The Center for Business and Technology Development (CBTD) is the division of the Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA) that provides small business support services for the county.

Linda Burger, who serves as the senior vice president of small business development at the CBTD for the HCEDA, serves its clientele with her staff through three components: the Business Resource Center (BRC), the NeoTech Incubator and the Howard Technology Council (HTC).


The Overview

The Business Resource Center (BRC), led by Cynetta Cardwell, is the foundation of the center, offering training and counseling to business owners and potential entrepreneurs, and conference rooms for business and networking group meetings; the NeoTech incubator leases office space to emerging technology companies and offers programmatic and advisory assistance; and the HTC hosts technology focused informational and networking events, as well as hosting the annual awards program each November.

The BRC serves more than 800 individuals annually and works with three partner organizations to help develop stronger Howard County businesses. Those partners - the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), SCORE and j-ref - have offices in the center.

The SBDC and SCORE provide no-charge counseling to existing and prospective business owners, while j-ref is a funding organization focused solely on Howard County firms. The SBDC counselor is a full-timer; the 10 SCORE counselors, who advise within their numerous areas of expertise, hold periodic hours.

To schedule an appointment with any of the center's counselors, call 410-313-6550. Information about j-ref and its funding program can be found at www.jref.org.

As the center's training section, the BRC hosts fee-based training programs, including standards such as "Smart Start for Business Success" and "Developing Your Business Plan," a variety of partner events and its newest offering, the Government Contracting Institute.

The Government Contracting Institute is a public-private partnership developed with Howard County-based TargetGov. The institute offers a series of 10 half-day courses that ran twice in 2009. It also offers flexibility for attendees and multi-session price discounts; the next series launches in January 2010, when it switches to a webinar format.

The BRC is also home to the Ochoa Business Library, which is stocked with information on regional resources for small businesses. Wireless Internet is available, along with several computers and coordination to the activities of the HCEDA's Committee for Business and Economic Diversity.


Getting Technical

Members of the NeoTech business incubator are part of a group of 26 emerging technology companies that adds to the daily buzz of activity at the center and keeps Laurie Hedlund, the center's new NeoTech director, busy supporting its growth.

The center's proximity to Fort Meade and all its activities as the region's largest economic engine, as well as The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, helps to create the perfect environment in which to start and develop businesses providing technology-based products and services to the federal government.

Not surprisingly, many of NeoTech's client firms target that community as their primary customer base. Its clients perform research and development in communications and information assurance, management consulting, and information technology products and services in support of federal agencies and their missions.

Incubator clients with private sector customers provide medical records management, translation of pharmaceutical clinical trial results, medical device development, social media games and development tools, and even a food product based on a patented blend of flours licensed from the United States Department of Agriculture.

With that varied clientele, all focused on technology development and commercialization, there is always something new and exciting happening at NeoTech. One day it might be testing of wireless ad hoc networks for the Department of Defense with Humvees, backpack radios or Roomba robots outfitted with communications equipment instead of vacuum cleaners; the next might bring work for NASA, through testing of new flight control software on a simulator or the development of critical software for use on spacecraft.

NeoTech has a tradition of providing programmatic support for its clients, having attained national awards three times for Innovative Programs from the National Business Incubation Association. Current offerings include a monthly CEO Roundtable discussion group; Capital Scrubs, in which firms are coached by experts prior to launching fundraising efforts; and regular advisory, resource and networking support.


The Latest

The newest addition to the center is the HTC, which just held its second annual Tech Awards event in November. More than 100 people enjoyed C-Level networking and a rousing challenge to further build the region's technology expertise and economy from keynote speaker Brian Darmody of the University of Maryland.

In addition to the awards program, Larry Collins, executive director of the HTC, produces monthly informational seminars focused on technology related topics at the center on the third Wednesday of each month from 8:30 to 10 a.m., usually at no charge.

Another offering is the quarterly Council Executive Breakfast series, also held at the center, that caters to executives (only) and covers topics such as "Building Your Business to Sell" and a recent forum on the use of "Cloud Computing for Business."

In addition, the council also hosts periodic networking events, including its End of Summer Bash at the Columbia Lakefront; and there are currently three Affinity Groups coordinated through the HTC: Information Assurance, Health Care and The Inventors Group, with a fourth group in development.

Even during this challenging economic time, there are vast opportunities for business growth. Call 410-313-6550 for more information.

This article appeared in The Business Monthly's January 2010 BRAC and Economic Development focus section.