IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     CONTACT: Jill McClune

December 16, 2010                                                                         410-612-2612

New Incubator Facility Officially Opens

The new Harford Business Innovation Center (HBIC) officially opened its new facility in the Riverside Business Park on December 16, 2010. HBIC is a technology business incubator designed to attract defense contractors and early-stage technology ventures to Harford County.  Over 100 guests joined HBIC Board Members, County Executive David R. Craig, Harford County Council members along with representatives from technology companies, Aberdeen Proving Ground and other community officials and leaders for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

The HBIC targets early-stage technology companies and defense contractors in engineering, computer systems and software development, management and technical consulting, scientific research and development, as well as wired and wireless telecommunications and telecommunications services.

Harford County Executive David R. Craig commented, “Business incubation programs are an important tool to diversify the economic base. Today’s opening of the Harford Business Innovation Center creates the synergy for accelerated technology development which positions Harford County for increased entrepreneurship and technology transfer.”

HBIC will provide business support services and fully-wired office and conference facilities for 12-15 client companies at a furnished 12,000 square foot facility in Belcamp, MD. Tailored business services available on flexible terms include training and mentoring in business planning, business networking, strategic planning and teaming, marketing and sales, technical development, product development, legal and compliance issues, and federal contract accounting. These services will be available to resident and non-resident or affiliate participants in the HBIC program.

Current clients at HBIC are: STG Inc., Galaxy Global, Shonborn-Becker System, Inc. and Tiburon Associates with several more on the way.

Galaxy Global Corporation is a minority, women owned, small disadvantaged business, providing software development, software maintenance and operations, independent verification and validation, biometric system development and research.

STG delivers performance-oriented solutions to government and private sector clients in the following six key areas: enterprise network operations, systems engineering and integration, information assurance services, software development, financial services and language services.

Tiburon Associates, Inc. was established in 2001 and has multiple, flexible prime contract options including GSA MOBIS, LOGWORLD, and Seaport-E. Shonborn-Becker Systems, Inc. is a leading small business software development and consulting firm, with headquarters near Fort Monmouth. They provide advanced technical, engineering, and management support services to the U.S. Army.

HBIC builds on the success of the County’s original technology incubator program which operated for a decade at the Higher Education and Applied Technology (HEAT) Center in Aberdeen, assisting 14 companies and creating nearly 100 jobs. 

A Maryland non-profit organization, HBIC is managed by its own staff and board of directors. The HBIC board president is Jill McClune of Smiths Detection, the vice president is Mike Parker of SAIC, the treasurer is Content McLaughlin of Whiteford, Taylor and Preston LLP and the secretary is Randy Rippin of RTR Technologies, Inc., whose company is a graduate of the County’s incubator program at the HEAT Center. 

HBIC was established with the support of the Harford County Executive, the Harford County Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB), the Harford County Office of Economic Development (OED), and a number of state and local partners, including the Northeastern Maryland Technology Council (NMTC) and SURVICE Engineering Company.

For information about company applications to the HBIC program, or to become involved with HBIC as an advisor or sponsor, visit www.harfordbic.com or contact Margie Giles, HBIC Resource Manager at margie.giles@harfordbic.com or 410-306-6144.

The new Harford Business Innovation Center (HBIC), a technology business incubator designed to accelerate the development of small defense contractors and early-stage technology ventures, opens this spring in the Riverside Business Park in Belcamp, MD, near Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG). Companies at HBIC will be pursuing business opportunities at APG and in emerging technology markets.

“The attraction of growth-oriented, innovative companies to HBIC today positions Harford County to expand its business base as these companies grow in the County tomorrow,” said Jill McClune, HBIC President. HBIC will provide business support services and fully-wired office and conference facilities for 12-15 client companies at a 12,000 square foot facility in Belcamp, MD. Tailored business services available on flexible terms include training and mentoring in business planning, business networking, strategic teaming, marketing and sales, technical development, product development, legal and compliance issues, and federal contract accounting. These services will be available to resident and non-resident or affiliate participants in the HBIC program.

The HBIC targets early-stage technology companies and defense contractors in engineering, computer systems and software development, management and technical consulting, scientific research and development, as well as wired and wireless telecommunications and telecommunications services.

HBIC builds on the success of the County’s original technology incubator program whichoperated for a decade at the Higher Education and Applied Technology (HEAT) Centerin Aberdeen, assisting 14 companies and creating nearly 100 jobs.A Maryland non-profit organization, HBIC is managed by its own staff and board ofdirectors. The HBIC board president is Jill McClune of Smiths Detection, the vicepresident is Mike Parker of SAIC, the treasurer is Content McLaughlin of Whiteford,Taylor and Preston LLP and the secretary is Randy Rippin of RTR Technologies, Inc.

HBIC was established with the support of the Harford County Executive, the Harford County Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB), the Harford County Office of Economic Development (OED), and a number of state and local partners, including the Northeastern Maryland Technology Council (NMTC) and SURVICE Engineering Company.