The Bowie Business Innovation Center (Bowie BIC), a business incubation program located at Bowie State University, celebrated support received from Prince George’s County, the City of Bowie, Bowie State University, corporate sponsors and strategic partners at an Open House event November 1^st.  The Bowie BIC also showcased the first ten client companies in its business incubation program at this event which was attended by more than sixty guests.

Prince George’s County Council Member Ingrid M. Turner-District 4 presented a $75,000 check to the Bowie BIC for its business incubation program during the Open House event.   Bowie City Council financial support for Bowie BIC over the last five years was acknowledged in remarks by City of Bowie Mayor Fred Robinson, with Bowie City Council Members Diane Polangin and Todd Hunter in attendance.  Bowie State University President Mickey Burnim also spoke and underscored the importance of the Bowie BIC business incubation program to the University’s overall mission.

“Today is a great day for the sponsors, strategic partners and clients of the Bowie BIC program,” said Carroll James Harris, Esquire, chairman of the Bowie BIC Board of Directors.  

Bowie BIC is a non-profit, mixed-use business incubation program which operates with an independent board of directors and a management team of two.

In addition to its local public sector support, Bowie BIC also receives support from Maryland Technology Development Corporation and from corporate sponsors: The Washington Savings Bank and CliftonLarsonAllen.  Bowie BIC’s strategic partners are the Capital Region Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC), the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) and the Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce.

Bowie BIC has a dual mission:

• To spur economic development and retain business growth in the Bowie community by providing an integrated business development platform, including mentoring, networking and access to office facilities which help accelerate the establishment, growth and graduation of innovative, growth-oriented firms.

• To provide enhanced learning opportunities for Bowie State University students through the experiential internship programs and entrepreneurship activities of Bowie BIC.

Bowie BIC is the first business incubation program in Maryland to be located at a historically black educational institution.  Bowie BIC targets innovative, growth-oriented professional service firms in the Greater Bowie and Prince George’s County communities and works with these companies to provide the business support services that will accelerate their growth and ability to generate jobs. The Bowie BIC began working with its first client company in April 2012.  Today Bowie BIC has 10 client companies.

“Through our program of business support, flexibility leased office space, mentoring, entrepreneurship seminars and networking activities, the Bowie BIC is building a more entrepreneurial community in Greater Bowie and in Prince George’s County,” said Bowie BIC Executive Director Lisa S. Smith. 

For more information, visit www.bowiebic.com