Small-business financier j-ref, in cooperation with the Business Finance Group and Commerce First Bank, will sponsor "Creative Small Business Financing: SBA 504 Program Panel Discussion" from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. March 5 at Howard Community College's Gateway Campus Building, Room 6, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive in Columbia.
A panel will explain whom the SBA 504 program assists and how j-ref's fund can be used in conjunction with the program, a long-term financing tool for major fixed assets.
Information or registration: Brenda Miller, 703-352-0504.
Tech council plans inaugural event
The Howard County Technology Council will hold its inaugural event from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. tomorrow at the Center for Business and Technology Development, 9250 Bendix Road N. in Columbia.
The topic will be "Reverse Merger: What is it? How can I get access to capital through it? What are the benefits and drawbacks? What are the financing options?"
Topics include looking for funding sources and gaining access to capital without resorting to traditional methods.
The seminar will begin a series of talks to be held the third week of each month.
Admission is free, but registration is required.
Information: Larry O. Collins, 410-313-6550.
Calendar
Data recovery -- DP Solutions will join EVault, a subsidiary of Seagate Technology in California, in a seminar on developments in disc-to-disc data protection and the usefulness of EVault's InfoStage Software in preparing disaster recovery solutions. The seminar will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 28 at Ecker Business Training Center, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive in Columbia. Admission is free. DP Solutions, an EVault reseller with headquarters in Columbia, was founded in 1971. EVault provides software for small and medium-sized businesses to back up data online, encrypt it and allow recovery in case of a disaster. 410-720-3300, ext. 198.
Job fair -- Capitol College in Laurel invites companies seeking employees with engineering, computer and technical skills to attend the 23rd Engineering, Computer Sciences, Information Technology and Business Career Fair, to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 4 at the William G. McGowan Academic Center on the college campus. Employers can register at www.capitol-college.edu/data/forms/careerfair.shtml. The cost is $35 and includes lunch for up to four representatives. Capitol College is at 11301 Springfield Road in Laurel. 800-950-1992, ext. 3015.
Nominations sought -- Nominations are being sought for the 14th CBED Awards Program and Breakfast Gala, to be held at 7:30 a.m. April 22 at Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville. The program, sponsored by the Howard County Economic Development Authority's Committee for Business and Economic Diversity, recognizes outstanding business leaders in Howard County and their achievements in creating equal business opportunities. Nominations are sought in the categories of business achievement; individual achievement; business diversity achievement; the Howard County General Hospital Rising Business Star Scholarships; and the Earl H. Saunders Entrepreneurial Scholarship. Nomination forms and scholarship applications are available by calling 410-313-6550 or at www.hceda.org/CBTD/cbed.aspx. Scholarship applications are also available at high school guidance departments. The deadline for nominations and scholarship applications is March 7.
Bipartisan fundraiser -- Small-business financier j-ref will hold its fifth annual fundraiser, Bipartisan Bash, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. May 15 in the Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall at Howard Community College. Tickets for the event, which celebrates entrepreneurship, are $50. Sponsorship opportunities are available. J-ref, which has its headquarters in the Center for Business and Technology Development in Columbia, is a private, not-for-profit funding source for Howard County startup and emerging companies. www.jref.org.
Business Digest items may be sent to howard.events@ baltsun.com or faxed to 410-715-2816.