MBIA Changes Help Incubators Adjust to New Client Dynamics

January 8, 2014

Posted in: Salute to Economic Development & The Cyber Community

Aiming to continue their records of success, local business incubators are making some program adjustments to accommodate emerging trends among their clients.

At the same time, a statewide umbrella organization is undertaking a major adjustment of its own to help incubators further improve their quality of service and better communicate success stories.

As part of the overall strategy, the Towson-based Maryland Business Incubation Association (MBIA) launched its new web site (www.incubate.md) last month. The new site is designed to improve connectivity among member incubators and give investors, stakeholders and interested parties outside the state a convenient portal to explore Maryland’s incubation system.

Established in 2002, the MBIA is a volunteer organization representing 22 incubators throughout Maryland. It has played a significant economic development role within the state, but has more or less flown under the radar for most of its existence.

According to statistics posted on its new web site, the organization has supported nearly 550 Maryland companies in urban and rural areas since its inception, contributing to the generation of 11,800 jobs.

“We’ve got a great story to tell, but we haven’t told it that well yet,” said MBIA Treasurer and Board Member Neil Davis, who serves as vice president of operations for Baltimore’s Emerging Technology Center (ETC). “The new web site will help rectify that.”