Business Briefs

Holiday Music At Village Centers

The Harbor Lights of the Harbor City Music Co. will sing holiday favorites at eight Columbia Village Centers from December 7 through December 21.

For a complete schedule of the free early evening concerts, visit www.columbiavillage centers.com.



HCGH Receives Grant For New Parents

Howard County General Hospital has received a $270,000 grant from the Local Children's Board to implement a "New Life, New Parents" program that provides resources, information and support to first-time parents in Howard County.

The grant funds the program, offered in conjunction with Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland.



Elkridge Furnace Inn Awarded

The Elkridge Furnace Inn has been elected to receive the prestigious 2001 Gold Wine Award of Excellence by the International Restaurant & Hospitality Rating Bureau.

The Wine Awards were created to recognize establishments that consistently provide exceptional wines and selections that are expertly matched to the cuisine they prepare.

Elkridge Furnace Inn also received an exceptional Zagat review and several Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence.



Manekin Earns Philanthropy Award

Manekin, LLC has been presented with the Maryland Business Philanthropy Award, medium business category (101-500 employees), for its commitment to improving Marylanders' quality of life through philanthropic efforts.

Last year Manekin contributed an astounding 20% of its net income to nonprofit entities, it was noted during the Maryland Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals' National Philanthropy Day Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Baltimore.



DOD Tech Funding

The Department of Defense is seeking small technology companies to compete for a pool of research and development funds in excess of $500 million.

The defense department's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) is part of a $1 billion early-stage technology funding opportunity. By logging on to the web site, www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir, small business applicants can view the new topics, ask questions and gain valuable insight to help them compete for the Small Business Innovation Research awards. SBIR proposals will be accepted until Jan. 16, 2002.



Centrix Financial Joins Credit Online

Credit Online, Inc., has announced the addition of Centrix Financial, a financial and risk management firm, to its growing list of lender partners.

Credit Online's technology instantly and electronically connects businesses that are credit originators (such as automotive dealers) to credit bureaus and multiple funding sources of electronic lenders via the Internet. Centrix Financial can now extend its unique special financing product to a broader base of automotive dealers.



Seniors Sign Up For

Short-Term Rx Plan

Almost 730 eligible senior citizens of Howard County have enrolled in Maryland's Senior Short-Term Rx Plan, which CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield officials say is 80% full.

The 2001 General Assembly created the plan, administered by and mostly funded by CareFirst, as a stop-gap measure until the federal government addresses the problem nationally. Potential members seeking applications or who have questions about the program should call 1-800-972-4612.



Snowden Commons,

Crestpointe Leasing Up

Colliers Pinkard has announced that Snowden Commons, a 48,000-square-foot, two-story office building located at 5850 Waterloo Road in Columbia, is 96% leased. Snowden Commons completed construction in August of 2001.

Additionally, Crestpointe Corporate Center, located in Columbia Gateway, has two new tenants to occupy space in its 650,000 square foot office complex. Citifinancial, doing business as Chesapeake Appraisal and Settlement, will open a call center this month, and Kaiser Permanente is expected to occupy 18,000 square feet next month.

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, a San Francisco-based financial services company, has expanded and leased office space at 9052 Route 108 (Old Annapolis Road), Columbia. The complex been renamed the Columbia Technology Campus.



Job Web Site

The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) has unveiled two new web sites that provide direct and easy access to Anne Arundel County business information.

Visitors to www.aaedc.org, the new AAEDC corporate web site, can easily navigate to take advantage of a wide range of permitting, training, transportation and recreation information.

Job seekers will find www.arundeljobs. com a convenient connection to a selection of county employment agencies and to a searchable database of 2,800 Anne Arundel County businesses. ArundelJobs.com also lists a selection of major county companies and provides hot links to their human resources departments.



State Awards $2.05 Million Toward Tech Business Incubation

The Maryland Technology Development Corp. (TEDCO) has announced $2 million in capital funds for small business incubator projects and $50,000 for two incubator feasibility studies in an effort to bolster the state's system of technology-oriented business incubation.



Howie Nominations

The Howard County Arts Council is seeking nominations for the 2001 Howie Awards, which are presented annually to an outstanding artist, arts educator and business or community supporter of the arts in recognition of their long-term commitment and contribution to the cultural life of Howard County.

The 2001 Howie Awards will be presented at the annual Celebration of the Arts on April 13, 2002. Toby and Hal Orenstein, founders of Toby's Dinner Theatre and the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, will serve as honorary chairs for the gala.

The postmark deadline for nominations is December 15, 2001, and ballots are available from the Arts Council at 410-313 ARTS (2787).



New Hispanic Chamber

Charles Ramos, president of CR Dynamics & Associates, Inc., has launched the Howard County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HCHCC).

The HCHCC is seeking officers and members of all Hispanic owned businesses, large or small, in Howard County interested in networking, discussing economic development issues, certification and representation issues.

The Howard County Hispanic Chamber is an affiliation of the MD Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which is also a member of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. All interested parties should contact Charles Ramos at 410-480-1550.



G1440 Launches New Program

G1440, an eBusiness company, has launched Procure1440, an Internet-based cost management, purchase request and order workflow system.

Procure1440 improves control and speed of purchases using an intuitive web-based application for enforcing enterprise-wide procurement policy. The system manages detailed capital and expense requests, as well as the requesting, ordering, tracking, receiving, invoice matching and reporting for all purchase orders.



Selborne House, Phase II

Harkins Builders, Inc. has started on Phase II construction at Selborne House of Dorsey Hall, a senior living apartment facility in Ellicott City. Harkins completed the Phase I construction in May of 2000.

Phase II consists of the addition of 48 apartments to the existing building along with associated site work. Completion is expected in spring of 2002.



First Thursday Jazz

The Baltimore-Washington JAZZfest (BWJF) is launching a monthly series entitled First Thursday Jazz. The plan is to kick the series of six performances at the popular Silver Shadows Club on Little Patuxent Parkway across from The Mall in Columbia on December 6, 2001. Performances will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Light snacks and a cash bar will be available.



Local Firm Named In Top 100

CR Dynamics & Associates, Inc., was ranked 81 of the top 100 Diversity Owned Businesses in Maryland for FY2001. The firm was recognized by DIV2000.com, produced by Computer Consulting Associates International, Inc. of Southport, Conn.

Ranking was based on gross annual sales. CR Dynamics' gross annual sales for FY2000 were $2.3 million.



PSI Honored

The Div100, the nation's leading diversity business to business Internet portal, has selected Planned Systems International, Inc. as Maryland's eighth leading diversity-owned business.

PSI is a 13-year-old Columbia-based information technology solutions and services provider that brings customized information technology solutions to its government and commercial sector clients.



Somerford Place Opens

Somerford Place, a 60-bed assisted living facility providing care exclusively to those with Alzheimer's and dementia, has opened on Snowden River Parkway in Columbia.

For information, call Christina Green at 410-313-9744.



Sandy Spring To Acquire

Chesapeake Insurance

Sandy Spring Bank, a subsidiary of Sandy Spring Bancorp, has reached an agreement to acquire the assets and liabilities of the Chesapeake Insurance Group located in Annapolis.

The bank's strategy is to continue to expand its range of offerings of financial products and services.



Wingate Inn Under Construction

Ground has been broken on a five-story, 129-room franchised Wingate Inn hotel at Aero Drive in Linthicum.

Planned for a summer 2002 opening, the hotel will feature free high-speed Internet access in the rooms, an indoor pool and a 24-hour business center.



Farmers Markets Seminar

Maryland's County Agricultural Economic Development Specialists are holding a daylong seminar, "Building Better Farmers Markets" at the Howard County Fairgrounds on December 13.

Specialists from a number of counties will hold seminars on such topics as developing attractive displays, selling to restaurants, food handling safety and product selection.

For information, call Ginger Myers at 410-313-6500.



Structural Group Earns High Ranking

Structural Group, a Hanover-based specialty concrete repair contractor, is among the five largest concrete contracting companies in the U.S., according to Concrete Magazine's "CC100 List."

Structural Group, with 2000 revenues of $134 million, ranked fifth overall and first among concrete repair contractors.



Rainmaker To Develop Pa. Course

The Rainmaker Group, a golf course and residential development concern based in Columbia, has announced that Rainmaker Golf Development Inc. will develop an 18-hole golf course for Lower Makefield Township in Buck's County, Pa.

The course will be designed by Jacobson Golf Course Design.



Schultes Provide For HCC Travel

The Schulte Travel fellowship, named for benefactors Barbara and Jim Schulte of Ellicott City, will financially support independent study travel for students in Howard Community College's James W. Rouse Scholars Program or the Silas Craft Collegians Program.

Host families will serve as the base for students traveling either in the U.S. or abroad, supporting the college's goal of preparing students to be global citizens.



TSI TelSys Seeks Investor Or Buyer

The Board of Directors of TSI TelSys Corporation has directed management to find either a major strategic investor or a potential buyer for the company.

The Board determined that the decline in the economy has had a negative effect on the company's business, adding to the need to penetrate the "secure" U.S. Government market.



Sinex & Potts Honored

Sinex Design, Architects, in conjunction with Potts Construction Co., Inc. was honored with three awards for excellence in design and construction in the Homebuilders of Maryland 2001 Remodeling Award of Excellence juried competition.

Awards were won in the Bathroom Remodeling category, the Specialty/Details category and the Residential Remodeling category.



Educational Partnerships

Wheels Skating Center in Odenton and Howard County Public School System's Adapted Physical Education Program have an educational partnership to provide students the opportunity to enhance their motor skills.

United Artists Snowden Square Theatres and Oakland Mills Middle School have partnered to bridge the gap between the school and business community by working in unison on various activities for improving student reading and math skills.



COLA Aids Bioterrorism Preparedness

COLA, a national health care accreditation organization, is distributing a series of bioterrorism preparedness information sheets, especially designed for the laboratory.

The free fact sheets are available by logging onto www.cola.org.



Tier One Is New Name

MK Technology Solutions has changed its name to Tier One Technology Partners.

The technology consulting practice continues to be affiliated with McLean, Koehler, Sparks & Hammond.



New Hip Replacement Surgery

The latest technology for hip replacement surgery has been brought to North Arundel Hospital, and is providing patients of The Baltimore-Washington Hip and Knee Center with a longer-lasting, more durable option.

Orthopedic surgeon James York, M.D., recently performed the first hip replacement in Maryland using the "Lineage" Metal-on-Metal Acetabular Cup System. The new hip uses a metal-on-metal joint instead of the traditional metal-plastic joint.