Page 17 - Baltimore County 2023 Quality of Life Guide & Business Directory

One particularly helpful resource for aspiring contractors is the Maryland APEX Accelerator (formerly Maryland Procurement Technical Assistance Center), which offers training to small businesses on how to successfully bid for contracts. Learn more at www.mdptac.org.
OTHER SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT
Maryland Business Express: Starting
or growing a business in Maryland? One
of your first stops should be the Maryland Business Express site at businessexpress. maryland.gov, which offers step-by-step guides to planning, launching, managing and growing a business in the state.
SCORE: This nonprofit association is dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small businesses. Local chapters provide free counseling and low-cost workshops in their communities. Contact the Baltimore County chapter at www.score.org/ greaterbaltimore.
State Grant Programs: Various Maryland agencies offer grants to help businesses succeed. Find a list at grants.maryland. gov/pages/stategrants.aspx.
TEDCO: This independent State of Maryland entity facilitates the creation
of businesses and supports their growth across the state. Its focus is on early-stage, technology-based businesses. A list of funding programs available through TEDCO can be found at www.tedcomd.com.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): SBA services include funding
CO-WORKING OPTIONS Small businesses need affordable, flexible workspaces.
Baltimore County’s incubators and co-working spaces provide the perfect fit!
INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS
bwtech@UMBC (bwtech.umbc.edu)
is a 71-acre business incubator adjacent
to UMBC that is primarily focused on
three sectors: cyber, govtech and biotech. Members have access to a selection of office spaces that can accommodate businesses
of all sizes, plus more than 40,000 square feet of wet lab space. Altogether, bwtech@ UMBC houses 131 companies and organizations. Combined, they employ nearly 1,900 people and have generated $700 million in labor income and business sales. Because of bwtech@UMBC’s access to a diverse research base at UMBC, experienced entrepreneurs, and strong relationships with valued partner organizations and sponsors, entrepreneurs at bwtech@UMBC have all the tools they need for success.
StarTUp at the Armory (www.towson. edu/startup) serves as an entrepreneurial resource and activity hub inside and
outside of Towson University. Startups, small businesses and the region’s largest corporations are all welcome in this vibrant space, which creates new opportunities for regional leaders to connect, convene and collaborate. The area surrounding Towson was recently named a RISE Zone by the State of Maryland, a designation that confers rental assistance to businesses and tax benefits to investors.
StarTUp at the Armory
The 26,000-square-foot StarTUp is home to signature TU entrepreneurship programs, as well as student competitions and events. Small businesses and local entrepreneurs have access to programs and resources focused on entrepreneurship and workforce development. They include the StarTUp Accelerator, which jumpstarts ventures via an intensive, eight-week, cohort-based fellowship.
CO-WORKING SPACES
Located just 1 mile from Towson University, Launch Workplaces (www. launchworkplaces.com) offers customizable offices and reasonably priced co-working desks at 210 West Pennsylvania Avenue in Towson.
In Catonsville, PIVOT (www.pivotmd.net) provides flexible shared and private office space that’s perfect for entrepreneurs, professionals and those who work from home. Amenities include free access to office supplies — from pens and staplers to 3D printers — as well as discounts at local businesses.
The INSIGHT Community (www. theinsightcommunity.com) in Towson provides executive offices, conference rooms and shared office space, while also connecting its members through valuable peer-to-peer interactions.
programs, counseling, federal contracting certifications and disaster recovery. The SBA office can also connect you to its partner organizations, lenders and other community groups that help small businesses succeed. Reach the Baltimore District at www.sba. gov/district/baltimore.
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