Maryland Means Business: News, Stories and Insights

A hundred-year-old family jeweler bets on a fourth Maryland store, a Pokemon card show proves treating customers fairly is good business, and the University of Maryland starts training tomorrow's quantum workforce today. Three very different bets, all playing the long game.

Sources:
Century-Old Smyth Jewelers Announces Fourth Maryland Store, Coming to Bel Air This Fall | Patch (Bel Air, MD) | https://patch.com/maryland/belair/century-old-jeweler-opening-new-store-bel-air
Maryland Company's Pokemon Card Show Bans Scalpers, Feeds Thousands, Finds Homes for Shelter Pets | Patch (Glen Burnie, MD) | https://patch.com/maryland/glenburnie/thousands-flock-glen-burnie-pokmon-card-show-after-sealed-card-ban
UMD's Frontier Technology Institute Is Building Maryland's Next Quantum Workforce, One High Schooler at a Time | Technical.ly | https://technical.ly/workforce/frontier-technology-institute-umd-quantum-high-school/

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Maryland's growth streak keeps stacking up at every scale this week: 120 companies land on Inc. 5000's fastest-growing list, a new Amazon delivery hub brings jobs to the Eastern Shore, and an AI company doubles its National Harbor headquarters. Cal and Chessie break down what all three actually mean for Maryland business owners.

Sources:
Inc. 5000 names Maryland's fastest growing companies in 2026 | Maryland Department of Commerce (business.maryland.gov) | https://business.maryland.gov/news/inc-5000-names-marylands-fastest-growing-companies-in-2026/
Salisbury gains new Amazon delivery facility | Maryland Department of Commerce (business.maryland.gov) | https://business.maryland.gov/news/salisbury-gains-new-amazon-delivery-facility/
Governor Moore Announces Cloudforce Chooses Maryland for Major AI Platform Expansion, Bringing 250 New Jobs to the State | Office of Governor Wes Moore | https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/governor-moore-announces-cloudforce-chooses-maryland-major-ai-platform-expansion

Sponsored by Maryland Smart Energy — smarter buildings, smaller bills. Utility-funded energy programs for Maryland businesses, nothing out of pocket. https://mdsmartenergy.com

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Montgomery County just cut its permitting timeline in half for job-creating projects, a Maryland-rooted startup raised $10 million to build a commercial fusion reactor, and Baltimore's AI health accelerator has a new leader for its fourth cohort. Cal and Chessie break down what each one actually means for Maryland business owners this week.

Sources:
Maryland-Rooted Terra Fusion Raises $10 Million Seed Round to Build a Commercial Fusion Reactor | Technical.ly | https://technical.ly/entrepreneurship/energy-startups-race-to-power-ai-infrastructure/
Montgomery County Council Approves Zoning Change to Cut Permitting Time in Half for Job-Creating Projects | Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) | https://thinkmoco.com/success-stories/montgomery-county-council-approves-job-creation-project-zta-initiative/
Former EcoMap COO Smitha Gopal Named Managing Director of Techstars AI Health Baltimore | Technical.ly | https://technical.ly/entrepreneurship/baltimore-techstars-ai-health-director-smitha-gopal-maryland-power-moves/

Sponsored by Maryland Smart Energy — smarter buildings, smaller bills. Utility-funded energy programs for Maryland businesses, nothing out of pocket. https://mdsmartenergy.com

Produced with AI. https://marylandmeans.business

Cal and Chessie tally up a big money week for Maryland: two more Baltimore raises for Sonavex and Vigilant Sec, TEDCO backing thirteen research and entrepreneurship projects across Johns Hopkins, Morgan State, and MICA, and Columbia's Balance Theory closing a $19 million Series A to grow its cybersecurity platform.

Sources:
Columbia's Balance Theory raises $19M Series A to grow its cybersecurity software | Technical.ly | https://technical.ly/entrepreneurship/balance-theory-raises-19m-series-a-maryland-money-moves/
TEDCO puts $665,000 into 13 Baltimore-area research and entrepreneurship projects | Technical.ly | https://technical.ly/entrepreneurship/balance-theory-raises-19m-series-a-maryland-money-moves/
Two more Baltimore companies raise fresh capital: Sonavex and Vigilant Sec | Technical.ly | https://technical.ly/entrepreneurship/balance-theory-raises-19m-series-a-maryland-money-moves/

Sponsored by Maryland Smart Energy — smarter buildings, smaller bills. Utility-funded energy programs for Maryland businesses, nothing out of pocket. https://mdsmartenergy.com

Produced with AI. https://marylandmeans.business

Cal and Chessie cover Big Chicken's first standalone Maryland restaurant in Gambrills, a fresh deal bringing South Australian wine to Total Wine's shelves, a heads-up on a new executive order steering state construction dollars toward Maryland-grown lumber, and a Baltimore biochemist's bet on funding the state's next wave of medtech startups.

Sources:
Big Chicken Opens Its First Standalone Maryland Location in Gambrills | Patch (Crofton) | https://patch.com/maryland/crofton/amp/34590920/shaquille-oneals-big-chicken-opens-1st-md-eatery-this-week
Maryland's Total Wine Signs Deal to Promote South Australian Wines Stateside | Maryland Department of Commerce | https://business.maryland.gov/news/marylands-total-wine-to-promote-south-australian-wines-stateside/
Executive Order Could Mean Big Things for Maryland Forestry Businesses | Maryland Department of Commerce | https://business.maryland.gov/news/executive-order-could-mean-big-things-for-maryland-forestry-businesses/
From Biochemistry to Venture Funding: Fehmida Kapadia Building Maryland's Medtech Pipeline | Technical.ly | https://technical.ly/entrepreneurship/fehmida-kapadia-fay-ventures-medtech-fund-fehmida-kapadia-how-i-got-here/

Sponsored by Maryland Smart Energy — smarter buildings, smaller bills. Utility-funded energy programs for Maryland businesses, nothing out of pocket. https://mdsmartenergy.com

Produced with AI. https://marylandmeans.business

Maryland writes some big checks this week: the state completes its buyback of full ownership of the Preakness Stakes, Montgomery County approves its first-ever tax increment financing deal for a $2.8 billion life sciences neighborhood next to the FDA, and a 60-year-old Southern Maryland manufacturer reinvests in its own factory floor. Also on deck: Montgomery County's July investment numbers, led by a Rockville gene therapy company's Nasdaq offering.

Sources:
Victor Stanley Expands Manufacturing Presence in Maryland | Maryland Department of Commerce | https://business.maryland.gov/news/victor-stanley-expands-manufacturing-presence-in-maryland/
Governor Moore Announces Maryland Fully Owns Preakness Intellectual Property Rights | Office of Governor Wes Moore | https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/governor-moore-announces-maryland-fully-owns-preakness-intellectual-property-rights
Montgomery County Companies Raise Over $90 Million in Investment in July | Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (ThinkMoco) | https://thinkmoco.com/success-stories/montgomery-county-companies-raise-over-90-million-in-investment-in-july/
Montgomery County Council Approves Tax Increment Financing Bonds for Viva White Oak Development | Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (ThinkMoco) | https://thinkmoco.com/success-stories/the-montgomery-county-council-approves-tax-increment-financing-bonds-for-viva-white-oak-development/

Sponsored by Maryland Smart Energy — smarter buildings, smaller bills. Utility-funded energy programs for Maryland businesses, nothing out of pocket. https://mdsmartenergy.com

Produced with AI. https://marylandmeans.business

A national retailer throws a three-day grand opening in Annapolis with two Ravens legends at the ribbon-cutting, a Baltimore health-tech startup born out of an actual Ravens recovery story crosses 700 student athletes, and a Columbia founder bets his own consulting playbook on the AI agent boom. Cal and Chessie dig into who's actually earning attention in Maryland business this week, and who's just riding a wave.

Sources:
DICK's House of Sport Sets August 14 Grand Opening in Annapolis, With Ed Reed and Derrick Henry Appearances | Patch (Annapolis, MD) | https://patch.com/maryland/annapolis/august-grand-opening-date-set-annapolis-dicks-house-sport
Baltimore Health-Tech Startup My Health Data Grows to 700 Student Athletes After $45,000 Raise | Technical.ly Baltimore | https://technical.ly/entrepreneurship/my-health-data-app-student-athlete-medical-records/
Founder Launches Missionmind.ai, a Columbia, MD Custom AI Agent Venture | Technical.ly Baltimore | https://technical.ly/entrepreneurship/dinesh-ganesan-launches-missionmind-ai-custom-agents/

Sponsored by Maryland Smart Energy — smarter buildings, smaller bills. Utility-funded energy programs for Maryland businesses, nothing out of pocket. https://mdsmartenergy.com

Produced with AI. https://marylandmeans.business

The Ravens just signed a 40-year lease to stay put in Baltimore County, backed by a $120 million public-private deal. Same week, the state put $5 million behind apprenticeship programs and $17.7 million behind university research professorships. Cal and Chessie dig into what a state investing in its own team, its own workforce, and its own researchers says about how Maryland actually plays the long game.

Sources:
Baltimore Ravens sign 40-year lease extension, recommitting to Baltimore County headquarters | Maryland Department of Commerce | https://business.maryland.gov/news/ravens-recommit-to-baltimore-county-hq-for-decades/
Governor Moore announces $5 million in awards to expand registered apprenticeship programs statewide | Office of Governor Wes Moore | https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/governor-moore-announces-5-million-awards-expand-registered-apprenticeship-opportunities
Maryland awards $17.7 million to endow new research professorships at four universities | Maryland Department of Commerce | https://business.maryland.gov/news/17-7-million-going-to-fund-new-research-professorships/

Sponsored by Maryland Smart Energy — smarter buildings, smaller bills. Utility-funded energy programs for Maryland businesses, nothing out of pocket. https://mdsmartenergy.com

Produced with AI. https://marylandmeans.business

A Baltimore research institute just swapped a quarter-million-dollar lab for a smartphone, Talbot County became the first place in Maryland with internet everywhere, and two state grant programs are opening doors for small manufacturers and food deserts alike. Cal and Chessie break down what each means for Maryland business owners.

Sources:
Kennedy Krieger Institute turns smartphone video into rehabilitation therapy | Technical.ly | https://technical.ly/entrepreneurship/kennedy-krieger-smartphones-replace-motion-capture/
Talbot County becomes Maryland's first county with 100% high-speed internet coverage | Maryland Department of Commerce (business.maryland.gov) | https://business.maryland.gov/news/talbot-county-achieves-high-speed-internet-milestone/
Maryland Manufacturing 4.0 Grant Program opens for applications August 3 | Maryland Department of Commerce | https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/maryland-manufacturing-4-0
Governor Moore announces nearly $4 million in NourishMD grants to 44 organizations across 18 counties | Office of Governor Wes Moore | https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/governor-moore-announces-nearly-4-million-nourishmd-grants-expand-fresh-food-access-food-d

Sponsored by Maryland Smart Energy — smarter buildings, smaller bills. Utility-funded energy programs for Maryland businesses, nothing out of pocket. https://mdsmartenergy.com

Produced with AI. https://marylandmeans.business

A Carroll County main street just won one of only three national awards handed out this year, Maryland's tax system is about to go dark for ten days, and two local founders are building technology serious enough for a hospital and a ballpark gate. Cal and Chessie break down what each means for Maryland business owners.

Sources:
Downtown Sykesville wins one of only three Great American Main Street Awards given nationwide | Maryland Department of Commerce | https://business.maryland.gov/news/downtown-sykesville-boasts-award-winning-charm/
Maryland businesses face August 20 cutoff before state tax system goes offline for 10 days | Patch (Bel Air) | https://patch.com/maryland/belair/maryland-taxpayers-face-deadlines-online-system-outage
Baltimore and Greenbelt startups among five DMV founders betting on dual-use government and private-sector tech | Technical.ly | https://technical.ly/entrepreneurship/dmv-startups-bet-on-dual-use-growth/

Sponsored by Maryland Smart Energy — smarter buildings, smaller bills. Utility-funded energy programs for Maryland businesses, nothing out of pocket. https://mdsmartenergy.com

Produced with AI. https://marylandmeans.business