Maryland Business Assistance Providers

A wide variety of services are available to help Maryland businesses improve both their financial and environmental performance. This assistance comes in the form of free on-site technical consultations, low-interest loans, awards and recognition, business-to-business mentoring, training and seminars all focusing on reducing costs and increasing productivity through greater efficiency. Take a look at these programs and contact the individuals listed below to see how they can help address your businesses needs.

College of Southern Maryland

Maryland Center for Environmental Training

The Maryland Center for Environmental Training (MCET) provides comprehensive training and technical assistance in the areas of environmental compliance and occupational safety and health. Training is offered at sites throughout Maryland, in partnership with other Maryland community colleges, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health program.

Environmental training is approved by the State of Maryland for water and wastewater operator certification renewal. MCET also provides on-site technical assistance to Maryland's communities and businesses, especially to ensure that water and wastewater treatment facilities comply fully with the stringent provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act.

Consulting Engineers Council of Maryland

CEC/MD, with headquarters in Baltimore, is a nonprofit association of approximately 75 multi-sized consulting engineering firms located throughout the state serving the public as well as private sectors. Member firms employ over 3,000 employees and are responsible for the design of most of the area's infrastructure, environmental and building construction. The organization focuses on the business aspects of the consulting engineering profession and is affiliated with the American Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC), headquartered in Washington, DC.

Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development

DBED Office of Business Services
410-767-0595

http://www.choosemaryland.org/businessresources/Pages/default.aspx

DBED's Office of Business Servces is committed to helping businesses navigate a path through a variety of government programs.

Maryland Department of the Environment

Air and Radiation Management Administration

Mobile Source Program

MDE works with a number of other state agencies to promote the use of low-emission vehicles. The Clean Alternative Program provides financial incentives that can significantly offset the higher initial cost of purchasing low pollution vehicles. This program also provides free consultation in helping businesses match technology and vehicle products to the exact fleet requirements.

Water Management Administration

The Linked Deposit Program provides low-interest financing for water quality capital improvements. Types of projects funded include correction of failed septic systems, removal of underground storage tanks, shoreline erosion control activities, and agriculture and stormwater best management practices.

Waste Management Administration

Recycling Services

Recycling Services provides technical assistance through site visits, website links to business market locator, and a commercial waste diversion implementation guidebook.

MD Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation

MD Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Services

Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) offers an on-site consultation program to provide small employers, free of charge, with advice on workplace safety. The following services are provided:

• Identification of specific hazards, and appropriate advice and assistance to correct conditions and practices that may not comply with MOSH requirements
• Assistance in developing and maintaining an effective safety and health program
• Limited on-site education and training programs for employers and employees
• Assistance with occupational health and ergonomic issues

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

The Maryland Clean Marina Initiative

The Maryland Clean Marina Initiative assists marina, boatyard, and yacht club operators to protect the resources that provide their livelihood: clean water and fresh air. It is a voluntary program that gives managers the resources they need to minimize pollution. The Initiative also recognizes environmentally-responsible facilities as "Certified Clean Marinas" and educates boaters about their role as stewards of our waterways.

Landowner Stewardship Referral Service

Property owners with unvegetated areas adjacent to streams or wetlands, drained or eroded fields, woods or streams, or filled wetlands, can receive financial assistance for such voluntary enhancement projects as wetlands restoration, streambank stabilization, tree plantings and wildlife habitat creation.

Maryland Energy Administration

The mission of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is to maximize energy efficiency, while promoting economic development, reducing reliance on foreign fuel supply and improving the environment. MEA coordinates and directs integrated energy planning for State agencies. MEA also provides assistance for the energy efficiency efforts of the country and municipal governments, and the private and non-profit sectors of our economy.

The strategic goals of MEA are to make the State of Maryland a leader in energy efficiency, to reduce costs to our citizens, leverage public/private partnerships in order to improve the competitive position of Maryland industry. In addition, MEA strives to lower the operating expenses of State and local government, while contributing to the improvement of air quality in Maryland.

Maryland Environmental Service

MES was created by the Maryland General Assembly to provide high quality environmental management services in the most cost-effective manner. It operates drinking water, industrial and domestic wastewater plants and provides stormwater, sludge, dredging, and safety management services. MES operates solid and hazardous waste facilities, recycling and composting facilities. The organization recovers direct and indirect costs by charging a fee for services and operate like a not-for-profit corporation.

With over 340 projects, MES serves schools, towns, businesses, industries, state and federal government facilities throughout Maryland. Many rely on MES's monitoring services and remarkable permit compliance rate (over 99.99%), and take advantage of significant cost savings available through our statewide laboratory contracts. MES can finance projects through tax-exempt revenue bonds and other mechanisms, develop regional facilities and operate beyond the borders of the state.

Maryland Mass Transit Administration

Commuter Choice Program

Through federal and state legislation, Commuter Choice offers employers options which encourage employees to ride mass transit or qualified vanpools, and save money on their commute.

Maryland Recycles

Maryland Recycles is offering free recycling program assistance to businesses and institutions in the Baltimore region.  Staff is available to visit a facility and review the organization's current waste disposal practices and then recommend ways to start or improve a recycling program.  Ordinarily a recycling program can improve an organization's bottom line, primarily as a result of avoided waste disposal costs.

This offer is only available to businesses and institiutions located in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard ans Montgomery Counties.

Chesapeake Region Safety Council, Inc.

Founded in Baltimore in 1923, the Safety Council of Maryland, Inc. is a chapter of the National Safety Council. It is a non-profit and non-governmental public service organization which devotes its total resources to the prevention of all types of accidents and the promotion of safety and health. The Council serves Maryland, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia.

SCORE Counselors to Americas Small Business

SCORE is a national association of business men and women who volunteer their time and business expertise to help America's small businesses to start, grow and prosper. SCORE volunteers provide:

• Low cost workshops and seminars on the key business disciplines necessary for a successful venture.
• Free and confidential individual business management counseling to small business owners and those who are considering the start of a new business.

SCORE is sponsored in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Baltimore – SCORE Chapter No. 3
(410) 962-2233
baltimorescore@verizon.net

Hagerstown – SCORE Chapter No. 539
(301) 739-2015

 Mid-Shore SCORE – Chapter No. 626
(410) 822-4606
score626@goeaston.net

Lower Shore – SCORE Chapter No. 298
(410) 749-0144

Southern Maryland – SCORE Chapter No. 390
(410) 266-9553
SCORE390@aol.com

Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties
Call Washington DC – SCORE Chapter No. 1
(202) 606-4000 ext. 287

Upper Shore SCORE – Chapter No. 670
(410) 348-5392

Western Maryland SCORE – Chapter No. 682
(301) 722-2773

The Small Business Resource Center

The Center is a resource library with on-site counseling to assist small business entrepreneurs in Maryland in starting or growing their business. The center helps small businesses be more successful and is totally free of charge and open to the public. The Center features a printed and video library on key business topics, as well as computers, software, special informational programs, Internet access, seminars and workshops. Counseling on site is with the Maryland Small Business Development Center and S.C.O.R.E. A public/private partnership of Bank of America, U.S. Small Business Administration, and U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Association, operates the Center.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III

Business Assistance Center

U.S. EPA Region III’s Business Assistance Center provides free assistance to small businesses through our a free number.

The University of Maryland

Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute, Manufacturing Assistance Program

The Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (MTECH) promotes interaction in engineering and science between the University of Maryland and the business and industrial community.  MTECH programs include technical assistance, an incubator for technically oriented start-up firms, matching grants for research leading to product and process development, laboratories and facilities that serve industry needs, research consortia, seminars in technical fields of current interest to industry and other activities to promote technology transfer to industry.

MTECH's principal program for extending the University's expertise directly to Maryland industry is the Manufacturing Assistance Program (MAP). MAP's staff of experienced engineers offer free on-site technical assistance to Maryland companies. The MAP role in working with individual companies is to disseminate information, to help identify and solve critical short-term problems, and to provide guidance and orientation in developing solutions to long-term problems. MAP sponsors industrial forums and other educational activities that draw on University resources. MAP is the Maryland representative to the National Institute of Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a national organization of extension programs focused on small and medium sized manufacturers.

Maryland Small Business Development Center Network