STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

The Abilities Fund
Centerville Office
410 N 18th St
Centerville, IA 52544-1823
Telephone: 641-856-2173
Toll Free: 888-222-8943
Fax: 641-856-3101

Iowa City Office
332 South Linn Street, Suite #17
Iowa City, IA 52240
Telephone: 319-338-2521
Toll Free: 866-720-3863
Fax: 319-338-2528
URL: http://www.abilitiesfund.org/

"This summer The Abilities Fund, together with a national lending partner, will launch a nationwide direct loan program for entrepreneurs with disabilities. In 45 states, loan guarantees will also be available to as a means to secure loans for entrepreneurs. Flexible terms and competitive interest rates for microloans ranging from $500 - $25,000 will be offered.

In support of new microlending services, The Abilities Fund will be expanding its online presence to include training and technical assistance. Soon, people with disabilities nationwide will have 24-hour access to features such as Feasibility First ©, business plan development, and financial planning for business startup -- all of which are resources designed to prepare entrepreneurs with disabilities for self-employment."

Baltimore Community Development Corporation
36 South Charles Street, Suite 1510, Baltimore, MD 21201-3015
Phone: (410)837-9305
Fax: (410)837-6363 / (410)-547-7211
E-mail: info@baltimoredevelopment.com
URL: http://www.baltimoredevelopment.com/

The Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) is the City's economic development agency. BDC serves as a vital life-line for Baltimore's many faceted businesses and commercial real estate communities. BDC is committed to aiding the expansion of existing businesses, and to helping new business relocate and become part of Baltimore City.

Community Law Center
2500 Maryland Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21218
Phone: (410) 366-0922
Fax: (410) 366-7763
URL: http://www.communitylaw.org/

"The Law Center’s Small Business Legal Services Project provides pro bono and low cost legal services to small businesses and micro entrepreneurs in the Greater Baltimore region. The goal of the Small Business Legal Services Project is to provide legal assistance to low-moderate income small business owners and their businesses."

Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc.
Micro/Works, 104 East Center Street, Oakland, MD 21550
Phone: (301) 334-9431
Fax: (301) 334-8555
URL: http://www.co.garrett.md.us/cac.html

Geographic Area Served: Garrett County, Maryland (Rural)
Mission: To help participants increase their self-sufficiency or self-employment opportunity, or to expand on an existing business. To facilitate training, education, resource development, and technical assistance for participants. To enhance the micobusiness climate and opportunities, and to stimulate community economic growth.

Garrett Information Enterprise Center
685 Mosser Road, McHenry, MD 21541
Phone: (301) 387-3167
Fax: (301) 387-3096
URL: http://www.giecworks.com/Pages/

GIEC Works is a project of the Garrett Information Enterprise Center designed to provide supportive resources for small information technology businesses in our five state region. We will achieve this mission by:

• building awareness about the link between effective entrepreneurial skills and business success
• providing skills assessment and a training resource database
• assuring easy access to a network of technical and entrepreneurial support resources
• providing easily understood information on financing programs
  

Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development (DBED)
URL: http://www.mdbusiness.state.md.us/

The mission of the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development (DBED) is to attract new businesses, stimulate private investment and create jobs, encourage the expansion and retention of existing companies and provide businesses in Maryland with workforce training and financial assistance.

Maryland Capital Enterprises
PO Box 1844, Salisbury, MD 21802
Phone: (410) 546-1900
Fax: (410) 546-9718
URL: http://skipjack.net/le_shore/mce/whatismce.html

Maryland Captial Enterprises works to build communities by supporting micro businesses. We offer the smallest community-based businesses access to the resources they need to grow: credit, business training, and networking opportunities.

Maryland Cooperative Extension Service
Listing for all County Extension Offices in Maryland
URL: http://www.agnr.umd.edu/MCE/offices.cfm

The Maryland Cooperative Extension is a statewide, informal education system within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland College Park and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority

• Central Region
  Phone: (410) 333-4270
  Fax: (410) 333-2552
  
• Southern and Western Regions
  Phone: (410) 767-6376
  Fax: (410) 333-6931
  

URL: http://www.choosemaryland.org/business/financing/index.asp

Provides financial assistance to socially and economically disadvantaged persons who own small businesses within the State

Microenterprise Council of Maryland
100 Community Place Crownsville, MD 21302
Phone: (410)514-7782 or (410)514-7563
Fax: (410) 514-7781 or (410)987-8902
E-mail: mikal@gcnetmail.net
URL: http://www.emicromaryland.com/

Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation
4640 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
Phone: (301) 429-3044
Fax (301)429-8762
E-mail: info@pgcedc.com
URL: http://www.pgcedc.com

Geographic Area Served: Prince George's County Maryland (Urban, Suburban)
Mission: To assist expanding, but pre-bankable business in Prince George’s County.

The Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is a private, non-profit company whose mission is: a.)To assist existing and new businesses prosper so that jobs are created and the tax base is expanded. b.)To foster investment in older neighborhoods, promoting community revitalization, especially in communities inside the Beltway. c.) To market the County as an excellent place to live and work.

Technical Innovation Center
11400 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21742
Phone: (301) 790-2800 ext. 399
Fax: (301) 733-4229
URL: http://www.technicalinnovationcenter.com

The Technical Innovation Center (TIC) at Hagerstown Community College is an economic development effort that fosters the growth of new and expanding businesses by providing access to advanced technologies, business development resources, and collaborative opportunities. An integral part of our mission is creating and retaining high-quality employment opportunities for our students and the quad-state community.

Women Entrepeneurs of Baltimore, Inc. (WEB)
1118 Light Street, Suite 202, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: (410) 727-4921
Fax: (410) 727-4989
E-mail: services@webinc.org
URL: http://www.webinc.org

Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore, Inc. (WEB), a 501c(3) organization, is an entrepreneurial training program designed to help economically-disadvantaged women become self-sufficient through business development. The main components of the WEB program are: an intensive three-month Business Skills Training course; Mentoring; Financing Strategy Development; Community Networking; Resource Sharing; and Professional Business Consultation.