A few weeks ago, there was an interesting article in The Washington Business Journal about how small businesses thrive in Virginia and basically fail (let’s call it a high failure rate) in Maryland. I was stunned. Stunned because I started a small business in Maryland, and after 25 years, it has evolved and thrived in Maryland.
The article did not mention how Maryland is developing its workforce and providing educational opportunities for its residents. In the last couple of weeks, there were two great examples:
- MD BioLab is working with 7th & 8th graders in Baltimore to increase knowledge and confidence with laboratory concepts and techniques during Baltimore Innovation Week.
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· Under a new grants program, the National Institute of Stands and Technology (NIST) will divide nearly $1 million among five universities and nonprofit organizations to establish partnerships focused on increasing the pipeline of students pursuing cybersecurity careers.
And, let’s not write off Maryland completely for being an unfriendly small business environment. A few companies, once small businesses in Maryland, to celebrate:
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| · Under Armour is planning to open a new 1.3 million-square-foot distribution and warehouse facility which is expected to eventually bring 1,000 jobs to Baltimore County. The facility is expected to open in summer 2018. | · | · | · | |
- The ever-expanding wedding marketplace company WeddingWire Inc. needs hundreds more employees and more office space to make it happen. Chevy-Chase based WeddingWire plans to add 200 jobs in Montgomery County, bringing its local workforce to 550. Again, another small business who had their start in Maryland.
Efforts are being made every week in Maryland, and especially in Montgomery County, to create a business friendly environment. Where some may say Maryland is not small business friendly, I say take a look at what the state is doing to create a thriving environment and then take a look at how our one time small businesses have evolved.
As a small business owner, there is no other place where I would like to base my business than in Maryland.