Maryland Small Business Development Center

Southern Local Resources

Serving Calvert, Charles, St. Mary's Counties in Maryland

Market and Industry Research

Links of Interest
You can find information on all aspects of running your business through our exclusive access to SBDCNET, a national business information clearinghouse at www.sbdcnet.org/. It is dedicated to meeting the information needs of the nationwide SBDC community with timely, relevant information at no charge. The web site contains a multitude of links of interest to aspiring entrepreneurs, established small business owners, and business researchers including: business plans, industry information, associations, Spanish-language business documents, and other publications.

In-Depth Market and Industry Research
While it offers a plethora of information that you can access immediately, the industry and market research services of SBDCNET are available only to MDSBTDC Business Consultants assisting clients with a specific request for information. These services are more in-depth and can include: market research, demographic information, basic patent and trademark searches and business maps. If you require additional research, ask your local MDSBTDC Business Advisor to submit an online information request to SBDCNET for you. The typical turnaround time is 17 days and there is no limit on the number of requests submitted. Please note that business consultants do not receive legal or medical interpretations or extensive marketing lists.

Maryland Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)

mdptac.org

Maryland PTAC, which serves as a Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) and was authorized by Congress in 1985 and opened its doors in 2002 in an effort to assist small businesses in participating in the Government Marketplace. The Maryland PTAC's mission is to maximize the number of capable U.S. companies participating in the government marketplace by:

  • Providing businesses with an understanding of the requirements of government contracting and the market know-how they need to obtain and successfully perform federal, state, and local government contracts.
  • Supporting government agencies in reaching and working with the suppliers they need.

Specialization: Subcontracting with federal government agencies

Calvert County

www.calvertresources.com

Economic Development ecalvert.com

Enhancing the County's Economy
The Department of Economic Development monitors economic trends and works to execute business programs that complement Calvert County. The department's goal is to attract and retain strong, healthy and dynamic companies of all sizes and industries.

Charles County

www.MeetCharlesCounty.com

Charles County is a dynamic region in the Washington DC Metro Area that is well positioned for investment, growth and development. It offers businesses and investors a strategic location, talented workforce, high value for costs and excellent education options.

St. Mary's County

Department of Economic Development: www.co.saint-marys.md.us/ded/

The staff of the St. Mary's County Department of Economic Development (DED) work on behalf of all citizens and businesses to secure a sound resilient economy.

The Department's three divisions include Tourism, Agriculture & Seafood, and Business Development. DED works with citizen-led boards and commissions to identify and meet challenges. The staff also coordinates with other county, regional, state, and federal agencies to promote and expand markets and encourage investment. The Department produces an annual Technology Handbook, a listing of available office/building/land sites, tourism brochures written for many audiences, and participates in several key events throughout the year.

Technology Handbook - St. Mary's County: http://www.stmarysmd.com/ded/handbook/index.asp

St. Mary's County Open Bids: www.co.saint-marys.md.us/bids/openbids.asp

College of Southern Maryland

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) is an expanding regional college committed to affordable tuition, workforce development and cultural enrichment. An open-door, public institution, CSM helps individuals attain their educational goals at locations in La Plata, Leonardtown, Lexington Park, Prince Frederick and Waldorf. www.csmd.edu

The Corporate Center – The Corporate Center at the College of Southern Maryland offers comprehensive training, supervisory and leadership development, and consulting for organizations seeking to increase employee productivity and organizational efficiency. In addition, the Corporate Center provides entrepreneurs and emerging growth companies the support services necessary to achieve business and management success. www.corporatecenter.csmd.edu

Maryland Department of Commerce

commerce.maryland.gov

Starting a business can be a challenge, but Maryland makes it as easy as possible to get your business up and running by working across state agencies to remove barriers to business success. commerce.maryland.gov/start

Business License Information System – The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development offers this informative site as a tool to help you learn about permits and licenses that your business may need. www.BLIS.state.md.us

Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development

The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (MD DBED) works to stimulate private investment and create jobs; attract new businesses to the State; encourage the expansion and retention of existing companies; and provide Maryland businesses with workforce training and financial assistance. DBED also publicizes Maryland’s economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development, international trade and tourism.
www.choosemaryland.org

U. S. Small Business Administration

www.sba.gov

 

The U.S. Small Business Administration has delivered millions of loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses.

Chambers of Commerce

The ability to create and maintain a network of contacts is vital to every business.

Internal Revenue Service - If you need help finding federal tax information tailored for your business needs, the links on this page provide important information for all small businesses and self-employed individuals. Get information for starting, maintaining and closing a business, business taxes, recordkeeping and help for your day-to-day business activities, directly from the IRS. www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html

Patuxent Partnership - The Patuxent Partnership is a private not-for-profit consortium with national reach. The Partnership is engaged in marketing the region’s technology capabilities, fostering business collaborations, developing the workforce, transferring technology and developing academic partnerships. www.paxpartnership.org

Southern Maryland Higher Education Center - The Southern Maryland Higher Education Center (SMHEC) serves as the regional graduate education higher education institution. In partnership with nine universities and colleges, SMHEC offers over 60 academic programs in engineering, education, nursing, management, social work, and counseling. Four meeting rooms that hold 50 to 500 individuals are available for training and conference programs, and other formal gatherings. www.smhec.org

Navair Office of Small Business Programs - The Naval Air Systems Command, Small Business Program is a dynamic advocacy office that provides training, advice, guidance and innovative strategies ensuring quality solutions for Navy and Marine Corps acquisition teams to maximize opportunities for small business, including service-disabled veteran-owned small business, historically underutilized business zone (HUB Zone) small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns. www.navair.navy.mil/osbp

St. Mary’s College of Maryland - St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) is a public honors college for the liberal arts. SMCM provides professional development certificate programs in acquisition management and cost estimating. Through a pilot program with the Defense Acquisition University (DAU), the local contracting community can enroll in DAU courses. The Project Management Certificate Program is also available, offering in-depth instruction in management practices. www.smcm.edu

University of Maryland - The University of Maryland is the flagship campus of the state's higher educational system and a top-ranked public research institution. We are a diverse community of 38,000 students, 9,000 faculty and staff, and 352,000 alumni, all dedicated to the pursuit of Fearless Ideas. Located just outside Washington, D.C., we discover and share new knowledge every day through our renowned research enterprise and programs in academics, the arts and athletics. And we are committed to social entrepreneurship as the nation's first "Do Good" campus. www.umd.edu