants to complete additional assignments or participate in a virtual or in-person interviews. Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background and reference check.

The Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC) and Rockville Economic Development Inc. (REDI) are both Equal Opportunity Employers and value diversity at all levels of their organizations (EOE).

Please visit the MWBC website at www.marylandwbc.org.

Learn more about REDI and the City of Rockville, Maryland at www.rockvilleredi.org and www.rockvillemd.gov.

Behavioral Framework opens new diagnostic center ‘Pathways’

'Pathways' will help alleviate year-long wait times for children to receive autism diagnosis

ROCKVILLE, Md., August 17, 2022 – Behavioral Framework has announced that they have opened their new Diagnostic Center: Pathways by Behavioral Framework and are accepting appointments for comprehensive evaluations of autism and other developmental disabilities. Children can’t begin treatment without first acquiring a diagnosis, and there are very few diagnostic centers to cover the DMV area, resulting in staggering, sometimes year-long wait times. Recognizing this burden on families and children impacted by Autism, Behavioral Framework has committed its resources to expand their care and establish Pathways.

Dr. Andrea Howard, Ph.D., was hired as Child Psychologist and Program Lead for the center, headquartered in their Rockville, Maryland office. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Asbury University, her Master of Education in School Psychology, and her Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Howard has a distinguished career in psychology across several mediums, including schools, early childhood centers, and pediatric hospitals. With her wide breadth of experience, she specializes in Autism evaluations while assessing for other developmental, emotional, and behavioral concerns. She guides parents through the next step in their journey of acceptance and treatment. Dr. Howard’s familiarity and experience within various settings offer families a great advantage as she can assist them with educational recommendations, accessing community supports, and much more.

Pathways by Behavioral Framework offers parents and caregivers the best options for children ages 0 to 21. While applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy is Behavioral Framework’s specialty, Pathways can also assess for other childhood concerns and guide families to the right resources to assist their child. Parents concerned that their child should have an assessment should call Behavioral Framework’s main number at 301-444-5001 or visit their website at www.behavioralframework.com/pathways to begin the process. Once a child receives their comprehensive assessment report from Behavioral Framework and customized path to their next steps, they can follow up for treatment with any provider for therapy.

“We are so excited to extend our resources and services to ease the burden of year-long wait times and fill the gap for families struggling to receive a diagnosis and treatment for their child,” said Angela West, Chief Clinical Officer, Behavioral Framework. “Dr. Howard is an incredible addition to our Behavioral Framework family and our mission, and we look forward to offering long-awaited answers and assistance to families across the DMV area.”

“I am honored to join the Behavioral Framework mission to provide exceptional and compassionate care to children and their families,” said Dr. Andrea Howard, Child Psychologist/Program Lead, Behavioral Framework. “The Diagnostic Center will benefit countless families in Virginia, Maryland, and DC to receive the answers they have been longing for.”

About Behavioral Framework

Behavioral Framework is a leading family-owned and locally operated provider of ABA therapy, and an INC 5000 company for the second consecutive year, 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/

Five Rockville companies listed among Inc.’s 131 economic all-stars of the Mid-Atlantic

The selected Rockville companies represent businesses in the government services, IT services, and business product & services industries

The Inc. Regionals lists recognize the innovative achievements of companies in generating sustainable growth and jobs. The Inc. Mid-Atlantic Regional list includes companies from Washington D.C., Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. This year’s Mid-Atlantic Regionals ranked 131 companies with 5 of them located in Rockville, MD.

By order of rank, the Rockville companies on Inc.’s Regionals 2022: Mid-Atlantic are:

The Audley Group Inc. – Government Services
Dinocrates Group – Government Services
E-INFOSOL – IT Services
Bravium Consulting – IT Services
Patriot Shredding – Business Products & Services

To view the full list, visit https://www.inc.com/regionals/mid-atlantic

Governor Hogan announces expansion of landmark SmartBut Initiative to help more homebuyers

Program helps borrowers eliminate existing student debt and achieve financial security

ANNAPOLIS, Md., August 15, 2022 — Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has expanded the state’s landmark SmartBuy initiative to address rising housing market prices. To help manage purchase costs, homebuyers can now eliminate up to $50,000 in student loan debt—up from $30,000. The program has also added an additional down payment and closing cost loan option for lower income borrowers.

“As the county continues to deal with an inflation crisis, we are again taking steps to prove relief to Marylanders,” said Govenor Hogan. “Our SmartBuy initiative-the first of its kind in the country-has established a national model for removing persistent roadblocks to homeownership and financial security, and this expansion will allow up to help even more families.”

Through the SmartBuy 3.0 product, buyers purchasing an eligible home through the Maryland Mortgage Program can receive either 15% of their home purchase price or $50,000 in student debt payoff assistance – whichever is lower.

“As interest rates increase and demand drives housing prices up, the State of Maryland is always looking for innovative ways to hlep make homeownership affordable,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary, Kenneth C. Holt. “Launched more than five years ago, SmartBuy was the first government mortgage program in the nation to specifically address student loan debt, which is a significant barrier for many potential homeowners.”

SmartBuy borrowers with income at or below 50% of the average median income have a new option of receiving a 6% down payment and closing cost assistance loan. All SmartBuy borrowers continue to have the option of $6,000 or a 4% down payment and closing cost assistance loan.

These enhancements to SmartBuy 3.0 are additional ways the Maryland Mortgage Program is making homeownership more affordable. Other new products and enhancements offered for Fiscal Year 2023 include:

Base down payment assistance has been increased from $5,000 to $6,000
HomeStart is a new loan product for borrowers with income below 50% AMI to assist them with a 6% down payment and closing cost assistance loan.
HomeAbility, for homebuyers with disabilities, to provide increased funding and a flexible loan structure.
Montgomery Homeownership Program VII reopens for the seventh year in a row and will offer up to $25,000 in down payment assistance, in partnership with Montgomery County.

The Maryland Mortgage Program offers a wide variety of mortgage products specifically tailored to make homeownership affordable and sustainable, including flexible government and conventional loans that come with various levels and forms of down payment and closing cost assistance and attractive interest rates for both first-time and repeat homebuyers, conventional refinancing and even student debt relief.

To learn more and find out which product is right for you, visit https://mmp.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx and contact a participating lender.

New zoning measure to expand biohealth in urbanizing and transit-oriented locations in Montgomery County

The new zoning measure will serve as an important economic development tool aimed at accelerating growth in the biohealth field in Montgomery County

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 29, 2022 – The Montgomery County Council voted Tuesday to approve a new zoning measure introduced by Councilmember Andrew Friedson that will help attract and retain biohealth companies in Montgomery County and spur economic development, particularly in transit-oriented locations. The new zoning measure continues the Council’s ongoing efforts to support innovation and the biohealth sector, which is an essential part of Montgomery County’s economic engine.

ZTA 22-02 Density and Height Limits, Parking – Biohealth, will allow additional height and increased flexibility in density allocation for urban biohealth facilities in recognition of the unique mechanical challenges of biohealth buildings.

A recent report from CBRE examining the state of the life sciences workforce across the country ranks the D.C. metropolitan region second in the nation, highlighting “the relentless activity from the region’s companies, particularly in Montgomery County’s talent-rich and saturated Interstate 270-corridor.”

“This economic success does not happen by accident,” Councilmember Friedson said. “It takes a series of intentional policy decisions like this one to create an environment in which the life sciences industry can grow and flourish. Through targeted workforce development efforts and the assistance of our partners at the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, we are doing just that and are seeing the benefits of those efforts.”

The new zoning measure will serve as an important economic development tool aimed at accelerating growth in the biohealth field and closely aligns with the County’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, spearheaded by Councilmember Friedson and recently approved unanimously by the Council.

“MCEDC fully supports the Montgomery County Council’s continued focus on accelerating and streamlining the regulatory process for county biohealth facilities. This newest measure will allow greater flexibility in buildouts for urban biohealth growth,” said Benjamin H. Wu, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) President and CEO. “Our strong talent pool, access to federal regulators and zoning changes that improve speed to market will continue to spur growth in the life sciences industry in Montgomery County.”

“MCCC commends Councilmember Andrew Friedson’s leadership and that of the County Council to provide additional flexibility in the regulatory process to better attract cutting-edge biohealth companies,” said Georgette “Gigi” Godwin, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO. “This industry is an economic and job creation engine for Montgomery County that is competing not just locally, but globally, and forward-thinking policies are economic development imperatives.”

The Planning Board supported ZTA 22-02 as amended by Councilmember Friedson and his colleagues on the Council’s Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee. Councilmembers Tom Hucker, Sidney Katz, Nancy Navarro, Hans Riemer, Council President Gabe Albornoz and Vice-President Evan Glass are cosponsors.

Link to press release: https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=41942&Dept=1

Arcellx Inc. inks deal for expansion into newly converted lab space in Rockville

Arcellx's recent IPO raised over $120 million for advancing Phase 2 trial of a product to treat relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Article originally published by Washington Business Journal on August 1, 2022

Gaithersburg’s Arcellx Inc. (NASDAQ: ACLX) has inked a deal to expand into Rockville.

The newly minted public company, a clinical-stage provider of cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases, has signed a lease for 60,000 square feet at 800 King Farm Blvd., a roughly 215,000-square-foot office building that Miami-based Banyan Street Capital will convert into office and lab space for life sciences companies. Banyan Street had acquired an ownership stake in 800 King Farm, as well as 700 and 702 King Farm Blvd., in 2020, according to JLL.

Banyan Street is simultaneously planning a similar conversion for 805 King Farm Blvd., which it acquired in December for $33.2 million, according to Maryland records. The four King Farm buildings are collectively branded as The District at King Farm.

The two office-to-lab conversions combined, to be branded as District Labs, will yield a total of 480,000 square feet of lab and office space, Banyan Street said. The investor also announced it has acquired, for an undisclosed price, a 0.8-acre surface parking lot adjacent to 805 King Farm that is zoned for another 155,000 square feet of life sciences-related space, “which Banyan is planning to develop subject to continued leasing momentum within the converted inventory.”

Arcellx’s recent initial public offering raised about $124 million, much of that to advance a phase 2 trial for one of several product candidates it’s developing to treat relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood plasma cells. The biotech didn’t specify what it would use the King Farm space for, but in an earnings call earlier this year, Chairman and CEO Rami Elghandour said the company would need to quickly expand its manufacturing and distribution operations as it tries to commercialize its products while aiming to develop new ones.

“Our operating expenses and capital requirements will increase substantially,” he said in the earnings call. The company’s lease at 25 W. Watkins Mill Road in Gaithersburg, five miles north of the King Farm property, runs through 2030, he said at the time.

For the remaining space at District Labs, Banyan plans to target small to mid-sized biosciences companies looking for space ranging from 5,000 to 300,000 square feet. DNC Architects and JennERIK Engineering are part of the conversion development team.

In a release, Banyan noted that suburban Maryland’s life sciences industry “remains robust” with a vacancy rate of less than 2%. Numerous office-to-lab conversions have been proposed of late by the likes of Stonebridge, Boston Properties and Longfellow Real Estate Partners, while the Montgomery County Council is weighing additional incentives to keep the sector strong.

Converting an existing building, rather than constructing from the ground up, “offers an opportunity to capitalize on the existing building’s ideal lab infrastructure and accommodate the urgent timelines among life sciences companies like Arcellx,” Zac Gruber, Banyan’s managing director, said in a statement.

Outside of Montgomery County, Banyan Street’s portfolio includes American Center in Tysons, One East Pratt in Baltimore, 180 Maiden Lane in New York City, the Peachtree Center and Salesforce Tower in Atlanta, multiple office towers in South Florida and the Wells Fargo Center in Jacksonville, Florida.

Kevin McGloon, Peter Rosan and Megan Williams of Cushman & Wakefield manage leasing at The District. The conversion of 800 King Farm will be complete by the end of 2022, and the company also expects to have about 40,000 square feet of speculative lab space built out within it by mid-2023.

About Arcellx

Arcellx, Inc.is a clinical-stage biotechnology company reimagining cell therapy by engineering innovative immunotherapies for patients with cancer and other incurable diseases. We believe that cell therapies are one of the forward pillars of medicine and our mission is to advance humanity by developing cell therapies that are safer, more effective, and more broadly accessible. Learn more at https://www.arcellx.com/

About The District at King Farm

With a campus-like setting, The District at King Farm integrates community and wellness with flexibility. The District at King Farm enjoys a superior location in one of Montgomery Counties most desirable communities to live and work. The park consists of four six-story, full-service office and lab buildings that are located near I-270 providing access to great restaurants and shopping. Learn more at https://districtkingfarm.com/

Rock Creek Property Group acquires 51,000 SF for Second Precision Labs™

The property at 9707 Key West Ave. in Rockville is strategically located in the epicenter of Montgomery County's life science cluster

Washington, D.C., July 26, 2022 – Rock Creek Property Group, LLC (“Rock Creek”) announced it has acquired 51,000 square feet and two floors at 9707 Key West Avenue in Rockville, MD. The property is strategically located in the epicenter of Montgomery County’s life science cluster. This is the second acquisition by Rock Creek’s Fund III and the purchase price was $8.925 million.

The three-story office building is divided into two condominium units owned by separate entities. The unit acquired by Rock Creek, comprises the entire second and third floors each measuring approximately 25,500 square feet. Rock Creek plans to rebrand the space as Precision Labs™ | Shady Grove, adding to its burgeoning first class life science portfolio.

As Rock Creek’s second Precision Labs™ location, the space will offer maximum flexibility for both large and small life science users. The space can be configured either as a rare 51,000-square-foot contiguous block, two-floor combination of lab, R&D and supporting office space, or as one to two floors of spec suites able to accommodate smaller tenants with more immediate needs.

The space has:

13’ clear ceilings,
a 48” high loading dock area that can accommodate a 53’ tractor trailer,
30’ x 40’ column spacing on the perimeter, and
Optimal utility services, floor load capacity and robust infrastructure necessary for laboratory, R&D and related uses.

“We are pleased to expand our Precision Labs™ brand to the Shady Grove submarket. The property is ideally situated in the county’s premier life science hub and has all the necessary physical attributes to meet the specialized requirements of biotech users,” said Gary Schlager, Principal, Rock Creek Property Group. “This unique property can serve both large and small users very efficiently and the location can’t be beat.”

The acquisition comes on the heels of Rock Creek’s first acquisition in Fund III of Precision Labs™| Germantown, a three-building 121,000-square-foot office complex located at 20420, 20430 and 20440 Century Boulevard. The property is already under construction for conversion to state-of-the-art life science space.

Rock Creek has retained JLL’s life science team of Amanda Davis and Danny Sheridan to lease Precision Labs™ | Shady Grove.

“Rock Creek is quickly becoming a leading developer of first class lab and R&D space in the county and has a proven track record of delivering high quality space in ‘ready-to-go’ condition for life science users. Supply continues to be constrained and Rock Creek’s mission to deliver best in class biotech space with its Precision Labs™ concept is being received with open arms by the user and brokerage communities,” stated Danny Sheridan, Managing Director, JLL.

About Rock Creek Property Group

Rock Creek Property Group is a real estate investment and development company based in Washington, DC. Since its formation in 2000, the company has acquired and developed a diverse array of properties from apartments, condominiums, retail centers, and commercial office buildings, to unique historic structures, and boutique mixed-use projects. It recently completed the restoration and redevelopment of the historic Takoma Theatre which now houses Children’s National as well as delivering 700 Quince Orchard, a state-of-the-art biotechnology manufacturing and lab facility that is serving as Novavax’s new global headquarters. For more information, please visit https://rockcreekpg.com/

Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial R&D Foundation to invest $7.9 million in 9 new projects including Rockville’s On Demand Pharmaceuticals

The approved projects involve innovations in the areas of drones, energy efficiency, environment protection, medical devices, pharma, software and AI

TEL AVIV, Israel, July 12, 2022 – During its meeting on June 14, 2022, held in Washington D.C., the Board of Governors of the Israel–U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation approved $7.9 million in funding for nine new projects between U.S. and Israeli companies. In addition to the grants from BIRD, the projects will access private sector funding, boosting the total value of all projects to $20 million.

The BIRD Foundation promotes collaborations between U.S. and Israeli companies in various technological sectors for joint product development. In addition to providing conditional grants ofup to $1 million (and in rare cases up to $1.5m for exceptional projects), the Foundation assists by working with companies to identify potential strategic partners and facilitate introductions.

The submitted projects are reviewed by evaluators appointed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Israel Innovation Authority.

The nine projects approved by the Board of Governors are in addition to the 1000 projects which the BIRD Foundation has approved for funding during its 44–year history. To date, BIRD’s total investment in joint projects is over $370 million, helping to generate direct and indirect sales of more than $10 billion.

The projects approved include:

Compentex Ltd. (Yavne, Israel) and ChemImage Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA) to develop NurseSpace– a portable AI–based error–preventing robot for automated identification, dispensing, and administration of medications
Extreme Simulations (Tel Aviv, Israel) and SynDaver Labs (Tampa, FL) to develop a modular manikin for healthcare training that meets the needs of life–threatening events through the healthcare system
FlyWorks (Beer–Sheva, Israel) and DelMar Aerospace (Las–Vegas, NV) to develop a novel high–performance UAS solution for detecting greenhouse gas emissions over large-scale energy infrastructure
High Lander Ltd. (Raanana, Israel) and Stephenson Technologies Corporation (Baton Rouge, LA) to develop an Enhanced Drone Digital Sensor Dome providing Domain Awareness for Critical Infrastructures
Overwolf (Ramat Gan, Israel) and Kidas, Inc. (Philadelphia, PA) to develop voice and text chat protection in gaming
Tech Innosphere Engineering, dba Innosphere, (Haifa, Israel) and Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX) to develop and evaluate a wearable brain stimulation medical device for treating ADHD
Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Tel Aviv, Israel) and FIND Surgical Sciences (Boston, MA), to develop and commercialize a clinical decision support system for neurological and psychiatric disorders
Wavelength Pharmaceuticals, a SEQENS company (Petah Tikva, Israel) and On Demand Pharmaceuticals (Rockville, MD) to advance the development and pilot of an on demand medicine manufacturing system
ZutaCore (Shaar Hanegev, Israel) and World Wide Technology (St. Louis, MO) to develop technology for eco–friendly transformation of data centers: ESG compliance to net–zero carbon and water by revolutionizing and optimizing cooling energy and heat reuse

Ms. Mojdeh Bahar, Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and co–Chair of BIRD’s Board of Governors said: “The diverse array of projects funded through the BIRD Foundation
demonstrates how international cooperation can spur creative solutions and bring important solutions and services to the market. The BIRD Foundation brings together companies from Israel and the U.S. that possess a strong balance of technical expertise and commercial foresight. The challenges these projects seek to address–in patient care and therapeutics, energy efficiency, industrial services, and more, support essential sectors of our economy. We wish all the companies great success!”

Dr. Amiram Appelbaum, Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Economy and Industry, Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority, and co–Chair of BIRD’s Board of Governors said: “Our long–standing collaboration with the BIRD Foundation has yielded some spectacular technological innovations. We are proud that the Foundation supports various technologies that will make a difference in the productivity and the standard of living for the people of both countries. In the post–COVID–19 world, these technologically groundbreaking projects will improve the health and quality of life for citizens of both countries as well as provide solutions that deal with the global climate crisis. We congratulate the awarded companies and look forward to the successful results of their innovative products.”

Dr. Eitan Yudilevich, Executive Director of the BIRD Foundation, said: “The selected projects reflect a diverse group of technology sectors, company size, and U.S. geographical locations. This is very rewarding as it results from our continuous outreach efforts and close interactions with companies interested in U.S.–Israel R&D partnerships. We congratulate the winners and wish them much success in their innovative joint projects.”

The deadline for submission of Executive Summaries for the next BIRD cycle is September 7, 2022. Approval of projects will take place in December 2022.

About the BIRD Foundation

The BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Foundation works to encourage and facilitate cooperation between U.S. and Israeli companies in a wide range of technology sectors and offers funding to selected projects. The Foundation supports projects without receiving any equity or intellectual property rights from the participating companies or the projects, themselves. BIRD funding is repaid as royalties from sales of products that were commercialized as a result of BIRD support. The Foundation provides funding of up to 50% of a project’s budget, beginning with R&D and ending with the initial stages of sales and marketing. The Foundation shares the risk and does not require repayment if the project fails to reach the sales stage. Learn more at https://www.birdf.com/

About On Demand Pharmaceuticals

On Demand Pharmaceuticals is an innovative technology company transforming how medicines are made so they can be produced on demand – whenever and wherever medicines are needed. With a breakthrough manufacturing technology platform, the Pharmacy on Demand (PoD), allows medicines to be made in small machines instead of a factory. Using a modular approach, the PoD can be quickly customized to produce key starting materials, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), and final formulated drugs. Learn more at: https://ondemandpharma.com/

Link to press release: https://www.birdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/BIRD-BOG-June-2022.pdf

Maryland Women’s Business Center Shop Local incubator featured in Fox 5 DC’s Zip Trip in Rockville

The segment included interviews with a MWBC Shop Local vendor and a graduate of the program - Saints Valley

On July 8, 2022 regional news channel, Fox 5 DC, aired their popular series ‘Zip Trip’ live from Rockville. Zip Trip is part of Fox 5 DC’s weekly series that highlights the best spots to visit around the D.C. region.

The Maryland Women’s Business Center Shop Local was invited to participate in Zip Trip as one of Rockville’s local business highlights. The segment included an overview of the MWBC Shop Local program with the Training & Events Manager, Thomas Squire, interviews with a current Shop Local vendor, Sheila Rose of Great Glass Creations, and a program graduate Lilit Ghazaryan who owns Saints Valley in Rockville Town Square.

Check out the MWBC Shop Local’s segment below!

About MWBC Shop Local

Shop Local is a retail business incubator program of the Maryland Women’s Business Center, an SBA-certified business development center, under Rockville Economic Development Inc. The program began in Rockville in 2018 with the partnership and sponsorship of Federal Realty Investment Trust. Shop Local provides support to the program’s entrepreneurs by providing free mentorship, expertise, access to investors, and in some cases, working capital in the form of a loan or grant. Learn more about MWBC Shop Local at https://mwbcshoplocal.com/about-the-program/

Greater Washington life science cluster ranked second nationwide in CBRE report

The D.C. area earned its position near the top due to its large metropolitan area with more universities and industry players

Article originally published by Washington Business Journal on July 14, 2022

Greater Washington’s life sciences cluster just got the silver medal for talent, beating out other major hubs, including one of its biggest rivals, in a moment of critical growth for the local industry.

The D.C. metro ranks second only to the Boston-Cambridge region, notably edging out the San Francisco Bay Area, in a new report from commercial real estate services firm CBRE examining the state of the life sciences workforce across the country. It’s a key boost for this region, which has aimed for decades to become a premier destination for the rapidly growing life sciences sector, particularly during the pandemic, and its highly educated, highly paid jobs.

The ranking of the top 25 life sciences research talent clusters in the first quarter pegs the Bay Area at No. 3, New York-New Jersey at No. 4 and San Diego at No. 5.

The D.C. area earned its position near the top because it’s a larger metropolitan area with more universities and industry players, giving it an “abundant talent pool for life sciences companies,” the report said. That was also the case for markets such as Los Angeles (No. 7), Philadelphia (No. 8) and Chicago (No. 10). The bottom of the top 25 includes Portland, Oregon; Miami; Nashville, Tennessee; Albany, New York; and Pittsburgh.

The study also found that the life sciences ecosystems “more broadly thrive” in regions that house more people who hold doctorate degrees. To that end, Greater Washington has an advantage as the search for talent becomes tougher in life sciences, which in April claimed the second-lowest unemployment rate at 0.6%, according to CBRE’s report. At the same time, the D.C. region may also be seen by competing markets as a recruitment source, given its higher cost of living.

The region’s labor force counts more than 5.1 million people, of which 15.4% work in professional, scientific and technical services, and 12.2% hold roles in health care services, according to CBRE data.

The D.C. area’s life sciences community has seen substantial growth and attention through the pandemic as local companies jumped into the health crisis response. The pandemic generally boosted funding and support for manufacturing, research and development for vaccines, therapies and testing. And that directly benefited multiple resident companies working in and around Covid-19.

But the CBRE report also notes that people moving from major cities to some smaller pockets of the U.S. during the pandemic in 2020 “may have disproportionately, and temporarily, dampened the growth of such key markets,” including the Washington-Baltimore corridor.

Still, we’ve seen relentless activity from the region’s companies, particularly in Montgomery County’s talent-rich and saturated Interstate 270 corridor. Gaithersburg’s Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX) led the pack as a vital player in the global effort to bring a Covid vaccine to market — and, after a long road, received emergency use authorization for the product Wednesday, making it the fourth to do so in the U.S.

The D.C. area has also attracted more biotech and life sciences firms to put down roots, with the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration as obvious baked-in draws to the nation’s capital. The local contingent of companies continues to see approvals, funding, sales and public debuts. Lab space has also become a more reliable niche of the region’s otherwise uncertain real estate landscape.

Those dynamics are important, according to the report, which said the availability of venture or institutional capital “to fund growth is essential to a thriving life sciences ecosystem,” as is “the need for proper infrastructure for an ecosystem to grow, such as modern laboratory, incubator and manufacturing space.”

To narrow down the ranking, CBRE looked at the country’s 74 largest life sciences labor markets, considering occupational and educational data, as well as number and market density of relevant industry jobs, and concentration of doctorate degrees and professional, scientific and technical employment.

The analysis considered the jobs most relevant to the industry’s growth and people graduating with relevant degrees in those markets. And it weighed those scores against data from the normally dominant Boston, San Francisco and San Diego areas — which CBRE described as “premier life sciences hubs” that “likely reflect the most ideal elements for success as a life sciences cluster.”

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