Bowie Business Innovation Center reports FY25 results and ongoing partnerships

June Evans, executive director of the Bowie Business Innovation Center (Bowie BIC), presented the organization’s FY25 year‑end report to the City of Bowie Council on Sept. 15, highlighting program outputs, partnerships and plans tied to a congressional earmark that funded a center of excellence for 8(a) government contracting.

“I'm June Evans. I am the executive director of the Bowie Business Innovation Center,” Evans said. She described the BIC as a business accelerator and small incubator located on Bowie State University’s campus that focuses on helping existing businesses scale, pursue government contracts and access capital.

Evans reported that the BIC graduated 169 businesses from its accelerators in FY25 and that the organization served 895 businesses through its programs. Of those businesses, 336 were Prince George’s County‑based and 129 were based in the City of Bowie. She also listed program‑level figures presented to council: three Bowie BIC accelerator participants reported $7,300,000 in combined revenue and employed six people; the capital accelerator worked with 12 Bowie‑based businesses reporting $3,200,000 in combined revenue and 34 employees; and the growth lab worked with three Bowie businesses reporting $1,000,000 in combined revenue and three employees.

Evans said the BIC’s center of excellence for 8(a) government contracting is in its third year, with two cohorts completed and ongoing phase‑two consulting and matchmaking to pair 8(a) firms and HBCUs to pursue federal contracts. She told council that the center has run workshops at all levels of 8(a) readiness during FY25 and that 755 participants attended the center’s workshops; 159 businesses participated in mentor‑protégé programming.

Evans identified FY26 partners and funders that support BIC programs, including the City of Bowie, Bowie State University, Prince George’s County Council, Capital One, FSC First, TD Bank Foundation and the Capital Readiness Program. She said FY26 partnership funding for BIC programs totaled $380,500.

Council members asked about the effects of recent federal workforce reductions on entrepreneurship and government contracting. Evans said layoffs and reductions are driving some former federal employees and contractors toward entrepreneurship and that 8(a) firms continue to win contracts. She said the BIC has seen increased interest in its programs.

Council did not take formal action on the presentation; the report was provided for information.