MEDA Economic Development Week in Maryland Celebrates Resilience
Maryland’s economic development community knows where we’ve collectively been, but they’ve never lost sight of where they want to take us. The MEDA Economic Development Week in Maryland celebrations from October 25-29, 2021 are statewide expressions of optimism. Our members’ commitment to prosperity drives their tactics and understanding of the support that businesses need to thrive.
Case in point, our two-part blog series in celebration of Economic Development Week in Maryland takes members on a “road trip” through the cities, towns, counties, and regions with creative approaches to community needs. This week, we will visit Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore, and next week we will tour Western Maryland, the Capital Region, and Greater Baltimore. Join us to explore the initiatives invigorating the regions.
Southern Maryland Strong
Showcasing its strengths in high-tech aviation, St. Mary’s County hosts an AeroPark Innovation District Business Walk and SMART Building Tour on October 26 at 1:30 pm. The business walk tours the contemporary workspaces of the technology and manufacturing firms shaping the district. The Southern Maryland Autonomous Research and Technology (SMART) Building at the University System of Maryland, Southern Maryland is an 84,000-square-foot collaboration space featuring a Matrix lab, an indoor flight facility, a circulating water channel, and a ground robotics laboratory. Key community stakeholders were invited to participate.
In a nod to the platforms popular in 2021, Calvert County’s webinar, Intellectual Property on Government Contracts on October 28 at 10:00 am details the R&D process for businesses interested in securing federal contracts. The webinar is open to the public. Webinars, as endorsed in MEDA’s Economic Development Week in Maryland toolkit, are great ways to tell prospective and existing businesses about the resources you have to offer. Providing quality content and the opportunity to ask questions in a convenient forum, MEDA members transitioned to this platform when the situation demanded it. Solid participation rates drive its usage today.
With innovation at the heart of its delivery, Southern Maryland Innovates will hold a Manufacturers and Makers Trivia Night on October 28 at 6:00 pm. This creative approach encourages companies to explore the assets available within Southern Maryland. Hosted by Southern Maryland Innovates, the trivia game is an inclusive approach to targeted business attraction, networking, and information sharing. All interested in manufacturing opportunities within Southern Maryland are invited to participate.
Broadening opportunities and perspectives are in focus at Charles County’s Fall Meeting, themed Opening Doors. On November 2 at 8:30 am, presented in a virtual/in-person format, Charles County will highlight the ways that businesses can achieve success by embracing sustainability and diversity. Together, Charles County business leaders, commercial real estate professionals, economists, and stakeholders will explore new ways of thinking and working that positions businesses for prosperity.
Energizing the Eastern Shore
From LinkedIn to Instagram, Facebook to blogs, social media marketing is the topic at the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce’s Social Media Marketing Webinar on October 26 at 1:00 pm. Area businesses are welcome to attend. Targeted copy, images, and messaging can elevate any brand. To this point, Dorchester County Economic Development and the Dorchester Chamber social media posts highlight the businesses bouncing back and the resources making a difference.
On October 28 at 8:30 am, MEDA’s Rural Economic Development Session, sponsored by PNC Bank addresses the challenges facing Mid and Lower Shore industries in real-time. Delivered in a virtual format, the session will provide the data tools, resources, and approaches to equity that are essential to resiliency. Participants will leave the session with practical solutions relevant to their communities. MEDA members and Mid and Lower Shore appointed and elected officials are welcome to attend. We thank PNC Bank for their commitment to and support of these important regional dialogues. Register here.
In Wicomico County, the Shore Hatchery entrepreneurship competition on October 29 at 12:00 pm puts startups to the test in a “Shark Tank” format. The pitch competition is designed to support and reward entrepreneurs for their positive impacts on regional employment over a three-year period. The competition is a 10-year, $2 million initiative underwritten by The Purdue School of Business Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation at Salisbury University. From diagnostic marvels to food trucks supporting veterans, the program celebrates the innovation alive in the region. Registration is open to Mid-Atlantic startups.
As our members know, business retention and attraction, community revitalization, and equity initiatives don’t occur with the flip of a switch. While the results brighten our communities for the better, they’re products of persistence, coordination, and adaptability. If you’re seeking good ideas to replicate, partner on, or attend in support of Economic Development Week in Maryland, visit our website for inspiration.
Tune in for another installment of our regional adventures across Maryland next week!
