Emergent BioSolutions and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics Enter Into Agreement for Ebanga™ Treatment for Ebola

Emergent BioSolutions and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics Enter Into Agreement for Ebanga™ Treatment for Ebola

GAITHERSBURG, Md. and MIAMI, July 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics (“Ridgeback Bio”), a biotechnology company focused on emerging infectious diseases, intended to create a collaboration to expand the availability of Ebanga™ (Ansuvimab-zykl). Under the terms of the contemplated collaboration, Emergent will be responsible for the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of Ebanga™ in the United States and Canada, and Ridgeback Bio will serve as the global access partner for Ebanga™, ensuring it remains available to patients in endemic countries free of charge through Ridgeback Bio’s compassionate use program. Ebanga™ was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2020 for the treatment of Ebola. ...  Read more

Maryland Commerce Receives $1.6 Million from Federal Government to Assist Small Businesses

Maryland Commerce Receives $1.6 Million from Federal Government to Assist Small Businesses

ALTIMORE, MD (July 6, 2022) – The Maryland Department of Commerce has been awarded a $1.6 million grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. The federal grant comes from the American Rescue Plan and will be matched with $396,000 from the state’s Maryland Economic Adjustment Fund (MEAF). The funding will be used to assist Maryland small businesses through MEAF’s revolving loan fund, with priority consideration given to businesses in Baltimore City and rural regions across the state. ...  Read more

Maryland Commerce Approves Re-designation of Baltimore City Enterprise Zone, Expansion of Cecil County Zone

Maryland Commerce Approves Re-designation of Baltimore City Enterprise Zone, Expansion of Cecil County Zone

BALTIMORE, MD (July 7, 2022) – The Maryland Department of Commerce has approved the redesignation and expansion of Baltimore City’s Enterprise Zone, and the expansion of the Enterprise Zone in Cecil County. Baltimore City’s redesignated zone will include the downtown Pratt Street area, as well as Port Covington and Locust Point, Highlandtown, Greektown and Bayview. In addition, five Focus Areas have been redesignated, with the South Industrial area newly added. A joint effort between state and local governments, the Enterprise Zone program provides real property and state income tax credits for businesses that create jobs and make capital investments. “Maryland’s Enterprise Zone program has truly helped transform many areas of our state, helping to attract new investments and jobs in places that need it the most,”  said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “We are pleased today to announce the redesignation of Baltimore City’s Enterprise Zone, as well as the expansion of the zone in Cecil County, which gives our local partners an important tool to continue to stimulate growth and revitalization.” Baltimore’s City zone will now encompass roughly 16,760 acres, an increase of 3,271 acres from the existing zone designated in 2012, and removes Harbor East, Harbor Point and the commercial areas in Federal Hill and along Key Highway as they no longer quality for the zone’s benefits due to significant growth in those census tracts. Included in the city’s 2022 application are six Focus Areas which have primarily commercial, industrial, manufacturing and mixed-use businesses, with the goal of attracting new development to these areas. The Focus Areas are Jones Falls, Oldtown, Carroll-Camden, Central West, Holabird-Orangeville, and South Industrial. In addition, the zone will include Pratt Street in the downtown area to help mitigate the loss of businesses due to the COVID pandemic, as well as the Port Covington and Locust Point areas, which are undergoing a significant redevelopment but would still benefit from having the zone designation in place. The zone is approved for the next 10 years. “The Enterprise Zone program is one of the best tools we have in spurring job growth and investment in underutilized areas,” said BDC President & CEO Colin Tarbert. “We were pleased to work with the Mayor, City Council and Maryland Department of Commerce to redesignate the Enterprise Zone in Baltimore City by adding areas in need of investment and removing areas, like Harbor East, that have successfully utilized the program to transform into vibrant economic engines for the city and state.” The expanded Cecil County zone is critical to the county’s continued push to attract manufacturing and other important industry sectors, as well as ensuring county residents have job opportunities closer to home. The zone, which will now encompass 8,140 acres, will include a number of parcels of land owned by Northrop Grumman, which will enable the company to continue expansion plans. “We are extremely pleased to facilitate Northrop Grumman’s continued investment in Cecil County through expansion of the existing Enterprise Zone designation” said Sandra Edwards, Acting Director of Cecil County’s Office of Economic Development. “As a result of our collective efforts, more than 200 highly skilled positions will be added to support the new $110 million-dollar Hypersonics Center of Excellence.” Businesses located in the state’s 34 Enterprise Zones will receive $46.2 million in property tax credits in FY 2021 based on more than $3.7 billion in investments made in FY 2021. Commerce approves the State’s Enterprise Zones, while local governments are responsible for their administration. Businesses operating within an Enterprise Zone may be eligible for a tax credit towards their state income tax filings based upon the number of new jobs created, and a tax credit on their local real property taxes based upon their overall capital investment into a property.  ...  Read more

Why innovative COVID-19 vaccine maker Novavax calls Montgomery County home

Why innovative COVID-19 vaccine maker Novavax calls Montgomery County home

In just the last few years, Novavax has grown dramatically — from 100 employees to nearly 1,600. The biotechnology company, based in Montgomery County, MD, makes a COVID-19 vaccine that is currently available globally, and is undergoing FDA review in the U.S. Unlike some other COVID vaccines, it can be stored at room temperature and is protein-based, just like other vaccines used for decades to protect against HPV, flu and shingles. ...  Read more

Frederick County Sustainability Commission Seeks Applications for Sustainability Awards

Frederick County Sustainability Commission Seeks Applications for Sustainability Awards

The Frederick County Sustainability Commission is accepting applications for its 2022 Sustainability Awards to recognize individuals and organizations in Frederick County that have made outstanding contributions in helping the county advance sustainability efforts. Awards are based on leadership, innovation, and success in sustainability. Awards are available to (a) Individuals (non-students), (b) Students/Student Groups, (c) Nonprofits, (d) Commercial Enterprises (50 or fewer employees), and (e) Commercial Enterprises (over 50 employees). Examples of outstanding efforts include, but are not limited to, implementing energy efficiency, encouraging renewable energy, improving air and water quality, reusing and recycling, and/or supporting a sustainable quality of life. Applications are reviewed by the Frederick County Sustainability Commission. Self-applications or nominations of others accepted. Application forms are due July 8, 2022. Electronic submissions are preferred and should be sent to dashbacher@FrederickCountyMD.gov. Copies of the forms are available at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/SustainabilityAwards. For more information, contact Ms. Ashbacher at 301-600-6864 or by emails at dashbacher@FrederickCountyMD.gov. Explore the opportunity here. https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/7806/2022-Sustainability-Awards  ...  Read more