HMC Hires Seven Grads of Sagamore’s Manufacturing Bootcamp

HMC Inc., a Columbia based design and manufacturing facility, has hired seven of the first eight graduates of Sagamore Development’s pilot Manufacturing Bootcamp to work at its facility. A 100% woman-owned business, HMC is a commercial design-build firm focused on the design, fabrication and installation of interior custom food service and hospitality displays for large customers.

A class of eight workers, all with barriers to employment, was selected by the Foundry and the Center for Urban Families to participate in the pilot program. It ran four days a week for seven weeks and resulted in the hiring of all eight participants. The Foundry, an experimental “makerspace” in Baltimore, was developed by Sagamore to provide local residents with the training needed in manufacturing to help prepare the workforce for the redevelopment of Port Covington.

“Port Covington is one of the largest redevelopment projects in the country and will be a huge economic impact not just for Baltimore, but for the surrounding counties and the state of Maryland,” said Larry Twele, CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority. “What we see currently with HMC is an indicator of the types of collaborative relationships and opportunities that will come with the redevelopment. As Port Covington grows, there will be needs for goods and services across the state, and some from right here in Howard County.”

GE Healthcare to Move Laurel Operations to Wisconsin

GE Healthcare has announced plans to close its current facility in Laurel and move operations to sites in Wisconsin. According to GE Healthcare Spokesman Benjamin Fox, the transition began in January and will take between 12 to 24 months to complete.

“The Laurel facility’s approximately 180 current employees will be impacted, though certain positions will be relocated or continue working in Maryland remotely,” Fox said. The Laurel plant manufactures incubators and warmers for neonatal intensive care units in hospitals.

GE Healthcare will be offering impacted employees comprehensive support to identify other positions either in or outside of GE, as well as income extension aid and other benefits. The company “regrets the loss of any job,” Fox said, noting that the decision is expected to help the business stay competitive by combining business operations, leveraging technical expertise and encouraging engineering collaboration.

Timbers at Troy to Temporarily Close, Expedite Completion of Renovations

Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks has announced that the Timbers at Troy golf course has temporarily closed for play to expedite work on the ongoing bunker and irrigation renovation projects throughout the property. Weather permitting, the golf course is expected to reopen in late spring.

The course closure will accelerate the completion timeline of the project without interference to golfing guests. Among the restoration projects taking place is the installation of the Better Billy Bunker System throughout the course, which includes a patented porous hard surface mixture used as lining below the sand, which eliminates sand contamination and washed out bunkers following rainstorms.

The new irrigation system will include remote controls for each irrigation head along with the capability for hand watering throughout the course to eliminate hot spots during the summer season. It is estimated that it will reduce water use by at least 20% annually.

LM, MLW Complete Merger

Annapolis-based Leadership Maryland (LM), the professional development program dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its local businesses and communities, and Maryland Leadership Workshops (MLW), a leadership development program for middle and high school students, announced that a merger has been completed to join the two organizations.

Under the agreement, Maryland Leadership Workshops becomes a division of Leadership Maryland and will continue to host five week-long student programs each summer. Anita Durall Anderson will remain in the role of executive director, and representatives of Maryland Leadership Workshops also will serve on the Leadership Maryland board of directors.

Now in its 62nd year, MLW is a nonprofit organization that hosts peer-led summer programs that empower and inspire middle and high school students across Maryland to succeed and be more engaged in their schools and communities. Leadership Maryland, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2017, has more than 1,100 leaders from all industries and regions of the state who have completed the eight-month program.

More Than Two-Dozen Broadcasters to Join MPT, Air Heroin Program

Maryland Public Television (MPT) will premiere a new program, “Breaking Heroin’s Grip: Road to Recovery,” on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. The hour-long television event, consisting of a 40-minute documentary and 20-minute live phone bank program, will air on nearly 30 television and radio stations in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., either simultaneously with MPT’s telecast or shortly thereafter.

Produced by MPT in association with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Behavioral Health Administration, “Breaking Heroin’s Grip” examines stories of three Maryland residents in rural and urban settings with an opioid use disorder. Rather than focusing on the criminal and legal aspects of the users’ stories, the MPT program instead concentrates on the subjects’ individual struggles and recovery from addiction.

Throughout the evening and at the documentary’s conclusion, a live phone bank (at 800-422-0009), staffed by Behavioral Health Administration crisis hotline team members, will receive calls from addicted individuals, family members or friends to provide immediate information and assistance that may lead to treatment and recovery. MPT news anchor Jeff Salkin will be joined by WBAL-TV news anchor/reporter Jason Newton, to host the one-hour broadcast and phone bank outreach event.

2015: State Tourism Revenue Hits $17B, Visitors Increase to 40.5M

Visitors to Maryland spent nearly $17 billion on travel expenses in 2015, up 3.5% from the previous year, according to a report released by the Maryland Office of Tourism Development, an agency of the Maryland Department of Commerce. The report also found that Maryland welcomed 40.5 million visitors in 2015, a 6% increase from 2014, which also outpaced the growth of national visitation by a full percentage point.

According to the report, 60% of visitor spending focused on three areas: food and beverage, lodging and transportation. This spending has generated $2.3 billion in state and local tax revenues. More than 143,000 Marylanders were directly employed in the tourism industry in 2015, making it the 10th largest private sector employer in the state. The industry supported a payroll of $5.7 billion, which is an increase of 6% from 2014.

“The Economic Impact of Tourism in Maryland – Calendar Year 2015 Tourism Satellite Account” was conducted by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company.

Howard County Solicits Professional Services to Develop Ellicott City Master Plan

The Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning has released an Expression of Interest (EOI) for professional services to develop a master plan for Ellicott City and its watershed. The master plan process will help define a comprehensive, community-driven vision for rebuilding a stronger, model resilient community. It will also incorporate a watershed plan in a way that many traditional master plans do not.

Key services and experiences should include urban design, landscape architecture, architecture, historic preservation, economic development, flood impacted communities, traffic, transportation, parking, and engineering expertise to address the technical implications of possible options and to help translate flood study results.

A hydrologic and hydraulic study is currently underway for the Ellicott City watershed. Additionally, its unique topography, hydrology, road network and mill town heritage will require a tailored, well-planned roadmap for long-term rebuilding. Responses to the EOI are due no later than 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15. More details can be found at www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Planning-and-Zoning/Community-Planning/Community-Plans/EC-Master-Plan.

Maryland Commerce Intros Online Search Tool

The Maryland Department of Commerce is rolling out an enhanced online tool to help businesses looking to move into Maryland or expand in the state find both the properties and the Maryland communities that best meet their needs. The property search engine, known as ZoomProspector, is available on the department’s website and offers a broad range of information about available buildings and sites as well as demographic information about communities across the state.

ZoomProspector provides data on an area’s population size, labor force profile, median household income, housing affordability, local economic incentives and proximity to public transportation. Once users have identified geographic areas that meet their needs, they can find nearby properties that match their search criteria.

Among the information provided by the cloud-based search tool are statewide maps showing broadband access, priority funding areas, enterprise zones and consumer spending habits such as how much people spend on education, entertainment and health care each year.

Certificate of Need Approved for the First Stand-Alone Detox in Maryland

Linthicum-based Maryland House Detox and Delphi Behavioral Health Group (DBHG) have announced that the Maryland Health Care Commission has approved a Certificate of Need for the first private, stand-alone inpatient detox center in Maryland.

“Maryland House Detox is the first private, stand-alone inpatient medical detoxification center to open in Maryland,” said DBHG Director of Operations David Stup. “Our detox will treat adults addicted to various substances, including alcohol and heroin. The facility will provide 24-hour, medically monitored inpatient detoxification for an average of five to seven days — after which our team of licensed clinicians will assess individuals and facilitate warm transitions to quality residential and outpatient treatment programs across the state and country.

AAWDC Offering Training for Emerging Workforce

Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corp. (AAWDC) is offering a new initiative for eligible county young adults, ages 18–24, who are currently not in school. F.L.O.W., which stands for First Level of Work, offers career exploration, essential workplace skills training, job readiness assessments and consultation, occupational training and job placement assistance, at no cost.

After attending an information session, prospective participants will sign up for a career exploration session offered in February to identify their place in the workforce, identify career goals and determine a plan to achieve those goals. The F.L.O.W. initiative will run from March through May 2017, and will focus on careers in health care and information technology.

Participants will identify personal interests and strengths through assessments, including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator; attend a week-long training on essential workplace skills and money management; develop self-marketing tools through job readiness consultation; and more. Information sessions will be held throughout the county. To make a reservation, visit AA-Workforce.eventbrite.com or call 410-766-5212.

Phase 2 of Oakland Mills Road Construction to Begin

Phase 2 of an ongoing Howard County construction project at Blandair Park, in Columbia, is scheduled to begin in February. The project will include the relocation of Oakland Mills Road through Blandair Park. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by mid-summer.

During this phase of the project, Oakland Mills Road will be closed from the Old Montgomery Road/Oakland Mills Road intersection to the playing fields’ parking lot entrance. Traffic will follow a marked detour along Oakland Mills Road, Kilimanjaro, Stevens Forest Road, Santiago Road, Thunder Hill Road and Route 175 to gain access to the park’s new entrance, located off Route 175 between Tamar Drive and Thunder Hill Road. Sohap Lane, off Thunder Hill Road, will be open to local traffic only. The playing fields at Blandair Park will remain open during the construction project.

Contact Lisa Brightwell with questions or concerns about Capital Project J-4237/N-3102 at 410-313-3440 or email [email protected].

Kittleman Proposes Expanding Renovations Qualifying for Historic Property Tax Credits

Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman has pre-filed legislation to expand eligibility for tax credits when making repairs and improvements to historic properties. Current historic property tax credits focus on exterior and structural improvements, but many structures badly damaged during the Ellicott City flooding July 30 require extensive interior repairs and renovations as well.

Currently, to be eligible for the historic assessment credit in Howard County, improvements have to be pre-approved by the Historic Preservation Commission and are limited to exterior refurbishing, including siding and roofs, and structural improvements. It does not include major interior repairs. The proposed legislation removes the need for pre-approval for many types of repairs and provides an expansion of the definition of work eligible for the tax credit. All exterior work on the property still must meet the requirements of the Historic Preservation Commission, and the commission still will be involved in providing a Certificate of Eligibility.

The Howard County Council was scheduled to vote on the bill on Feb. 6.

Personal Net Worth Cap for Certified MBE Firms Underway

The Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Office of Minority Business Enterprise (OMBE) has announced that the personal net worth (PNW) cap applied to the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program has increased from $1,674,928 to $1,692,682. As required by Maryland law, the state’s MBE Program adjusts its PNW cap annually based on the Consumer Price Index. MDOT, as the official certification agency for the state, is responsible for calculating the annual cap. The PNW cap applies to any disadvantaged owner whose ownership interest in a firm is relied upon for certification in the MBE Program and all MBE certification decisions rendered until Dec. 31, 2017. In addition to the PNW cap, firms must meet eligibility requirements for minority status, ownership, control and size.

The PNW cap in place for the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program is not affected. Accordingly, the DBE cap on PNW remains $1,320,000. For information about MBE/DBE certification, contact OMBE at 410-865-1269 or visit the Minority Disadvantaged Business Enterprise tab at www.mdot.maryland.gov.

State’s Largest Private Hospitalist Group Rebrands as Adfinitas Health

Maryland’s largest private hospitalist group, Physicians Inpatient Care Specialists (MDICS), celebrates its 10-year anniversary with the unveiling of a new brand identity — Adfinitas Health. Founded by two hospitalist physicians in 2007, Dr. Doug Mitchell and Dr. Hung Davis, Hanover-based Adfinitas Health currently serves more than 50 health care systems, hospitals and post-acute care centers, with approximately 400 employees. The company operates across the mid-Atlantic, delivering integrated medical services.

The recent release of a new published study coincides with the firm’s anniversary. Co-authored by Dr. Timothy Capstack, one of the company’s managing partners, the study confirms the benefits of Adfinitas Health’s model, which expands the use of advanced practice providers as compared to more traditional hospital staffing models.

“We built this company on our belief that talented, properly-trained physician assistants and nurse practitioners should operate at the top of their licensing to deliver quality care,” said Mitchell.

Portion of Southbound Little Patuxent Parkway Closed for Water Main Work

As part of an ongoing Howard County construction project to install a water transmission main in Columbia, a portion of southbound Little Patuxent Parkway has been closed. During the closure, traffic will follow a marked detour using Gov. Warfield Parkway. Flagging operations will be in place to direct traffic as needed, and signs will be posted to alert motorists of the construction. This phase of the project is expected to be completed by mid-March, weather permitting.

The project began in September 2016 and includes the installation of approximately 9,000 linear feet of 36-inch water pipe to provide redundancy to the Howard County water distribution system. The majority of the work is located along the southbound shoulder of Little Patuxent Parkway between South Entrance Road and Columbia Road. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by late April. For questions or concerns about Capital Project W-8296, call 410-313-3440 or email [email protected].

Chrysalis to Open on EarthDay

The Chrysalis, which is billed as a “high-performance stage, public park pavilion and urban scale sculpture” by its builder and the first component to be completed in the Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods project, will be opened to the public on Saturday, April 22 — Earth Day.

Located near the Merriweather Post Pavilion VIP Parking lot, the 5,000-square-foot structure will serve as two stages: the Alpha Stage proscenium for larger productions, and the Beta Stage proscenium, with a thrust stage, for smaller events. Both stages work off of the same wood deck floor, and they can be used in combination for festival events. The Chrysalis is also a pavilion for public ad hoc gatherings, such as picnics and private planned functions. As a pavilion, it can also serve as a seated venue for 400 guests.

VOR Technology Acquires Sintel Group

Hanover-based cybersecurity firm VOR Technology has acquired Sintel Group, which is based in Columbia. VOR and Sintel provide defense intelligence and technology solutions to national security and private enterprise clients, and are Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). Founded in 2012, VOR has rapidly expanded as a cyberintelligence innovator, earning inclusion on the Inc. 5000 list of the Fastest Growing Companies in America for 2016.

“The acquisition followed VOR Technology’s successful bid on a particular government contract, as was structured from the beginning to constitute a mutual benefit for both parties,” said VOR CEO Anthony Lawrence. “With the addition of Sintel’s 25-person staff of engineers and analysts to a leading partner for Maryland’s intelligence community, the arrangement bolsters VOR Technology’s ability to provide forward-thinking solutions in categories such as offensive cyberoperations, systems architecture and software development.”

PharmAthene, Altimmune Merge

PharmAthene, of Annapolis, and Altimmune, a privately-held immunotherapeutics company in Gaithersburg, have signed a definitive agreement for a merger in an all-stock transaction. Altimmune’s current investors include Novartis Venture Fund, HealthCap, Truffle Capital and Redmont Capital. The combined company will be a fully-integrated, diversified immunotherapeutics company with four clinical stage and one preclinical stage programs.

“A merger with Altimmune is an ideal strategic match. It fulfills our stated goal of continuing to build value for PharmAthene shareholders after we distribute the SIGA litigation proceeds on Feb. 3,” said John Gill, president and CEO of PharmAthene. “By combining forces, we will diversify our portfolio into attractive commercial product opportunities and leverage our capabilities for developing next generation anthrax vaccines.”

Arundel Publishes Comprehensive Addiction Resource Guide

Anne Arundel County has released the county’s first comprehensive resource guide for residents suffering from addiction. The 18-page guide lists treatment providers throughout the county that provide the necessary services to help citizens suffering from addiction. It also lists contact information for the organization, as well as a list of treatment services offered.

The guide is authored and updated by the county executive’s Office of Constituent Services. It can be found online at www.aacounty.org/departments/county-executive/constituent-services/forms-publications/resource-guide.pdf. New providers wishing to be added to the guide should contact Nancy Schrum, director of constituent services, at 410-222-1785.

Howard Bancorp Prices Upsized Public Offering of Common Stock

Howard Bancorp, the parent company of Howard Bank, has priced an upsized, underwritten public offering of 2,400,000 shares of its common stock at $15 per share, raising approximately $36 million in gross proceeds. The company has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 360,000 shares of its common stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount, to cover over-allotments, if any.

The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including contributing to the capital of Howard Bank to support its lending and investing activities, repayment of debt and to support or fund acquisitions of other institutions or branches, as and if opportunities for such transactions become available.

Meet Members at Artists’ Gallery in February

Artists’ Gallery, new to Main Street in Ellicott City, is dedicating February to acquainting its visitors and patrons to member artists during its upcoming show, “Introductions.” “We’ve been here since November, but the local and tourist community that comes through may not be familiar with our artists and their work,” said Marian Gliese, president. “We thought this would be a good time to make some introductions. We’re especially happy to present our newest artists, painter Joan Bevelaqua, quilter Etarae Weinstein and potter Kathy Swan.”

For more information, call 443-325-5936 or visit artistsgalleryec.com

Monumental Helicopters Announces FAA Certification for Charters

Monumental Helicopters has announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has certified the company as an air carrier, and it is authorized to conduct passenger and cargo carrying operations on demand. The authorization allows Monumental to fly passengers anywhere in the lower 48 states, including Washington, D.C.

Monumental operates the Robinson R44, and can land at any airport, heliport, large field or clearing throughout the mid-Atlantic. The company is a full-service provider of charters, tours of Baltimore and Annapolis, and flight instruction, and offers aerial photography/video services for the region. It has operated out of Tipton Airport, across from Fort Meade, since 2012.

AAA, Guitar Center, Smoothie King to Join Towne Centre at Laurel

Greenberg Gibbons has announced three new tenants for Towne Centre at Laurel: AAA, Guitar Center and Smoothie King have signed leases and are expected to open in spring 2017 through early 2018.

AAA will open an 8,449-square-foot Insurance, Car Care and Travel Center on a new pad site near Harris Teeter in 2018; Guitar Center will occupy 12,496 square feet in a new building near Panera Bread; and Smoothie King will open a 1,440-square-foot café between Subway and Hair Cuttery this spring.

Jersey Mike’s Subs to Open at Waugh Chapel Towne Centre

Greenberg Gibbons has announced that Jersey Mike’s Subs, a 1,600-square-foot fast casual restaurant, will open at Waugh Chapel Towne Centre this spring. Jersey Mike’s makes authentic, Northeast American-style submarine sandwiches, and the new locations on South Main Chapel Way, in between Visionworks and Pivot Physical Therapy.

Schuh Signs Legislation Increasing Volunteer Firefighter Benefits

Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh has signed legislation to increase benefits for the county’s volunteer firefighting corps. The legislation increases Length of Service Award Program benefits for the Anne Arundel County volunteer firefighter corps to ensure the county can continue to recruit and retain qualified candidates.

If active for seven of the last 10 years, a volunteer will see an increased benefit depending on length of service. Volunteers with 25 to 34 years of service will receive $300 per month; volunteers with 35 to 44 years of service will receive $350 per month. And volunteers with 45 years or more of service will receive $400 per month. Other provisions ensure safeguards to save taxpayer dollars against miscalculations in benefits. The legislation was enacted by a 6-1 vote of the county council and will become effective on March 3.

H2O Runs Feb. 15–March 5 at HCC’s Rep Stage

Rep Stage, the regional theater in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), continues its 24th season with Jane Martin’s “H2O,” directed by Kasi Campbell. “H20” transports audiences into the reclusive, madcap world of Jane Martin’s drama/comedy/love story about self-destruction, notoriety and the dark journey to purity and salvation.

“H2O” opens Feb. 15, with a limited run through March 5. Tickets are $40 for general admission, $35 for seniors and the military and $15 for students with a current ID; Wednesdays and the first Thursday are pay-what-you-can performances. For tickets and additional information, visit www.repstage.org or call the box office at 443-518-1500.

Artists’ Gallery Exhibit at the Bernice Kish Gallery

The Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia, has announced a group exhibit in the galleries for February and March 2017. Members of the Artists’ Gallery will exhibit their work in a mixed media exhibit in celebration of Wilde Lake Village’s 50th birthday in the Lobby and Bill White Room Galleries. This exhibit will run from Feb. 17– March 25.

Participating artists include Joan Forester, Denise Tarbell, Jing-Jy Chen, Pauline Rakis, Marian Gliese, Joyce Bell, Kathleen Stumpfel, Ellen Corddry, Terry Pellmar, Bonita Glaser, Patricia Roberie, Diane Dunn, John Stier, Dave McCann, Eatarae Weinstein, Jerry Weinstein and Deborah Hoeper. For more information, call 410-730-3987 or 301-596-4883.

Laurel Manufacturer Plans Expansion, 50 New Jobs

Iron World, a distributor of decorative steel fences and gates, is expanding its manufacturing operations in Howard County and adding 50 new jobs during the next two years. The company will invest $1 million in the project to streamline its manufacturing process and reduce costs. Improvements include exterior upgrades and extra storage space, as well as a new automated routing machine and an additional panel assembly machine, which will significantly decrease assembly time and increase production by 300%.

Iron World’s products are made from raw steel, allowing the company to produce items in a variety of shapes and sizes. In December, the company totaled more than $3.5 million in sales. Its products can be found at the Pentagon, Washington Monument, Nationals Park, numerous bridges and schools across the country, as well as locally in Howard County.

USRA Opens a Remote Observation Center in Columbia

The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) has announced the opening of the USRA Remote Observation Center at its Columbia headquarters. Astronomers in the Baltimore-Washington area can now study the distant galaxies without having to travel to Hawaii to use the powerful telescopes of sufficient power.

The local USRA links to the W. M. Keck Observatory, on the summit of the Mauna Kea volcano, in Hawaii. The twin Keck telescopes are amongst the world’s largest optical and infrared telescopes, weighing 300 tons and operating with nanometer precision, studying everything from distant galaxies to planets in our solar system. The telescope is partially funded by NASA; USRA’s Remote Observation Center is only one of two on the East coast, with the other residing at Yale University, in New Haven, Conn.

NextLOGiK Joins Millworks to Aid Ellicott City Recovery

NextLOGiK, an information technology and development company, joined the Ellicott City Partnership as tenants of the office space located inside Millworks Business Resource Center, which opened in January to support Ellicott City’s flood recovery. NextLOGiK will use the space to collaborate with businesses and nonprofits aiding in recovery efforts.

“Rebuilding efforts for these businesses are far from over, but our community has shown its resiliency and eagerness to help,” said Kirk Couser, CEO of NextLOGiK. “By partnering with the Howard County Economic Development Authority, we can lend our expertise in digital communication to do our part in revitalizing historic Ellicott City.”

HCGH Requests Applications for Advisory Groups

Howard County General Hospital (HCGH) is requesting applications from volunteers interested in serving with one of two hospital advisory groups that support patient care: the Outpatient Center Advisory Council and the Patient and Family Advisory Council.

The Outpatient Center Advisory Council meets every two months to strengthen collaboration among patients, families, caregivers and staff, advocate for patients and families and help develop hospital and community programs, services and policies. Candidates can learn more and access the application online at http://bit.ly/hcgh_ocac; the Patient and Family Advisory Council, similarly, gives voice to patients and families during the hospital’s decision-making processes. Candidates can learn more and access the application online at http://bit.ly/hcgh_pfac.

Line of Sight! Cited by NWBOC

Line of Sight!, of Ellicott City, has earned a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certification through the National Women Business Owners Corp. (NWBOC). This independent, third-party certification will create opportunities for Line of Sight! and its clients to pursue contracts and projects that are reserved for women owned-businesses, as well as partnering with larger organizations committed to diversity programs.

The certification process is an extensive review of a company’s financial status and organizational structure, and includes a site inspection to ensure the company meets the requirements of the organization.

Trial By Fire Selects ByteGrid for Hosting of SimpleTrials

ByteGrid Holdings, which operates an office in Annapolis, has announced that e-clinical provider Trial By Fire Solutions has selected the company for the secure hosting of SimpleTrials, the first on-demand clinical trial management system (CTMS). ByteGrid provides the data center, compliance services and cloud management services for the hosting of the SimpleTrials web-based application and database, which is now available through the SimpleTrials website.

Howard County Reaches Top Five Counties With Internet Pub

The Internet news source 247WallSt.com ranked Howard County at No. 5 in its recent list of the The Best Counties to Live In. In doing so, it cited the county’s five-year population change at +8.9%, its November 2016 unemployment rate at 3%, its poverty rate at 5.2% and life expectancy at birth at 83 years.

As is the case with neighboring Montgomery County, Howard residents are among the healthiest, most highly educated and most financially secure in the United States. About 61% of adult residents have at least a bachelor’s degree, making Howard one of only seven U.S. counties with a bachelor’s degree attainment rate that is more than double the comparable national figure.