Frostburg State University, a liberal arts university located in Frostburg, Maryland, has successfully partnered with state and local economic development officials to bring "big-time" technology businesses to the scenic mountains and the "small town" atmosphere of Western Maryland.
      FSU, which is located in Allegany County, opened a new state-of-the-art $30 million Science Center for its students in 2003. Upon the new building's completion, Tawes Hall on campus was left unoccupied. University officials decided to make the empty building available to companies interested in partnering with FSU and its resources. In addition, they stepped up efforts to recruit companies to the existing Allegany Business Center at FSU, a seven-acre parcel of land adjacent to the campus capable of holding several new buildings."For at least a decade the University has been working very closely with business and community leaders and appointed and elected officials from our region and the state to form partnerships that will help the economy and also support the educational mission of our institution," says Frostburg State University President Dr. Catherine R. Gira.
      In the fall of 2004, FSU, along with Allegany County and the State of Maryland, came together to host the first Western Maryland Technology Showcase. Tech companies from urban areas in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia came to the event and witnessed the high-technology capabilities on the FSU campus and toured FSU's many affordable incubator spaces in Tawes. The positive results of the weekend event have been ongoing.

Tawes Hall at Frostburg State University.

      Shortly after, Spectrum BioScience, Inc., of Columbia, Md., a company specializing in compound management, sample handling and precision weighing for pharmaceutical and biotech industries, set up residency in Tawes Hall. Weeks later, The Mountain Maryland Field Office of the United States Geographical Survey, a federal research agency on a variety of environmental and Earth subjects, also decided to call FSU "home." VARGIS, an internationally renowned mapping and GIS company headquartered in Sterling, Virginia, is the latest addition to the Tawes incubator site.
      Location plays an important role in attracting technology businesses to the Frostburg area. Allegany County is only two hours from major Mid-Atlantic metropolitan areas including Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, Md. and Pittsburgh, Pa.. "Our location is a major plus for businesses looking to locate outside the expensive metropolitan areas but still be close enough to interact with other businesses," comments Tom Cooley, Executive Director of Allegany County Economic Development. "Weare able to offer the expertise of a university, affordable space and a quality of life quite different from urban areas and still be close enough to major metro areas for business-to-business interaction." The new campus businesses at FSU often call upon the close resources offered by FSU, making it a winning situation for all those involved — businesses, faculty and students.
      "Internship opportunities are provided for our students; in some cases employment opportunities are available for our graduates; and our faculty members have the opportunity to engage collaboratively in professional colloquia and research projects," adds FSU President Gira. "These partnerships in economic development provide opportunities for students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to 'real world' professional activities."
      For more information, visit online at www.frostburg.edu or www.alleganyworks.org.
     

Top of Page | Cover | Letter to Editor | Site Selection Online | SiteNet |