Foundation gets Armiger donation
The Columbia Foundation has received a donation of $10,000 from Earl Armiger, who, with his wife Mary, is founder and owner of Orchard Development Corp. and Armiger Management of Ellicott City.
Orchard Development is first-place winner of the National Housing Endowment's third Builder Achievement Awards for Outstanding Community Service. The NHE is a charitable arm of the National Association of Homebuilders.
Orchard Development received the NHE $10,000 Gold Award for having donating a 25 percent interest in Orchard Club Apartments of Elkridge, a mixed-income apartment development, to the Columbia Foundation, which makes grants to Howard County nonprofits.
"This was an extraordinarily creative project," said Barbara Lawson, president and chief executive officer of the Columbia Foundation, which nominated Orchard Development for the NHE award. The foundation's share of the revenue-generating Elkridge property was estimated to be about $2 million.
Orchard Development, one of seven companies recognized by the NHE at the International Builders' Show Feb. 13 in Orlando, Fla., was the only company to receive a Gold Award. Earl Armiger endorsed the $10,000 check to the Columbia Foundation.
The award also recognized the Armigers' support of their employees' volunteer activities in local sports, schools and community organizations and services.
Armiger, who served as chairman of the board of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce in 1992, led the initiative to found the Jim Rouse Entrepreneurial Fund (j-ref), a micro-loan fund for new businesses in the county.
During his tenure as chairman, Armiger said he also organized a "Business Community Salute to Jim Rouse," the first business community salute to the developer of Columbia.
April 8 session is to hear Scully
MaryAnn Scully, founder and president of Howard Bank, will be among the speakers at an event at 6 p.m. April 8 at the Columbia Hilton Hotel, to encourage women to consider entrepreneurship.
Britt Schroeder, a consultant from FranChoice, a franchise consulting company that matches aspiring entrepreneurs with franchise opportunities, will discuss finding the right franchise business.
A panel discussion will feature local women entrepreneurs.
Admission is free; donations to the House of Ruth are welcome. Seating is limited.
Information or to reserve a place: 410-878-2199.
Business Digest items may be sent to howard.events@balt sun.com or faxed to 410-715- 2816.