MARCH 14, 2014

MD universities continue top rankings

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BioMaryland awards $1.5M for innovation

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Frito-Lay expanding Aberdeen facility

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Maryland trade exports reached record high in 2013

Gov. Martin O'Malley announced Maryland's trade exports reached a record number in 2013, totaling $11.8 billion. One of the largest increases for 2013 includes trade to Brazila country Gov. O'Malley targeted with an economic development mission in Decemberwhich grew by 22 percent. Maryland's performance is a large contributor to the nation's overall exporting success, which reached $2.3 trillion in 2013, an all-time high. U.S. exports helped support almost 10 million jobs last year.

CyberMaryland attends RSA conference

For the third consecutive year, CyberMaryland attended the RSA Conference and Expo, the nation's premier information security conference in San Francisco. The Maryland delegation hosted a Cyber Investment Breakfast and Cyber Showcase Lunch, gathering close to 80 attendees, and held additional meet-and-greets at the Maryland booth. A number of MD companies announced new, innovative products and received top honors at the expo, including Silent Circle's new security encrypted "Blackphone," and RedOwl Analytics being named "Most Innovative Company." Photo: Bill Anderson, founder and CEO of Oculis Labs, stops by the CyberMaryland booth.

MD universities continue to receive high rankings

Local universities are getting high praise from the 2015 U.S. News and World Report. Three universities were named top graduate education programs Johns Hopkins University's School of Education (1st), University of Maryland, College Park (26th) and Towson University (116th). Additionally, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine took top honors for internal medicine, ranking 1st in the nation. JHU and UMD were also named to the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings for 2014. Out of 100 schools worldwide, Hopkins

ranked 18th, while Maryland placed in the 80th percentile.

BioMaryland awards $1.5M for innovation

The BioMaryland Center awarded seven companies and one university nearly $1.5 million for innovation and commercialization. The funding, divided among the recipients, will be used to enhance production on a variety of technologies and treatments in life sciences. Recipients include medical researcher Cordex Systems, Inc. of Annapolis, inner and middle ear technologist Otomagnetics of College Park, and Dr. Alan Cheng of Johns Hopkins University. BioMaryland has awarded more than $6 million to 32 Maryland companies since its launch in 2010.

Choptank Transport hiring sales associates

Caroline County's Choptank Transport is hiring up to 50 new employees in sales roles by the end of 2014. This is the third expansion in 10 years for Choptank, which added more than 50 employees in 2004, and over 110 employees in 2010. In addition to the success of the headquarters in Preston, Choptank has opened five offices outside of Maryland since 2010. The thirdparty logistics company, which specializes in truckload and freight shipping and refrigerated transport, serves the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Frito-Lay expanding manufacturing facility in Aberdeen

Frito-Lay's Aberdeen plant is growing into one of company's largest facilities, and hiring 100 full-time employees to assist with the expansion. Owned by PepsiCo, the snack manufacturer will add a 164,244-square-foot warehouse to its existing building, giving the company over 500,000 square feet at the Harford County location. Construction has the potential to be completed in 2015. Distribution will be the main focus for the new addition, allowing the facility to manufacture every item under the Frito-Lay brand name. Forbes magazine reports that one-third of PepsiCo's annual profit is generated by Frito-Lay.

Economic Snapshot
Residential building permits increase 15.6% since January 2013. Eastern Shore counties home sales increase 45% since January 2013. Maryland car sales in January increase 6% since December 2013. Maryland is one of the top 15 states with highest employmentpopulation rates. Maryland ranks high among states with fastest growing tech firms expected to go public this year.

MEDA Annual Conference 2014

April 27-29 | Cambridge Held at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, this year's conference will focus on the topic, "Research to Revenue: Harnessing Maryland's Intellectual Capital for Economic Growth."Learn more.

GovConNet Procurement Conference May 16 | Rockville

Join U.S. Congressman Chris Van Hollen and over 800 businesses for the GovConNet Procurement Conference. Companies attending are looking to do business with prime contractors, federal, state, and local governments, and each other. Learn more.

Marylands Top 100 Women May 5 | Baltimore

Hosted by The Daily Record, the top 100 women in Maryland are honored for their positive impact on the community. Winners are chosen based on their professional accomplishments and public service.Learn more.

Bonus Bulletins + Vote for Maryland's most small-business friendly chamber + Maryland business news: research grants, State parks, exports + Can manufacturer gets $535,000 in Md. help to expand + BWI is experiencing a boom in international travel + DBED Secretary Celebrates Opening of New Shimadzu Solution Center + SBA eases loan process for Maryland small businesses, veterans