Meet the ESN - September 22, 2008, 8:00 am

at Dutch's Daughter Restaurant - 581 Himes Avenue

On September 22nd, Frederick area business owners and managers will be able to meet directly with nearly 20 leading local business support agencies and organizations, in a single morning. The event will be presented in conjunction with the Frederick County Office of Economic Development's annual Business Appreciation Week Kickoff Breakfast. It will be free and open to the business public. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

The event will begin at 8 am with a networking session and welcoming remarks from the Frederick County Office of Economic Development. Following a full buffet breakfast, you'll will be able to meet representatives from:

You'll be able to discuss with them the resources, support, and access that they provide and specific ways in which they can help with the unique challenges and opportunities faced by your company. You can even meet privately with the support providers of your choice, at the end of the event.

A Rich Support Environment
Frederick County's business community benefits from a uncommonly diverse, capable, and collaborative business support environment. In addition to their direct support and expertise, many of the Network's members provide access to other very special and valuable resources. On September 22nd, you can learn where your company might be able to receive:

• Up to $50,000 in financing for companies that don't fit traditional bank lending criteria
• Information about major government contract opportunities before those contract opportunities are published by the government
• State-of-the-art lab and work space, in an incubator setting
• Access to discounted or subsidized professional support services for technology businesses
• Detailed listings of available rentable and buyable commercial property, customized to your exact search criteria
• Up to $5,000 in specialize professional services, ranging from website development to computer network design
• Grants and "near-grants" for seed stage technology companies
• Expert support, including subsidies for international research and promotional visits, for Maryland-based exporters
• Dramatically discounted process engineering assistance and lean manufacturing counseling
• Tax credits and incentives for the re-development of vacant properties
• Access to free, specialized marketing counseling for government contractors and suppliers
• Tax credits and incentives for the development and utilization of mixed-use arts and entertainment facilities
• Up to $50,000 in SBA-backed financing, with no collateral requirements
• Special financing programs for disabled business owners and employers of disabled workers
• Special financing opportunities for woman-owned business, minority-owned businesses, HUBZone located businesses, as well as veterans, active duty service personnel, and family members of active duty service personnel
• Reimbursement for workforce develop training programs
• Payroll subsidies for new workers
• Recruitment assistance and free job postings
• Free access to subscription-only business databases and electronic archives of hundreds of industry-specific business trade publications
• Free, customized business-to-business marketing lists for Frederick County and the surrounding areas
• Free and discounted access to more than 70 networking and educational events each year
• Year-round 10%+ discounts at leading local businesses for you and your entire staff

The event is free and open to the business public. Pre-registration is required. Call 301-600-1058 to learn more and register.