Maryland Companies Announce Big Awards, Business Expansions, Community Collaborations

BALTIMORE, March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --  The Maryland Marketing Partnership, which helps drive Maryland's branding and marketing efforts to attract businesses, create jobs, and grow the state's economy, today shared a summary of the latest news from companies and organizations that invest in the partnership.

The flurry of activity marked a notable start to the tenure of Harry Coker Jr., Maryland's new Acting Secretary for the Department of Commerce. "Maryland is fully committed to building a stronger, more equitable and more competitive economy. Nothing illustrates our state's energy and potential like seeing our businesses grow," said Acting Secretary Coker. "Every new investment, every expansion, and every new job created is a sign of Maryland's economic strength...and that we need to keep up this momentum."

Cloudforce, based in National Harbor, is kicking off 2025 with new innovations, industry partnerships, and community-driven initiatives. The team attended the Microsoft AI Tour in New York, exploring the latest in Copilot and enterprise AI infrastructure. As part of its annual Cloudforce for Good initiative, Cloudforce is joining Bike MS: City to Shore 2025, partnering with Microsoft to support the National MS Society. They also announced the first Cloud + AI Meetup of the year, happening March 19 at Microsoft Garage, where attendees will learn about AI agents and real-world applications on Azure. Additionally, Cloudforce is working closely with Microsoft and leading universities, with a white paper coming soon to highlight key developments. In the community, Cloudforce welcomed the Prince George's County Tech Council (PGCTC) to their National Harbor headquarters to discuss a new training initiative supporting local tech professionals. The company also released its Annual Growth Report, highlighting 51% team growth and 128 new certifications across staff. Lastly, the site for nebulaONE® powered by Cloudforce is now live, showcasing Cloudforce's latest AI-powered cloud solutions and innovations.

Independent Can Company, based in Belcamp and a leader in the printing and manufacturing of specialty metal packaging, was recently recognized for Best of Category in two international lithography and canmaking award contests. The International Metal Decorating and Packaging Association (IMDPA) awarded Independent Can Best of Category in the Excellence in Quality Awards for the Tinkertoy collectible tin. This contest recognizes the skillful achievements of the metal decorating and packaging industry. In addition, Canmaker Magazine presented Independent Can with Gold in the Fancy Cans category at the Cans of the Year Awards for the Bonne Maman jams and preserves gift tin.

Peterson Companies, one of the region's largest privately-owned real estate developers, continues to expand its residential portfolio with the recent acquisitions of 8001 Woodmont, a luxury high-rise in Bethesda, and Mariner Bay and Crosswinds, two premier multifamily communities at Annapolis Town Center in Annapolis. As the company celebrates 60 years of shaping communities across the Greater Washington area, this latest expansion reflects its commitment to delivering high-quality residential, mixed-use retail, and commercial destinations across the region.

SECU MD Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Maryland's largest credit union, is excited to announce that applications for its 2025 Scholarship Program are now open. For 19 years, the program has awarded over $1.1 million in scholarships to SECU members. This year, 12 students will each receive a $10,000 scholarship to support their academic goals. Applicants must be Maryland community college students transferring to a University System of Maryland institution. The online application includes a 500- to 750-word essay on a designated prompt. Details and instructions are available on the SECU MD Foundation website. Applications close May 2, 2025, and winners will be announced in mid-June.

St. John Properties, a Baltimore-based full-service commercial real estate development and management company, installed the largest solar project in company history at Aspen at Milford Town Center. The company installed rooftop solar systems on more than 10 new buildings in the past year, and in lockstep with the company's expansion into new markets, continues to roll this program across their portfolio of properties. For more information about the company, visit www.sjpi.com.

TEDCO, Maryland's economic engine for technology companies, recently announced the selection of AIN Ventures as VCLP, the promotion of Geyssel Gonzalez, the inaugural  Maryland Student Venture Showcase and Pava LaPere Innovation Awards event, the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund Executive Director, Ruchika Nijhara's selection for the Leadership Maryland's 2025 program, the selection of the FY25 SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab cohort, and the first company to receive funding from the new Concept Capital Pilot Program. As always, the innovation hub continues to uplift Maryland-based startup companies through its vast resources and investment funds; recent investments include Pathotrak, Sybal Corp., EBO Corp., Novel Microdevices, ReBokeh and more.

United Therapeutics Corporation (UT), a public benefit corporation based in Silver Spring, was proud to announce that it earned a spot on the first-ever Forbes America's Best Companies list, joining the top 300 public companies in the U.S. UT was also included on several Fortune Best Workplaces lists—including Best Workplaces for Parents, Best Workplaces for Women, Best Workplaces in BioPharma, and Best Workplaces for Millennials.

About Maryland Marketing Partnership
The Maryland Marketing Partnership develops the branding strategy for the state, markets the state's assets, and encourages the location and growth of new businesses in Maryland.

SOURCE Maryland Marketing Partnership