Resources

Note- More phone numbers at bottom of list- please scroll down...

Small Business Development Centers:

            Allegany County         301-687-1080
            Frederick County        301-600-1967
            Garrett County            301-687-1080
            Washington County    301-797-0327

Clerk of the Circuit Court:
            Allegany County         301-777-5922
            Frederick County        301-694-1976
            Garrett County            301-387-3101
            Washington County    301-797-0327
            City of Oakland           301-334-2691
            City of Cumberland    301-759-6500
            City of Hagerstown     301-790-3200

Zoning and Building Departments
            Allegany County         301-777-5951
            Frederick County        301-694-1134
            Garrett County            301-334-1920
            Washington County    240-313-2460

Health Departments
            Allegany County         301-777-5600
            Frederick County        301-694-1029
            Garrett County            301-334-8111
            Washington County    301-791-3260

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)         www.score.org
            Allegany County         301-722-2700
            Frederick County        301-662-4164
            Washington County    301-739-2015

Maryland Comptroller 301-777-2165 Tax and Business Registration www.blis.state.md.us

IRS 800-829-1040 EIN and Tax registration www.irs.gov

Financing and Loans

Small Business Administration Loans (www.sba.gov/financing) – the SBA sets guidelines for loans, which are then disbersed by SBA partners. Visit www.sba.gov/financing/basics/lenders.html for a list of SBA Preferred and Certified Lenders.
BusinessFinance.com (www.businessfinance.com) – offers a list of economic development organizations
Maryland Economic Development Directory (www.choosemaryland.org) – links to non-governmental economic development organizations that may be a source of financing.
Small Business Investment Companies (www.nasbic.org/membership/member_contact.cfm) – SBICs provide long-term debt and equity growth capital.
Infon Venture Capital Database (www.infon.com) – comprehensive online database. Free to search and some contact information is free.
National Venture Capital Association (www.nvca.org)
AngelWiki (www.angelwiki.com) – collaborative directory that identifies angel investors located in Pennsylvania.
vFinance.com (www.vfinance.com) – offers venture capital searches by state, industry and dollar amount. Contact information for firms costs $2 per contact.

Market Research

SBDCnet Industry Links (http://sbdcnet.org/industry.php) – links to resources by industry.
Market Intelligence Centers (www.northernlight.com)
Industry Resources Reports (www.valuationresources.com/IndustryReport.htm) – links to useful industry information from a variety of sources.
Trade & Economy (www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea) – industry sector data sorted by NAICS code.
BizMiner (www.bizminer.com) – generates reports on industry, market and financial trends by size of business.
Zapdata.com (www.zapdata.com/zapmarkets) – allows you to profile U.S. markets by SIC code.
County Business Patterns (www.census.gov) – lists establishments, payroll and employee size for all U.S. counties by SIC.
MarketResearch.com www.marketresearch.com – databases of market research reports with free title searching.

Associations, Chambers of Commerce, Trade Shows

Associations Online (www.asaecenter.org) – searchable directory of associations.
ASBDC(www.asbdc-us.org) – national association of SBDCs.
Council on Better Business Bureaus (www.bbb.org) – search for complaints about individual businesses.
Industry association of nearly 150 organizations doing business on the Internet. www.commerce.net
Manufacturers' Alliance of MD (www.mdmanufacturing.org – features news and legislative information for Pennsylvania manufacturing.
Global Entrepreneur's Network-(www.entrepreneurs.com) - Marketing on the Internet.
International Franchise Organization www.franchise.org)
Trade Shows News Network (www.tsnn.com) & Trade Show Central (www.tscentral.com) – directories of trade shows.

Business Assistance Programs

High Technology Council of Maryland (www.mdhitech.org) Information about starting, financing, and expanding a technology-based business within the state of Maryland.
Maryland Business Information Network (www.mdbusiness.state.md.us)
Various assistance tools for doing business within Maryland.
Maryland Electronic Capital (www.mec.state.md.us)
An electronic source of information for what's happening within Maryland state government.
One Stop Shop for Business Assistance (www.onestopshop.umd.edu)
Free information for business assistance provided by the University of Maryland.
Small Business Administration - Baltimore, MD District (www.sbaonline.sba.gov/regions/states/md) Information about starting, financing, and expanding your business within the state of Maryland.
IWIF - Injured Workers' Insurance Fund (www.iwif.com)
IWIF Workers’ Compensation Insurance is the leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Maryland. Since 1914, IWIF’s mission to promote a safer working environment for all Maryland business continues to be anchored in our commitment to safety, accident prevention and equitable claims management.

Maryland Government Agencies

Maryland Department of State (www.blis.state,md.us) – company name registration, UCC filings, forms and information.
Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (www.dat.state.md.us)
Maryland Department of Environmental Services (www.menv.com)
Maryland State & Local Government Websites (www.maryland.org)

Federal Government Agencies

FirstGov (www.firstgov.gov) – official portal of the U.S. government.
Business.gov (www.business.gov) – official, one-stop access to government business information.
GPO Access www.gpoaccess.gov – databases of federal government documents and publications.
National Technical Information Service (www.ntis.gov) – science, technology and business information.
Bureau of the Census (www.census.gov)
Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) – wealth of information on small business issues.
Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov/smallbusiness)
Internal Revenue Service (www.irs.gov)
U.S. Department of Labor (www.dol.gov) – employment, labor law, compliance and statistical information.
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (www.osha.gov) – safety and regulatory information.

Main Street Business Districts

National Main Street Center (www.mainstreet.org) – information on services and resources for revitalizing downtowns.
Md Retailers' Association (www.mdra.org) – news and general information for PA retailers.
MD Historical Trust (www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net) – information on historic building rehabilitation programs and tax incentives.
(www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/md/state.html) – lists the Maryland properties on the National Register of Historic Places.
National Park Service (www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/care) – gives guideance on restoring and preserving historic buildings.

Energy Efficiency & Environmental Compliance

Environmental News Network (www.enn.com) – provides daily environmental news updates.
Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov/smallbusiness) – news, publications and information for small businesses.
Energy Information Administration (www.eia.doe.gov) – statistics on energy topics.
Energy Star Small Business Program (www.epa.gov/epahome/hi-energystar.htm)
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Network (www.eere.energy.gov)
MD Department of Environmental Services (www.menv.com)
EPA Compliance Assistance Centers (www.epa.gov/compliance/assistance/index.html)
EPA Region III Business Assistance Center(www.epa.gov/region03) – helps small businesses comply with EPA regulations.
EPA Toxics Release Inventory (www.epa.gov/tri) – determine if you are required to report chemicals stored at your business

Company Directories

Hoover's Corporate Directory (www.hoovers.com) – profiles large, mostly public companies.
EDGAR (www.sec.gov – database of 10-K and other SEC filings of public companies.
AnnualReport.com (www.reportgallery.com
ThomasNet (www.thomasnet.com – directory of U.S. and Canadian manufacturers.
MD Deparment of Agriculture (www.md.com – business to business directory of PA products.
Zapdata.com (www.zapdata.com – (www.mda.state.md.us/md_products) sells mailing lists of companies and has useful industry profiles.
InfoUSA.com (www.infousa.com) – sells mailing lists of companies and individuals.
Kompass (www.kompass.com) – directory databases of foreign companies. Some data is free.
ThomasGlobal (www.thomasglobal.com) – directory of industrial suppliers worldwide.
International Company Directories and Yellow Pages (http://globaledge.msu.edu/ibrd/busresmain.asp) – links to worldwide directories.
IFA's Franchise Directory (www.franchise.org) – lists franchises and has other franchising information.
FranchiseOpportunities.com (www.franchiseopportunities.com – franchises directory and information on opportunites.

Military Reservists Employment Issues

SBA Military Reservists (www.sba.gov/reservists) – information on Military Reservists Economic Injury Disaster Loans and on debt relief for SBA loans.
Military Reservists Economic Injury Disaster Loans (http://asbdc.ualr.edu/bizfacts/520.asp)
Department of Labor (www.dol.gov) – compliance assistance help on the Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act.
DoL Veterans (www.dol.gov/vets) – information on employment and training for veterans.
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (www.esgr.org) – sponsors programs for and gives awards to employers.
Reserve Officers Association (www.roa.org) – provides reserve and guard call-up information.

Business Statistics

General Statistics and Demographic Sites

U.S. Bureau of the Census (www.census.gov)
Statistical Abstract of the U.S. (www.census.gov/compendia/statab) – abridged version of this popular compilation of statistics.
EconData (www.econdata.net) – links to regional statistical information from government, academic and private sources.
FedStats (www.fedstats.gov/index.html) – searchable directory of statistics from over 100 Federal agencies.
Statistical Resources on the Web (www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/stats.html)
Easi Demographics (www.easidemographics.com) – offers easy access to demographic data.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (stats.bls.gov) – includes wage and unemployment rates.
SBA Small Business Statistics: US (www.sba.gov/advo) – gives data on small businesses in the U.S.
Stat-USA (www.stat-usa.gov) – statistics from many federal departments.
BizStats (www.bizstats.com) – free ratios and benchmarking data by business types and revenue size.
eMarketer (www.emarketer.com) – statistics on e-commerce

Educatioal Institutions of Western MD

Frostburg State University- www.frostburg.edu
Allegany College of Maryland- www.allegany.edu
Garrett Community College- www.garrettcollege.edu
Hagerstown Community College- www.hagerstowncc.edu
Hood College- www.hood.edu
Mt Saint Marys- www.msmary.edu

Virtual Education and Training

Free MD virtual business training- www.va-interactive.com/sbdc/ot/modules.php?state_name=MD
SBA virtual training-www.sba.gov/services/training/onlinecourses/index.html
MIT online campus- http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/courses/courses/index.htm
Free online accounting courses- www.accountingcoach.com
financial calculators- www.dinkytown.net
Business plan and calculators- www.bplans.com
Famee Foundation- www.famee.org
Kauffman Foundation- www.kauffman.org
Service Corps of Retired Executives- www.score.org
Small Business Advisor- www.isquare.com

Phone Numbers

Sales and Use Tax- MD 800-492-1751 or 410-225-1305

Economic Development 800-492-5524 Unemployment Insurance

Workers Compensation 800-492-0479

Department of Assessments 410-767-1340 Incorporation/Trade Name Information
And Taxation 410-767-1180 forms

US Labor Department 410-962-2265 Wage and Hour Info

US Immigration and Naturalization 800-375-5283 Employee Information
800-870-3676 I-9 forms

Reserve a Business Name 410-767-1340

Occupational Licensing 410-230-6000

Register Collective Bargaining Agents 800-492-6226 or 301-333-4177

Post required notices for employees:

     Wage and Hour Fact Sheet                            410-333-4177
     Employment Discrimination                          410-962-3932
     Occupational Safety and Health                    410-333-4100
     Workers Compensation                                410-333-4700
     Unemployment Insurance                            410-333-5260

Certify Employees are eligible to work in the US Forms: 410-926-2065
General Info: 410-926-3842

Employer Activities Regulated by State

1. Employer-sponsored day care and fringe benefits                               410-333-0193
2. Minimum wages, employment of minors                                                410-333-4177
3. Equal Employment Opportunity (human relations commission)        410-659-1700
4. Motor carrier preventive maintenance programs (State Police)           410-247-6641

Employment requiring permit/registration and/or license
Vehicles for transporting oil, radiation control 410-631-3000 or 800-633-6101

Boiler,Elevator, Amusements (Dept. of Licensing and Regulation)
          Boilers- 410-333-4160
          Elevators 410-333-4157
          Amusements 410-333-4234

Oversize/Overweight vehicles (state highway commission) 410-333-1598

Motor Vehicles (all) Motor Vehicle Administration 410-768-7395

Potential Hazards that may require a license
1. Asbestos handling, radioactive material handling, waste discharge into state waters, oil operation/terminal facilities,transport of hazardous substances,sewage,sludge and refuse disposal, activities affecting noise levels (Dept. of the Environment) 202-631-3300

2. Use of pesticies (Department of Agriculture) 202-841-5710

Businesses Using State Resources may need a permit for:
1. Construction/obstruction affecting non-tidal waterways,small ponds, wetlands or sediment control areas, use of appropriation of water (Department of Natural Resources 410-974-2265
2. Activities affecting air quality (Dept. of the Environment) 410-631-3225

Alterations to State Highways requiring a permit
Outdoor advertising signs along a State Highway, constructing an entrance to a State highway, installing or altering a traffic signal (State Highway Administration District 6) 301-777-2145

Legal Requirements

Home Improvement 410-333-6310 or 800-492-7521

Maryland Central Registration Sales Tax 410-225-1300
Income Tax, Witholding and Unemployment Insurance 410-222-1313

Combined Registration Application Federal 800-424-3676

Import-Export
Department of Commerce 410-962-3560
MD Office of International Trade 410-333-4295

Patents/Trademarks/Tradenames
Trade Name Search and Registration 202-225-1498
Trademark/Servie Mark Search and Registration 202-974-2845
Patent/Trademark Registration 703-557-4636
US Patent Office 202-557-3158/4010

Personnel
Prescreened, job-ready applicants available to be interviewed. On the Job training program
The Training Place
               Washington County- 301-791-4700
               Garrett County- 301-334-3972
               Allegany County- 301-777-2169

Attorney Referral Service
MD State Bar Association 800-492-1964
Washington County- 301-739-4713

Accountant's Referral Service
Md Association of Certified public accountants 410-296-6250 or 800-782-2036