The Board of County Commissioners on March 2 received the County’s 2010 Technology Handbook, a directory and reference guide produced by the Department of Economic and Community Development.

The handbook, presented by Bob Scheller of the Department of Economic and Community Development, compiles listings and data about technology firms doing business in St. Mary's County. Scheller told commissioners the printed guide remains in demand: the county printed 10,000 copies this year after rationing last year when stocks ran low.

Why it matters: the handbook is used as a business-to-business reference and promotional tool for the county’s technology sector. Officials said the 2010 edition reflects steady local growth and includes new online search features intended to help contractors and buyers find firms by industry code and service.

At the presentation, Hans Welch, who leads business development, described the handbook’s growth since 1995 and the makeup of firms listed. “We had about 25 entries,” Welch said of this year’s cover contest entries, and he told commissioners the 2010 book lists 221 companies. Welch said 98 percent of the companies listed meet the small-business definition used by the local Navy-affiliated small-business office (under $50 million in annual revenue) and that roughly one-third of the firms are “homegrown” in St. Mary’s County.

Staff said the handbook is also available as a PDF on the county’s website and that this year’s online edition includes search and filter capabilities and NAICS industry codes to help procurement officers and contract managers find vendors. Cynthia Delagata and Sherry Knopfzinger were credited with updating and migrating the listings to the searchable online database.

Cover contest and recognition: the handbook’s cover-art contest, run in partnership with the Patuxent Partnership, awarded $500 and county recognition to Edward Holton of Mechanicsville. Holton’s entry was chosen from about 25 submissions; Jane Walters of Booz Allen and representatives of the Patuxent Partnership participated in selecting the winner. Commissioner Jack Russell presented Holton with a commendation from the board.

Ending: Officials encouraged businesses and residents to use the printed and online handbook as a procurement and networking resource; the county will continue issuing the handbook annually and accepting entries for the next cover contest.