Workforce Development

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An Overview of the More Jobs for Marylanders Act

The centerpiece of the Maryland Jobs Initiative that was reported in the February Vibe is the More Jobs for Marylanders Act. The bill achieved nearly unanimous passage in both the House and Senate in April and went into effect last month.

According to a press release from Governor Hogan’s office:

The legislation provides tax incentives for new and existing manufacturers to create thousands of jobs, along with additional workforce development initiatives that the governor supports. New manufactures opening shop in high-unemployment counties would receive a 5.75% wage tax credit, a state property tax credit, and a sales and use tax credit for ten years. The legislation also waives state filing fees, and all incentives are contingent on the company creating at least five jobs. Existing manufactures that create at least five new jobs anywhere in the state would also receive the same wage tax credit.

“Since day one the focus of our administration has been on restoring Maryland’s economy and putting more people to work. We have already seen incredible success – we have added nearly 105,000 new jobs and lowered unemployment to 4.2 percent,” said Governor Hogan. “We are taking the next important step by signing the More Jobs for Marylanders Act, which will incentivize and encourage manufacturers to create thousands of jobs in the areas of the state that need them the most, like Baltimore City, Western Maryland, and the Lower Eastern Shore, while also offering benefits to both workers and job creators across the state.”

“This is a huge step forward for Maryland’s manufacturing industry and will our great employers put even more Marylanders to work and bring even more high-quality products to consumers,” said Regional Manufacturing Institute President Michael Galiazzo, Ph.D. “I commend Governor Hogan and the Maryland General Assembly for recognizing the incredible value our manufacturing job creators bring to our great state, and for helping ensure the industry will continue to grow and thrive in the years to come.”

The legislation also bolsters the state’s workforce so that Maryland workers have the skills needed to fill these new jobs. It provides $1 million in Workforce Development Scholarships for eligible students enrolled in job training programs at community colleges, and contains measures to encourage high schools to offer additional vocational training, as well as requiring state agencies to analyze their registered apprenticeship programs. This builds on the Hogan administration’s strong commitment to encouraging apprenticeships throughout Maryland’s nationally recognized Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) workforce training program, which has already provided training for nearly 2,000 unemployed or underemployed workers.

Source: Office of Governor Larry Hogan – bit.ly/2vyXK7P 

Capital

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Maryland Loan Program for Military Personnel Accepting Applications

The state of Maryland offers a number of financing programs for various segments of business owners. Currently, the state has an open application period for their Military Personnel and Veteran-owned Small Business Loan Program (MPVSBLP). MPVSBLP provides no interest loans that range from $1,000 to $50,000, from one to eight years, for businesses owned by military reservists, veterans, National Guard personnel and for small businesses that employ or are owned by such persons. Business owners and businesses that fit the criteria are able to apply for loans until August 15, 2017.

Eligible applicants include businesses owned by military reservists and National Guard members called to active duty, and small businesses, with fewer than 50 employees that employ them. For reservists or National Guard members called to active duty, Program funds must be used for payment of identifiable costs of the business, including general business expenses, which result from the call to active duty. The loan may be made at any time from the date of the call to active duty through the period ending six months after the end of the individual’s active duty.

For service-disabled veterans, businesses owned by service-disabled veterans, and businesses employing service-disabled veterans, the purpose of the Program is to assist with the cost of making the home, motor vehicle, or place of employment of a service-disabled veteran accessible to individuals with disabilities and to defray other necessary expenses.

The Departments of Commerce and Veterans Affairs notifies prospective applicants on their websites of the availability of funds and the time period for submission of applications. An application must first be submitted to MDVA. Once MDVA determines that an applicant meets basic eligibility rules for the Program, the application will be forwarded to the Department of Commerce for financial review and underwriting.

The Department will review and process each application using standard commercial credit criteria to determine whether it meets the Program’s financial and other requirements for loan approval. The Department will recommend approval of financing for the projects deemed to present the best chance of succeeding.

For more information about the program, eligibility details, and applications, visit bit.ly/2ukSFzU.

Source: Maryland Department of Commerce – bit.ly/2ukSFzU 

Featured Highlight

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Join us at Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Conference

Please join the Maryland Tech Council at the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Conference, August 16 – August 19 in Ocean City, Maryland.  Be sure to visit us at the Tech Expo on August 16 and at Booth #524.  If you are already registered to attend, please email Tami Howie, tami@mdtechcouncil.com so we can include you in our delegation. If you have not registered do not miss the chance to represent the Bio and Tech Community to all of the legislators, county and state officials and spend time with the Governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan.  Click below to register (use discount code for MTC members: MTC2017 and get get 25% off of registration for tech day and 20% off full registration for all days.

macoClick here to register.

MACo President and Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz commented, “MACo is thrilled to partner with the Maryland Tech Council for this event. Bringing together county officials with leaders in the technology and life sciences communities is exactly what we should be doing to explore new horizons for our state. We are looking forward to a great event and an amazing partnership that is sure to produce positive results for the people of Maryland.”

MTC Chief Exective Officer, Tami Howie states, “we are encouraging all of our members to attend the MACo conference to work with state and county officials to develop programs and policies that help make Maryland the greatest innovation hub in the country.  Let’s start the conversations now.” 

TECH EXPO—WEDNESDAY AUGUST 16TH 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

MTC is partnering with the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) to bring you this year’s Tech Expo. Arrive by 11:00 am on Wednesday to explore a hall of tech-focused vendors. Hear vendors pitch to government officials in an IGNITE session, and listen-in to thought-leaders discuss how to net a biotech boom in Maryland, and what the newest in social media and virtual reality have to offer business and government.  Entrance in the Tech Expo is included in a full registration, or is available as a separate option.

In a special general session on Friday morning of the conference, MACo will feature a pitch-competition with entrepreneurs from across Maryland and five different growth sectors vying for bragging rights as Maryland’s best bet for economic growth. Join the experience to see how industry representatives portray their field, and how their start-up stacks up against the others. Vote for your top pick and see how your assessment aligns with three expert judges.

Friday, August 18th  9:00 am – 10:45 am

The Voice of Entrepreneurship: Who Has the Perfect Pitch for Maryland?

Startup Maryland and the SRT1UP Roadshow tour Maryland to celebrate, coach, curate, and capitalize high-potential entrepreneurs. Over the course of the year, the Roadshow has focused on five high-growth trajectories: cyber/IT; manufacturing 4.0; health, wellness, and life sciences; rural innovations; and social innovations. In this untraditional session, tune in to these economic drivers, hear actual pitches from the best-of-the best of the Roadshow tour, and learn how to assess investment opportunities. Judges on stage, including an active institutional venture capitalist and a recognizable serial entrepreneur, will grill the pitchers as the audience responds. Do you know what your county should listen for as startups like these join the chorus of Maryland industries? See if your vote for perfect pitch is in harmony with the experts.

Speakers:  Stacey Smith, CyberSecurity Assoc. Of Maryland; Mike Galiazzo, RIM; Charlotte Davis, RMC; Tami Howie, Maryland Tech Council; Richard May, Innovation Village

Judges: Julie Lenzer, Associate Vice President of Innovation and Economic Development and Co-Director of UM Ventures, University of Maryland; Bruce Mcindoe – Founder and CEO iJET; C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, U.S. Congress, Maryland’s 2nd District

Moderator: Michael Binko, Founder and CEO, Startup Maryland

Wednesday, August 16th 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

“SWITCH PITCH” IGNITE! Session – Meet Your Match: Solutions to County IT Challenges

Gain quick insight into what tech can do for county governments in this fast-paced session. County IT and management professionals will state their needs, and vendors in the Tech Expo Tradeshow will respond with their pitch for solving the top tech issues. Attendees will get a chance to learn a little about a lot of vendors in a short period of time. Listen and learn!

Moderator:  Richard Cerkovvnik, Interim CPAM Director, Montgomery College

Wednesday, August 16th 12:45 pm –1:45 pm

BIOTECH BAIT: Can Maryland Net a Boom in Biotechnology?

Maryland counties have a big stake in a potential boom of the biotechnology industry – if Maryland lands it. What is the county role in making Maryland an international hub for biotech? In this session, industry leaders share what they are looking for when they scope new locations, and what they need to grow in the land of crabs and corn.

Speakers: Julie Garner, AstraZeneca Medimmune; Henry Bernstein, Scheer Partners; Brian Gaines, MDBio Foundation;

Chris Frew, BioBuzz

Moderator: Tom Sadowski, Vice Chancellor for Economic Development, University System of Maryland

Wednesday, August 16th 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm:

Headsets On: Get Ready for Virtual Reality and the Social Shake-Up

Virtual reality is one of the hottest and most mysterious types of tech. Virtual reality’s tempting serum, poured over snowballing social media use, could turn the way that government interfaces with the public into one heck of a snow cone. VR applications for county governments already include tourism, economic development, and information science, with more to come. Join this session to hear more about the opportunities presented by virtual reality and its integration with county services.

Speakers: Jason Michael Perry, Mindgrub; Julie Lenzer, University of Maryland; Will Gee, Balti Virtual

Moderator: Brian Darmody, Associate Vice President for Corporate and Foundation Relations, University of Maryland

Cost Savings Program

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costsavings-flyerClick here to download flyer.

Get the purchasing power of a national organization with the Maryland Tech Council Cost Savings Program. We are dedicated to providing solutions that address the business needs of your industry and ensuring our members are aware of the products, services, and value that our cost savings programs offer.

Join the 140 MTC members, of all sizes, who save substantial money each year through the cost savings program.

How do I get started? Click here and select the individual programs that make sense for your company. Each individual program has its own enrollment process. Or, feel free to contact pamela@mdtechcouncil.com or 240-243-4049.

Government Relations

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Helping Protect Maryland’s Innovation Economy and Shaping the Policy Debate

Your membership will make a difference! See below how the Maryland Tech Council and its members help protect Maryland’s innovation economy and played a major role in shaping the policy debate.

We asked our members to contact their representatives about onerous drug price legislation that would have threatened Maryland jobs and the environment that makes innovation in the state possible. The legislation failed to account for the extraordinary development requirements and complex distribution channels for innovative drugs and therapies. It would have impeded patient access to care by undermining competition, disrupted drug product availability due to onerous and unproductive reporting requirements, and stifled investment in the Maryland innovation economy – all while doing nothing to address the price consumers actually pay for medicine.

Their voices were heard! With over 900 letters sent to legislators, they help defeat the Drug Transparency Bill.

Together we:

  • Developed petitions attracting 4,366 signatures calling for lawmakers to support innovation-friendly legislation in Maryland
  • Launched a statewide radio ad educating about the impact of the Drug Transparency Bill
  • Ran digital advertisements through a homepage takeover linking to blog posts where lawmakers, lobbyists and staff can find more information
  • Served social media advertisements to people within one square mile of the Annapolis statehouse, giving influencers more information
  • Throughout the course of the campaign, the Maryland Tech Council served: 
    • 216,114 total ad impressions to its target audiences including
      • 36,971 from the Capital Gazette homepage takeovers
      • 177,679 from Facebook advertising campaigns
      • 1,464 from the LinkedIn advertising campaigns

Our work isn’t done! Join the Maryland Tech Council and together we will keep Maryland a hub for innovation. For more information, visit www.mdtechcouncil.com.

Mentoring Services

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The Maryland Tech Council Venture Mentoring Services has now been in operation for just over a year, successfully completing its pilot phase.

The Mentors, as a group, are helping to grow the eco-system in Maryland, not only in growth, but with the sharing of their own special connectivity.

The MTC VMS program has a complete infrastructure carefully built to support the program as it grows and is vitally important to our community. As the program moves from pilot to full-scale operation and for years to come, we look forward to recognizing ventures and mentors who are committed to the VMS program.

This Program is one of Montgomery County’s true public private partnerships and was established in partnership with Montgomery County and the Department of Commerce, but belongs uniquely to the Maryland Tech Council and most importantly, for our tech and life science communities.

The MTC VMS program was recently awarded at the Maryland Tech Council Industry Awards Gala, celebrating the success of the pilot year and the stunning statistics.

Mentee Companies

  • 22 Entrepreneurs
  • 15 Companies
  • 50+ full time MD-based Employee’s
  • 2 Partnerships Established
  • Over $2 Million Capital Raised
  • Recurring Revenue-$45k/month
  • 127 MTC VMS Team Meetings
  • Six Monthly Breakfasts

Mentors

  • 58 Mentors
  • 50 hours month-Volunteer Time
  • 7 Mentor Training Classes
  • 18 Monthly Breakfast’s
  • 127 MTC VMS Team Meetings

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The MTC VMS program is looking for startup companies in the technology and life sciences field, led by an individual or individuals who work full-time on the business that are preparing to raise their first venture capital or institutional round of financing.

About the Program: The Maryland Tech Council Venture Mentoring Service Program (MTC VMS) is a team mentoring program based on a model developed by MIT. The program has been adopted in over 70 communities around the globe; the MTC VMS program is the 50th program. The ultimate goal of the program is to bring employment opportunities and capital to the area in the technology and life sciences fields by helping companies grow faster.

For more information about the program, visit our website at http://mdtechcouncil.com/careers/mentor-opportunities-new.php

Member Spotlight

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HackEd

It’s no secret that there is a big demand for cybersecurity jobs in this area, and HackEd—a talent community providing cybersecurity training and recruiting services—was created to train job seekers and match them with local employers. The Maryland Tech Council spoke with Jon Ferris, CEO of HackEd to tell us about how the company is accomplishing its mission.

How did HackEd come to be?

We started HackEd in 2016 with two goals. First, we provide hands-on-keyboard technical training to students, job seekers, and career changers in cybersecurity, and second, we help employers find and retain qualified cybersecurity employees. There has been a lot of talk about the number of cybersecurity jobs that are open in the DC area but it’s not always obvious to job seekers how to obtain those jobs, especially when they have little training. When job seekers want training, they typically follow one of three paths: 1) They train themselves, which requires quite a bit of discipline and there isn’t a teacher available to answer questions; 2) They enroll in a university program which is usually geared toward policy, as opposed to hands-on-keyboard skills, or 3) They enroll in a hands-on-keyboard course which can cost between $5,000 – $6,000 per week. We stepped in to offer them a better solution that not only meets their needs but also sets them up to be hired by one of our corporate partners. It’s a win-win for the local workforce.

What’s different about our program is that it’s free—there is no tuition. There is also no fee to hire from HackEd. Our revenue comes from recruitment practice, corporate training engagements, and employer sponsorships.

Tell us about the classes that you offer.

Our goal is to graduate professionals who are trained and ready to make an immediate impact in SOC/NOC Administration, Vulnerability Assessment, Forensics, Incident Response and Penetration Testing roles. Our curriculum is paired with a series of real-world labs on our proprietary corporate network, Sentinel™, to help participants develop the technical skills employers are urgently in need of.

We run a six-week, full-time program every quarter. Our classes are taught by full-time teachers, so they are committed to helping us develop the curriculum and really making this program a success. The program is taught in Arlington, Virginia right near the Crystal City metro station. We are also teaching in Maryland this summer.

Explain the types of experience/education that applicants need and describe the class profile.

We accept 12-15 students for each class, and we like to say that we screen for passion. The types of students we look for are typically hackers tinkering on their home networks, going to networking groups, and getting certifications as opposed to people who are just interested in lucrative cybersecurity jobs. A degree is not required (which is common for cybersecurity jobs) but we do look for some type of technical background in understanding, for example, how the Internet works and how networks operate. Since we have about 85 local corporate partners that hire from our classes, we look primarily for people who want to work in the DC area.

Our class profile is very diverse. We see people with minimal experience and others with 30 years of experience along with career changers who need to get technical skills. Our classes have men, women, minorities, veterans, university professors, you name it.

What are the plans for HackEd?

It’s an exciting time for us. We are unable to meet the student demand (700+ applicants for 10-15 spots) and 85+ companies with hundreds of job openings. We are planning to build the country’s first Cybersecurity Talent Accelerator. In the accelerator, across 12 classrooms, we’ll be able to train about 800-1000 people per year, which will definitely make a dent in the number of cybersecurity openings in the region. The accelerator will also serve as a training center for our corporate partners, office space for early-stage cybersecurity companies, an after-school cyberlab for high school students, and an event space for the cybersecurity community. We’ve gotten a lot of support locally, and if there is interest in building something like this in Maryland, please contact us.

What other services do you offer?

We also offer corporate training (day or night) and full-cycle recruitment. This means that our recruiters are able to manage accounts, as well as recruit for them which is how we build trust and valued relationships. Our goal is to offer outstanding recruiting services to our clients by developing and fostering relationships and getting to know our customer’s work environment, so that we are able to provide candidates that fit not only the skillset but also the company culture, thus ensuring a better match.

Our team is also experienced in recruiting across multiple lines of business so we are able to offer that “one-stop shop” to our business partners. Rather than having to go to one vendor for financial placements, another for admin./clerical, and yet another for IT services, our team has full-time recruiters that are experienced in each of these areas.

Tell us about your experience with MTC

We’re new to MTC and were introduced by one of our clients, the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC). AAWDC has engaged us to train veterans and unemployed individuals on an entry-level cybersecurity curriculum. This 8-week program ends on August 4, and our participants will be looking for jobs. The interview process starts in July, and we would greatly appreciate companies reaching out to us if they have job openings for entry level IT and cybersecurity-related positions. We will also be holding a hiring event on July 27, so please contact Rachel Chen at rachel.chen@hackeducate.com for an invitation.

Where can prospective students and corporate partners get more information?

Employers can visit our website at www.hackeducate.com. I’d also like to add that we are offering discounted rates to our fellow MTC members for our recruiting services. Interested members can contact Rachel Chen at rachel.chen@hackeducate.com for more information.

We are new to Maryland and appreciate the Maryland Tech Council and its members giving us a chance to be of service. Thank you for being so welcoming to HackEd.

Cost Savings Program

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The Maryland Tech Council (MTC) is dedicated to providing solutions that address the business needs of your industry and ensuring our members are aware of the products, services and value that our cost savings programs offer.

As a FREE member benefit, MTC leverages our industry’s financial power to give you direct access to the quality products and services – at the best possible savings with UPS, VWR, ShareVault, Office Depot, Nikon and Business Wire to name a few!

The cost savings program available to MTC members is a unique set of programs designed to help save money on everyday expenses. We want to do more than improve bottom-line costs and operating value; we want to help keep costs down so that our members can reinvest in themselves.

To learn more, enroll and see the actual member savings, visit our website at  http://www.mdtechcouncil.com/membership/savings-mtc.php

Workforce Development

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Two MTC Members Partner to Offer Cybersecurity Training to Job Seekers

The Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC) is a nationally recognized organization that provides high quality workforce development services in Anne Arundel County and across Maryland. The AAWDC serves as the bridge between understanding the workforce and talent development needs of regional businesses and training individuals to fill those positions. The organization has teamed with another MTC member, HackEd—a talent community providing cybersecurity training and job placement—to train long-term underemployed and unemployed individuals.

The idea for the partnership came out of a Maryland Tech Connection grant which is funded through the Department of Labor. Pipe industries are chosen for grants based on the needs of the local workforce, and it’s not surprising that cybersecurity training was seen as a necessity for the region. AAWDC has a cyber navigator who matches employers’ needs with the type of training that AAWDC should offer. It was found that cybersecurity training with a hands-on component would be beneficial to students as it helps with skill development and learning retention. Taking this into consideration, HackEd’s cutting-edge training that is geared toward real-world scenarios along with its connections to local companies was deemed to be the perfect fit.

The first class of 11 participants started the 8-week training during the week of June 19 in Laurel, and it consists of veterans and underemployed and unemployed men and women each with varying degrees of technical experience. The students work with code to do offensive and defensive work and learn how to protect systems. Given the large number of AAWDC and HackEd corporate partners, the students are in an excellent position to secure jobs at the end of their training. In addition to the cybersecurity training, AAWDC conducts more formal instructional training where students take a break from the classroom to get intern-type experience and then they return to complete their training. In the bio space, students go through occupational training for 3 months and then work in a 3-month internship. The cyber training provides a bit of a break from that model and enables students to focus solely on hands-on classroom training.

Individuals who are looking for training can go to www.mdtechconnection.org where they can fill out an interest form and embark on the career restart program. The AAWDC staff helps to prepare participants for their next job by providing feedback on resumes and LinkedIn profiles, sharpening interviewing skills, and helping them understand how they fit into their desired job. Reports show that 80% of job seekers find positions through connections, so the staff also teaches the finer points of networking and teams with companies, like HackEd, that have established corporate connections.

AAWDC invites corporations to get involved with the organization, as it offers a lot of opportunities from providing business-focused feedback to the staff to offering internships for IT and bioscience for 3, 4, or months. AAWDC has job training funds, so they can help support in-job training with anywhere from 50 – 90% reimbursement. They also have advisory positions where companies can offer consultations to the organization. Currently, there are candidates who are eager to work and ready to hire, so if you have positions available or if you want to volunteer, please visit www.aawdc.org.

Capital

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A Look at the NIH SBIR and STTR Programs

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, also known as America’s Seed Fund, are one of the largest sources of early-stage capital for technology commercialization in the United States. These programs allow US-owned and operated small businesses to engage in federal research and development that has a strong potential for commercialization. In Fiscal Year 2017, NIH’s SBIR and STTR programs will invest over $925 million into health and life science companies that are creating innovative technologies that align with NIH’s mission to improve health and save lives. A key objective is to translate promising technologies to the private sector and enable life-saving innovations to reach consumer markets.

About the SBIR Program
The NIH SBIR program funds early stage small businesses that are seeking to commercialize innovative biomedical technologies. This competitive program helps small businesses participate in federal research and development, develop life-saving technologies, and create jobs.

The SBIR program allows and encourages research partnerships, within these parameters:

  • Phase I: The small business typically performs a minimum of 67% of the work supported by the award.
  • Phase II: The small business typically performs a minimum of 50% of the work supported by the award.

For the SBIR program, the Program Director/Principal Investigator must be primarily employed (greater than half time) with the small business at the time of award and for the duration of the project period.

About the STTR Program
Though similar in overall objectives and structure to SBIR, the STTR program aims to facilitate cooperative research and development between small business entities and U.S. non-profit research institutions. To do so, the STTR program requires the small business applicants to formally collaborate with a research institution.

The STTR program also allows and encourages research partnerships, within these parameters:

  • The small business must perform at least 40% of the work.
  • The research institution must perform at least 30% of the work.
  • The remaining 30% may be done by the small business concern, the non-profit research institution partner, or an additional third party.

For the STTR program, the PD/PI may be primarily employed either by the small business concern or the collaborating non-profit research institution.

Both the SBIR and STTR programs include three phases.

Phase I: Feasibility and Proof of Concept
The objective of Phase I (R41 or R43) is to establish the technical merit, feasibility, and commercial potential of the proposed R&D efforts and to determine the quality of performance of the small business awardee organization prior to providing further federal support in Phase II.
Phase II: Research and Development
The objective of Phase II (R42 or R44) is to continue the R&D efforts initiated in Phase I to develop the project’s commercial viability. Funding is based on the results achieved in Phase I and the scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the project proposed in Phase II.
Phase III: Commercialization
The objective of Phase III, where appropriate, is for the small business to pursue commercialization objectives resulting from the Phase I/II R/R&D activities. The NIH SBIR/STTR programs do not fund Phase III.

The NIH has a fast-track application option that allows small businesses to submit one application for Phase I and Phase II. It also offers a pilot Direct-to-Phase-II SBIR solicitation that permits small businesses to receive a Phase II award even if they have not previously received a Phase I award for the research/research and development of their technology.

To learn more about the NIH grants and contracts, statistics and success stories, visit bit.ly/2td7CWu.

Source: sbir.nih.gov