Business Report: Maryland – Howard County Opens 3D Printing Prototype Lab

By Shana Daley
From the May/June 2014 issue

3D Maryland, an initiative of the Howard County Economic Development Authority, has officially opened the state’s newest prototyping lab dedicated to the advancement of additive manufacturing, 3D printing and rapid technology.Twele

The Innovation + Prototyping Lab features industry-level workstations, a variety of industry standard professional software packages, and four 3D printers for prototyping. This new lab provides the facilities for 3D Maryland to offer seminars, workshops, classes, and customized training while also making the lab resources available to both individuals and groups.

“We are now on the leading edge of what many are calling the next industrial revolution,” said Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. “3D Maryland, and this new facility, allow us to take another leap forward to drive innovation, enhance manufacturing, and keep and add jobs right here by using these cutting edge technologies.”

3D Maryland is already facilitating cross industry collaboration and business growth, much of it coming out of the professional user group. Among the companies and agencies participating: Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, Northrup Grumman, Next Line Manufacturing, Stanley Black and Decker, and Bowles Fluidics.

Elected officials, business leaders, representatives from federal agencies, as well as local colleges and universities were on hand at the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship in Columbia, Maryland.

“We believe this initiative provides a tremendous opportunity for us to help businesses and industries commercialize new products,” said Lawrence F. Twele, CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority.” The initiative is already generating innovative new ideas, and reducing the cost and time needed to produce new prototypes in fields from medicine to manufacturing.”

“3D Maryland has received widespread support from the private sector, government, and educational communities and we’ll be looking to build on those relationships in the coming weeks and months,” said 3D Maryland Executive Director Jan Baum. “Thanks to the support we have received from Howard County, 3D Maryland is also getting national attention. We want to take advantage of that momentum and create new opportunities here by helping business, industry and entrepreneurs learn how to leverage these new technologies to increase their competitive advantage and grow their businesses.”

3D Maryland is a statewide leadership initiative that is raising awareness of the competitive advantages of 3D printing and digital manufacturing as well as facilitating engagement and implementation.

The program was launched in conjunction with the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland, Towson University, and other partners across industries.

The Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship (MCE) was established by the Howard County Economic Development Authority in 2011. Through the MCE, HCEDA is providing a community of resources for companies to start and grow, including the Howard Tech Council, a Business Resource Center, and a rapidly growing incubation program.

CHESAPEAKE INNOVATION CENTER IS MOVING TO ODENTON

The Chesapeake Innovation Center (CIC), Anne Arundel County’s technology business incubator, is expanding to larger, new Class-A space in the Seven Oaks Office Building in Odenton, Executive Director Laura Willoughby has announced. The building, located at 2288 Bluewater Boulevard in Odenton, is owned by the Halle Companies and is centrally located in the heart of the nation’s data technology region directly outside the gates of Ft. Meade.

“With this expanded, modern space, the innovation center will be able to grow our program and communities, ultimately enabling us to better meet the needs of entrepreneurs and technologists in the region,” Willoughby said. “This expansion positions the CIC and its member companies to access a wider network of corporate, government and academia partners in the entire region, while providing a centralized location to serve as the hub of innovation in Anne Arundel County.”

The Chesapeake Innovation Center will occupy and manage a portion of the ground floor when it moves in the summer of 2014. More than 8,300 square feet will house the innovation center’s incubator space. This state-of-the-art facility will include administrative and member offices, executive office suites suitable for lease by innovative companies and a “smart” training room with the latest technological amenities suitable for graduate and professional development programs. The Seven Oaks Office Building is leased by Capitol Creag’s Kevin Wilson.

“We’re proud that our first tenant in this office building is an organization that grows the area’s business community by incubating emerging technologies,” said Jon Halle, vice president at The Halle Companies. “It will make this building an even more attractive location for technology and contracting-related businesses that want a strong presence in west Anne Arundel County.”

The new location is in a revitalization district, a county-designated area aimed at stimulating private investment and encouraging revitalization in older commercial and industrial areas. “We chose this location for the expanded CIC specifically because it reflects the county’s commitment to community revitalization; housing the CIC in this space will support the continued growth and redevelopment of the area outside the Fort Meade gates,” said Ed Rothstein, CEO and President of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation. The Chesapeake Innovation Center is a program of the AAEDC.

The move coincides with the innovation center’s plan to expand its services and programs to provide a structured approach tailored to individual companies and designed to graduate companies in a timely manner. Current membership levels include Resident Membership, for early-stage companies in a targeted technology area that have a well-developed business plan and an established management team, and Affiliate Membership, for early-stage or small companies currently implementing its strategic business plan but that can benefit from accelerator services.

In the new space, the innovation center has planned a new co-working area called the Collaboration Hub designed for early stage companies that have a basic business plan but need more time to develop its technology and polish its pitch presentation.

CRAFT BREWERY COMES TO SILVER SPRING, MD

The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) recently announced that Denizens Brewing Company will open a brewery and seasonal beer garden in Montgomery County.

The company will move into a 7,500 square-foot building in downtown Silver Spring, and plans to generate up to 2,000 barrels annually by its second year of production. DBED is assisting the purchase with a State-backed loan guarantee on a $500,000 bank loan by EagleBank, and will provide the guarantee through the Maryland Industrial Development Financing Authority (MIDFA).

“Maryland is a prime location for entrepreneurs and start-ups,” said DBED Secretary Dominick Murray, “and it’s particularly encouraging to see new enterprises coming from homegrown talent. We’re very pleased to be able to support Denizens Brewing Company through MIDFA, one of our many business development initiatives and programs.”

“We are proud to welcome Denizens Brewing Company to downtown Silver Spring,” said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. “I commend DBED for helping this small, unique start-up locate in the county.”

“At a time when financing for start-ups is difficult, we are grateful that the State of Maryland, Montgomery County, and EagleBank recognize the economic impact of the craft beer industry, and have supported our company in bringing craft beer production to Silver Spring,” said Julie Verratti, Denizens Brewing Co.’s director of business development.

Denizens Brewing Company is a start-up craft brewery that was formed in 2013 by Emily Bruno, an experienced manager serving as director of operations; Julie Verratti, an attorney serving as director of business development; and Jeff Ramirez, a professional head brewer, serving as director of brewing. Denizens plans to not only manufacture and sell its craft products on-site, but to also distribute to local restaurants and bars in the area.