Sandlot Venue Brings New Energy and Economic Opportunity to Downtown Largo

Downtown Largo continues to gain momentum as an emerging destination for entertainment, business, and community engagement with the announcement that The Sandlot will open a new outdoor gathering space near the Downtown Largo Metro Station.

According to Daniel J. Sernovitz of the Washington Business Journal, the temporary venue will occupy approximately 20,000 square feet, accommodate up to 800 guests, and operate through fall 2026 as part of the future Promenade at Lottsford mixed-use development. The partnership is investing approximately $500,000 to launch the activation, creating a vibrant destination while long-term development plans move forward.

For Prince George's County businesses, the project represents more than a new entertainment venue—it demonstrates how creative placemaking can stimulate economic activity and increase visibility for surrounding commercial corridors. Activating underutilized spaces with dining, live entertainment, community events, and cultural programming helps attract visitors, increase foot traffic, and create new opportunities for local restaurants, retailers, entrepreneurs, and event vendors.

The Sandlot's arrival also aligns with the County's long-term vision for Downtown Largo as a vibrant, transit-oriented destination where residents, businesses, and visitors can live, work, and gather. Temporary activations like this generate excitement for future investment while supporting existing businesses and encouraging additional private-sector development.

As Prince George's County continues to invest in transformative projects, innovative concepts such as The Sandlot showcase the value of activating public spaces to foster economic growth and community engagement. These types of experiences strengthen the County's competitiveness by creating destinations that attract new visitors, support local businesses, and reinforce Downtown Largo's position as a growing hub for commerce, culture, and investment.

Read Full Article Here

State Investment Advances Recreation, Connectivity, and Economic Growth in Prince George's County

Prince George's County is poised to benefit from significant state investments in recreational infrastructure following the Maryland Board of Public Works' approval of millions of dollars in funding for a new indoor tennis facility and trail expansion—projects that will enhance quality of life while supporting the County's long-term economic competitiveness.

As reported by The BayNet, the Board of Public Works approved more than $4.7 million for two Prince George's County projects, including the largest Program Open Space award to construct a six-court indoor tennis facility at Westphalia Central Park and $930,000 to acquire land for the Central Avenue Connector Trail in Capitol Heights.

These investments extend beyond recreation. Modern parks, trails, and sports facilities are increasingly recognized as economic development assets that help communities attract residents, employers, visitors, and private investment. For Prince George's County businesses, enhanced recreational amenities contribute to a stronger talent pipeline by creating vibrant, livable communities where employees want to live and work.

The planned indoor tennis facility also has the potential to position Prince George's County as a destination for year-round tournaments, training programs, and regional sporting events. Increased sports tourism can generate additional revenue for local hotels, restaurants, retailers, and service providers while creating new opportunities for event organizers and small businesses that support the hospitality industry.

Similarly, the Central Avenue Connector Trail represents an investment in connectivity and placemaking. Once completed, the approximately 7-mile trail will link the District of Columbia with Largo Town Center, improving multimodal transportation options and encouraging increased activity throughout surrounding commercial corridors. Expanded trail networks often support local businesses by increasing foot traffic, improving accessibility, and enhancing the appeal of nearby retail and mixed-use developments.

As Prince George's County continues to invest in transformative infrastructure, projects like these demonstrate how strategic public investments can drive long-term economic growth. By enhancing recreational amenities, expanding transportation connections, and creating destinations that attract residents and visitors alike, the County is strengthening the foundation for a more competitive, resilient, and prosperous business environment.

Washington Intl. Horse Show Delivers $8.9M Economic Impact and Record Crowds to Prince George's County

 MEDIA CONTACT:
Andrea Lynn
VP, Director of Strategic Communications at TBC
443.995.3989
alynn@tbc.us

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (August 11, 2026)—The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), one of North America's most prestigious equestrian events, generated an estimated $8.946 million in total economic impact to Prince George's County at its 67th edition, held October 20–26, 2025, at The Show Place Arena. Driven by a record 16,000 spectators, back-to-back sold-out Friday and Saturday evening performances, and spending by visitors traveling from 37 states and the District of Columbia, the announcement underscores WIHS's pivotal role in Maryland's equine industry.

More than 91 percent of spectators traveled from outside Prince George's County, and more than 50 percent from outside Maryland entirely, bringing significant new spending to local hotels, restaurants and retailers. The show's 693 participants, including owners, riders and trainers, were joined at the Saturday Embassy Reception by 59 foreign diplomats representing 26 embassies, along with more than 300 state and local officials and community leaders, further cementing WIHS's reputation as an event of international stature.

"For more than six decades, the Washington International Horse Show has been more than a world-class competition—it's a celebration of tradition and the bond between people and horses. Each year we welcome elite athletes and families from across the country and around the world, generating lasting economic, cultural and philanthropic impact. None of this is possible without our sponsors, volunteers and partners. We're grateful to everyone who makes WIHS a place where excellence and community come together year after year,” said Washington International Horse Show President, Vicki Lowell.

The 2025 WIHS also delivered exceptional marketing exposure for Prince George's County, reaching audiences in over 80 countries—a 19 percent increase in international viewership over 2024—through television, social media, podcasts and online coverage. Total reach included a TV audience of 386,000, a podcast audience of 821,000, more than 4.1 million social media followers and an online and print audience exceeding 70 million, with 30 percent of viewers based outside the United States. This global visibility strengthens the county's brand as a destination for sports tourism, business and investment on a worldwide scale.

"Prince George’s County welcomes the Washington International Horse Show. This prestigious five-star event serves as an economic asset, generating an impressive estimated $8.9 million for our hospitality and small business sectors, while also elevating our county as a premier global equestrian destination. By welcoming top competitors, dignitaries, and visitors from around the country and across the world, we have an opportunity to showcase the vibrancy of our community, and our hospitality industry as a premier destination, as well as showcase the remarkable achievements of Prince George's County. This event is not just a celebration of equestrian excellence; it is a bold statement of our commitment to growth, innovation, and community spirit, while reinforcing our position as a dynamic leader on the global stage while paving the way for a prosperous economic investment future,” said Prince George’s County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy.

Beyond its economic footprint, the 2025 WIHS deepened its community impact through philanthropy and youth development. Since 2010, the show made donated over $200,000 to Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) in support of military families, maintained its partnership with Teach for America and celebrated the 17th year of its Junior Committee. Its Kind Wins initiative continued to champion inclusion and respect in sport. 

Backed by the Maryland Sports Commission, Maryland Stadium Authority and top sponsors MARS Equestrian, Longines, and Delta. WIHS is committed to ensuring that every investment delivers tangible returns in community development and economic output.

The next Washington International Horse Show will take place October 19–25, 2026, and continues to welcome new partners, visitors and community supporters. Tickets are on sale now; visit wihs.org.

Small-Business Grants You Can Apply For In August 2026: Deadline Looms For Lucrative SBA Programs

Small-business owners and entrepreneurs who have never taken the step into brick-and-mortar retail have a new chance to do so in New York City’s Chinatown neighborhood.

That’s because a storefront incubator program dubbed #MadeOnMott is offering rising entrepreneurs a chance to operate out of a fully built-out local storefront for three months. The program is run by Welcome to Chinatown Inc., a nonprofit that aims to strengthen the neighborhood's small-business community. The program's name is a reference to the neighborhood's featured Mott Street.

Here's what's available: A fully built-out store with no construction costs and no waiting; the business owner pays just $700 per month plus utilities and insurance and a single-digit percentage of sales. The business “residency” will go to four entrepreneurs, each of whom will have it for three months starting in January and continuing into early 2028. The window for applications to the program closes Aug. 30.

For business owners looking for financial assistance and opportunities elsewhere, here's a rundown of grant programs now open to applications:

SBA offers $500K grants to teach businesses to scale

The Small Business Administration's new Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program makes available 20 grants of up to $500,000 each, with a total of $9 million in funding available. The SBA in its announcement of the program said the offering is designed to help small businesses address supply chain issues and grow beyond them. 

The program is open to public and private entities, as well as nonprofits and other organizations that can deliver accelerator programming, technical assistance, industry engagement or related support services for small businesses, according to the SBA. The deadline for proposal submissions is 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 7.

SBA offers grants to aid women-owned businesses

The SBA last month also unveiled its Women’s Business Center Modernization Initiative, through which it is offering $6 million in grants to organizations in Florida, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wyoming and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Those are all locations the agency said have been historically underfunded in the existing WBC program.

The money will go toward a total of eight locations that can provide counseling and training services to women-owned small businesses. The SBA said the modernization initiative is a standalone program, and all current Women Business Center entities will operate normally. The deadline for proposal submissions is Aug. 10.

Breva Thrive Grant program

The Thrive Grant by small-business funding and coaching platform Breva is offered on a rolling basis throughout the year. The winner receives a $5,000 grant. The coming application cycle closes Oct. 31, with winners typically notified about 45 days later. 

Applicants must have demonstrated an impact on the surrounding community, such as new jobs, new products or making services more accessible. Applicants are strongly preferred to have been in operation more than a year and must be generating revenue prior to the grant. 

$5k for a woman entrepreneur

The Breakthrough Grant, sponsored by Her Agenda, offers $5,000 to help take a founder to the next level. Applications are due Sept. 18.

Additional grants business owners can apply for throughout 2026 include:

• Verizon's Small Business Digital Ready program: Business owners who sign up for the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready online community will be eligible to apply for grants throughout the year. The company provides up to $1 million in grant funding a year.

• Amber Grant's monthly and annual awards: The Amber Grant program was created in 1998 to empower women business owners. Every month, WomensNet awards three $10,000 grants to women-owned businesses. A $50,000 grant is given to one of the monthly award winners at the end of the year. A business must be at least 50% woman-owned and must operate in the United States or Canada to be eligible. The deadline to apply is the last day of the month by midnight.

• The National Science Foundation: The National Science Foundation’s America’s Seed Fund provides millions in grant funding to small businesses and startups with big ideas. The grant program gives out roughly $200 million per year to eligible businesses. 

• The National Association for the Self-Employed: The National Association for the Self-Employed has a $4,000 growth grant that it offers on a rolling basis. Only members are eligible.

Read the the original article in The Washington Business Journal.

College Park Shopping Center Sells For $53M To UMD.'s Real Estate Arm, Private Partner

The College Park Shopping Center, a high-traffic retail plaza steps away from the University of Maryland, College Park campus, has been sold.

​A joint venture between affiliates of the Terrapin Development Co., the university’s real estate arm, and Chicago-based Northpond Partners bought the shopping center for $53.05 million. The sale of the 75,471-square-foot center closed on June 17, according to CBRE, which facilitated the deal.

The shopping center is at the intersection of Hartwick Road and Baltimore Avenue in downtown College Park, just south of the university's main campus. It’s currently home to a slew of fast-casual chains, including Chipotle, Starbucks and Cava, as well as a CVS Pharmacy and Bank of America branch. The center was about 86% leased at the time of the sale, according to CBRE.

Ken Ulman, Terrapin Development Co.'s president and the university’s chief strategy officer for economic development, told me that there are no near-term plans to redevelop the shopping center. Instead, he said Terrapin Development wants to focus on marketing the property’s 14,000-square-foot office space, which has long been underutilized. The retail space at the shopping center is fully leased, Ulman said.

“We’re really pleased with the acquisition,” Ulman said. “It’s just such a centrally located retail and office complex that is so intertwined with the university and surrounding community.”

The Freudberg and Rosenfeld families, which operated the shopping center for more than 40 years, were the sellers. When it became clear that the families were putting the property on the market, Terrapin Development “jumped into action” to lock it down in a tight time frame, Ulman said. The shopping center spent about five months on the market.​

The area adjacent to the shopping center has experienced rampant redevelopment in the past five years. In 2023, Chick-fil-A opened its Little Blue Menu quick-service restaurant and test kitchen immediately to the south. A block north is downtown College Park’s main thoroughfare, home to Marathon Deli, Taqueria Habanero and Terrapin’s Turf.​

The Aster College Park and The Standard at College Park, two new student housing developments, have added more than 1,300 units near the center, across Hartwick Road. Trader Joe’s anchors the ground-floor retail space beneath The Aster, with other tenants including Crunch Fitness, PNC Bank and Arepa Zone.

Terrapin Development will work on “uplifting the appearance” of the shopping center, which is less polished than its neighboring developments.

The sale of the shopping center marks the latest change of hands for retail plaza space in College Park. Campus Village Shoppes, a decades-old shopping center north of campus, shuttered in 2023 after LV Collective LLC announced plans to replace it with 300 apartments and 16,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial and institutional uses.

The closure of those shops, which were about a mile up Baltimore Avenue from the College Park Shopping Center, sparked an outcry from local residents and students over the loss of small-business presence in the fast-developing corridor north of campus. LV Collective’s new development, dubbed Rambler College Park, is slated to deliver in fall 2027.

Northpond Partners, a retail-focused investment firm, acquires and enhances unanchored neighborhood shopping centers in supply-constrained markets, per its website. Ulman told me that the university’s real estate arm was drawn to Northpond because of its national experience in operating unanchored retail shopping centers, similar to the College Park Shopping Center.

Northpond’s largest commercial footprint is in the Southeast and Midwest. It also owns a handful of properties in Greater Washington, including a 44,000-square-foot retail center in Old Town Alexandria it acquired in 2024.

Read the original article from The Washington Business Journal here

Ravens' Maryland Practice Highlights New Impact in Prince George's and Surrounding Counties

Ellen Moreau is like many Ravens fans. A longtime supporter, she hopes the Ravens can win the Super Bowl this season. She lamented the team's injury-riddled campaign last year and thinks they can reach the mountaintop this time around if they stay healthy.

Seeing the Ravens in person, however, is a challenge for Moreau. She lives in northern Virginia, about two hours away from Baltimore. In fact, Moreau went to the Washington Commanders training camp a few years ago simply because it was closer to her.

When the Ravens announced they would be having an open training camp practice at the University of Maryland, it was a triple whammy of great news. Not only could she see her favorite team at a reasonable distance from her place, but she could also bring her son, Ben, and his friend, Alex, who's a big-time Ravens fan.

Moreau is also a Terp, so her favorite NFL team playing at her alma mater's football stadium made for an amazing crossover episode.

"It was perfectly in the middle, and I get to be on campus," Moreau said. "It's awesome."

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

New Site Plan Details How You'll Arrive and Exit the National Harbor Sphere — and Just How Big It Will Be

More details about the 302-foot Sphere planned for National Harbor have emerged as the chief of Sphere Entertainment Co. says talks to progress the high-tech venue’s entitlement process “continue to advance.”

A detailed site plan for the development illustrates the features of the 6,000-seat suburban Maryland venue, including firmed-up arrangements for the site's entrances, public plazas and a pedestrian bridge across more than 14 acres in Oxon Hill.

The maximum diameter of the National Harbor Sphere will be 428 feet, according to documents filed with the Prince George's County Planning Department and obtained by the Business Journal. Earlier this month, we were the first to report the Sphere’s height would be 302 feet. For context, the flagship Sphere in Las Vegas, which seats roughly 18,000, is 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide.

The $1 billion-plus project is expected to occupy roughly 418,000 square feet immediately north of MGM National Harbor casino, according to planning documents. The development site is bordered by MGM to the south, Interstate 495 to the north and Oxon Hill Road to the east.

James Dolan, the CEO and executive chairman of Sphere Entertainment (and owner of the New York Knicks and Rangers), acknowledged the company had recently filed its latest site plan with Prince George’s County during its second-quarter earnings call Thursday. The company is working to secure permits with the county, and the goal remains to open the venue within the next four years, Dolan said.

Sphere Entertainment (NASDAQ: ANY) declined to comment beyond Dolan’s remarks. The Prince George’s County Planning Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This story will be updated with any response.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

New Labor Credit Union Branch Strengthens Financial Access for Prince George’s County Businesses and Residents

Prince George’s County’s financial services landscape continues to grow with the opening of Labor Credit Union’s new St. Barnabas Branch in Hillcrest Heights, expanding access to affordable banking services for residents, entrepreneurs, and small businesses across the region.

Located at 3601 St. Barnabas Road, the new branch reflects Labor Credit Union’s ongoing investment in Prince George’s County and its commitment to supporting the financial well-being of the communities it serves. As reported in a CUInsight press release, the branch is designed to provide convenient, member-focused financial services to individuals, families, and small businesses throughout the County.

For Prince George’s County businesses, expanded access to financial institutions can play a critical role in fostering economic growth. Community-based credit unions often provide personalized lending solutions, business accounts, financial education, and capital that help entrepreneurs launch, sustain, and grow their operations. These resources are particularly valuable for small businesses, which continue to serve as the backbone of the County’s economy.

The new branch also reinforces Prince George’s County’s appeal as a place where businesses and financial institutions are choosing to invest. Increased access to local banking services supports entrepreneurship, encourages neighborhood investment, and helps ensure businesses have the financial tools needed to adapt and thrive in a competitive marketplace.

According to CUInsight, the branch—which opened in May 2026—serves existing members as well as individuals who live, work, worship, or attend school in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and Washington, D.C. Labor Credit Union will officially celebrate the location with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 2, welcoming residents, business owners, and community partners to learn more about its services and community initiatives.

As Prince George’s County continues to attract new investment across multiple industries, the expansion of community financial institutions like Labor Credit Union helps strengthen the local business ecosystem. By improving access to affordable financial services and supporting small business development, investments like this contribute to a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous economy for the County.

Read the original Article: https://www.cuinsight.com/press-release/labor-credit-union-celebrates-labor-day-with-grand-opening-of-new-st-barnabas-branch/

Prince George’s County Advances Sphere Project, Positioning National Harbor for Long-Term Economic Growth

Prince George’s County has taken another significant step toward bringing the highly anticipated Sphere at National Harbor to fruition, reinforcing the County’s commitment to transformative economic development and its position as a premier destination for tourism, entertainment, and business investment.

The Prince George’s County Council recently approved the creation of an Extraordinary Development District (EDD)for the National Harbor site, a key milestone that establishes the framework for planning, financing, and infrastructure improvements needed to support the proposed project. As reported by WTOP’s Kate Ryan, the designation is intended to help advance one of the County’s largest economic development initiatives in recent history.

For Prince George’s County businesses, the proposed Sphere represents more than a world-class entertainment venue—it has the potential to serve as a catalyst for sustained economic activity across multiple industries. Increased visitor traffic could drive demand for local hotels, restaurants, retail establishments, transportation providers, event services, and small businesses throughout National Harbor and the surrounding region.

The project also aligns with the County’s broader strategy of attracting destination developments that generate long-term economic value. County leaders have emphasized the importance of replacing and expanding economic drivers following recent regional changes, including the closure of Six Flags America and the future relocation of the Washington Commanders to the RFK campus.

If completed, the approximately 6,000-seat immersive entertainment venue would become the second Sphere in the United States and the first to feature the company’s smaller-scale design. The venue would include the signature LED Exosphere, immersive audio technology, and cutting-edge digital experiences designed to attract visitors from across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond.

For Prince George’s County’s business community, the project signals continued confidence in the County’s ability to attract large-scale private investment while creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs, hospitality providers, and commercial development. As planning continues, the Sphere has the potential to further strengthen National Harbor’s reputation as a destination for innovation, tourism, and economic growth, benefiting residents, visitors, and businesses alike.

Read Full Story Here: https://wtop.com/prince-georges-county/2026/07/prince-georges-co-takes-extraordinary-step-toward-sphere-at-national-harbor/

NourishMD Grants Expand Opportunities for Prince George’s County’s Food Economy

Prince George’s County communities and businesses stand to benefit from Maryland’s continued investment in food access and local agriculture following Governor Wes Moore’s announcement of nearly $4 million in NourishMD grants to strengthen the state’s food system.

According to NottinghamMD, the funding will support projects that increase access to fresh, healthy food while expanding partnerships among farmers, food distributors, nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, and community-based organizations. The grants are designed to improve nutrition, address food insecurity, and build a more resilient local food supply chain.

For Prince George’s County, the investment represents more than a public health initiative—it also creates economic opportunities for businesses throughout the local food ecosystem. Farms, food producers, distributors, retailers, and organizations focused on food access can benefit from increased demand for locally sourced products and stronger regional partnerships.

Programs like NourishMD also reinforce the importance of connecting agriculture with economic development. By supporting local food procurement and distribution, these investments help create new revenue streams for Maryland growers while strengthening the supply chains that businesses and consumers rely on every day.

Prince George’s County is uniquely positioned to capitalize on these opportunities. With a growing network of urban farms, food entrepreneurs, community markets, and healthcare institutions, the County continues to demonstrate how collaborative investments can improve quality of life while supporting business growth.

As reported by NottinghamMD, the grants reflect Maryland’s broader commitment to ensuring that fresh food is more accessible while helping build a stronger, more sustainable agricultural economy. For Prince George’s County businesses, initiatives like NourishMD underscore the value of innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and strategic investment in industries that support both economic prosperity and community well-being.

Read https://nottinghammd.com/2026/07/28/governor-moore-announces-nearly-4-million-in-nourishmd-grants-to-expand-fresh-food-access/

Maryland Job Growth Signals Opportunity for Prince George’s County Businesses

Maryland’s labor market is showing renewed signs of momentum, creating new opportunities for businesses across Prince George’s County as the state continues its economic recovery.

According to recent estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Maryland has added approximately 18,000 jobssince the beginning of 2026, including 900 jobs in June, following 4,000 jobs added in May. As reported by Michael Caruso for The BayNet, the gains suggest the state’s economy is stabilizing after significant federal workforce reductions impacted Maryland over the past two years.

While sectors such as manufacturing, transportation, and retail experienced job declines in June, growth in government, education, and professional services reflects continued resilience across key industries. State labor data also indicates Maryland’s employment growth has outpaced the national rate during the first half of the year, underscoring the state's ability to adapt amid economic headwinds.

For Prince George’s County businesses, these trends present an encouraging outlook. As one of Maryland’s leading hubs for life sciences, technology, cybersecurity, healthcare, higher education, and professional services, the County is well-positioned to benefit from a strengthening statewide economy. Increased employment typically translates into stronger consumer confidence, greater business investment, and expanded demand for local products and services.

The continued recovery also reinforces the importance of fostering an environment where businesses can start, grow, and innovate. Entrepreneurs and established companies alike may find new opportunities to attract skilled talent, expand operations, and capitalize on increased economic activity throughout the region.

State leaders have also continued to prioritize business growth through economic development initiatives, including tax and financing programs designed to help businesses invest and scale despite ongoing economic uncertainty. These efforts can create additional opportunities for Prince George’s County companies seeking to expand, hire, or launch new ventures.

Although economic challenges remain in certain industries, Maryland’s steady job gains point to a positive trajectory. For Prince George’s County, the combination of a diverse business community, strategic location, and strong workforce positions local employers to play an important role in the state’s continued economic growth while creating new opportunities for residents and businesses alike.

Read Original Article: https://thebaynet.com/maryland-has-created-about-18000-jobs-in-2026-what-to-know/

National Harbor Sphere will stand 302 feet, first site plan reveals

New details surrounding the proposed Sphere at National Harbor continue to highlight the transformative potential of the project and its long-term economic impact on Prince George's County.

As reported by Hannah Ziegler in the Washington Business Journal, preliminary site plans provide the first detailed look at the proposed entertainment venue, including its layout, height and visitor experience. The plans show the immersive venue rising approximately 302 feet and featuring a 6,000-seat capacity, making it one of the most recognizable landmarks along the County's waterfront.

If approved, the National Harbor location would become the second Sphere venue in the United States and the first to utilize the company's smaller-scale design model. Planned adjacent to MGM National Harbor, the project would further strengthen the area's reputation as one of the region's premier destinations for tourism, entertainment and hospitality.

For Prince George's County businesses, the opportunity extends well beyond entertainment. A world-class attraction has the potential to increase visitor spending across hotels, restaurants, retail establishments and local attractions while creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs, event organizers and hospitality providers. The project could also encourage additional private investment throughout National Harbor, reinforcing the area's role as an economic engine for the County.

The proposed venue also reflects the County's continued focus on attracting destination projects that diversify the local economy and raise Prince George's County's profile on both a national and international stage. Large-scale developments that combine innovation, tourism and technology can generate sustained economic activity while supporting job creation during construction and long after opening day.

While the project continues to move through the planning and approval process, the newly released site details offer another indication of the scale and ambition behind the proposed development. As National Harbor continues to evolve, projects like Sphere have the potential to reinforce Prince George's County as a hub for investment, innovation and unforgettable visitor experiences that benefit businesses and residents alike.

Original Source:
https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2026/07/09/sphere-national-harbor-site-plan-height-layout.html

Elaine Ulrich to Convert the former Cheverly Walgreens into a hardware store.

An entrepreneur's vision to transform a long-vacant commercial property into a neighborhood destination is highlighting the role small businesses continue to play in strengthening Prince George's County's economy.

As reported by Michael Neibauer in the Washington Business Journal, former federal scientist Elaine Ulrich plans to redevelop the former Walgreens property on Landover Road in Cheverly into Waxwings Ace Hardware & Café. The project will repurpose the vacant retail space into a locally owned business designed to serve both home improvement needs and the surrounding community.

The redevelopment demonstrates how adaptive reuse can breathe new life into underutilized commercial properties while expanding retail options for residents. By investing in an existing site rather than new construction, the project supports community revitalization, increases commercial activity and reinforces Cheverly's growing appeal as a place to live, work and do business.

For Prince George's County, projects like this underscore the importance of supporting entrepreneurs who are willing to invest in their communities. Locally owned businesses help create jobs, generate economic activity and keep investment circulating within the local economy. Transforming vacant storefronts into active businesses also contributes to stronger commercial corridors and can encourage additional private investment nearby.

The planned combination of a hardware store and café offers a unique community-focused approach that goes beyond traditional retail. By creating a destination where residents can shop, gather and connect, the business has the potential to increase foot traffic while supporting neighboring businesses and enhancing the overall customer experience in the area.

As Prince George's County continues to attract investment across both large-scale developments and locally driven projects, entrepreneurial ventures like Waxwings Ace Hardware & Café demonstrate that economic growth is fueled not only by major investments but also by residents who choose to build businesses, create jobs and invest in the communities they call home.

Original Source:
https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2026/07/09/ace-hardware-cheverly-walgreens-elaine-ulrich.html

250-unit multifamily project near Suitland Metro station set for approval

A proposed affordable housing development near the Suitland Metro Station highlights Prince George's County's continued commitment to expanding housing opportunities while supporting long-term economic growth through transit-oriented development.

As reported by Daniel Zawodny in the Washington Business Journal, Green Street Housing LLC is seeking approval to develop Metro Grove, a three-building, 250-unit multifamily community on approximately seven acres along Silver Hill Road, roughly a quarter-mile from the Suitland Metro Station. The Prince George's County Planning Board is scheduled to consider the project on July 23.

The development would be built in two phases, with the first introducing 200 affordable apartment homes for residents earning between 30% and 70% of the area's median income. A portion of those units would be reserved for households with the greatest housing needs, including individuals transitioning out of foster care and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Beyond increasing the County's affordable housing inventory, Metro Grove represents a strategic investment in creating vibrant, connected communities. Its proximity to Metro and the U.S. Census Bureau positions future residents near employment centers, public transportation and essential services, reducing transportation barriers while supporting workforce mobility.

The project also reflects the growing role that transit-oriented development plays in strengthening local economies. By bringing new residents within walking distance of existing businesses and transit infrastructure, developments like Metro Grove can increase foot traffic, encourage additional retail and commercial investment, and support continued revitalization in the Suitland community.

According to the Washington Business Journal, the project is expected to leverage both federal low-income housing tax credits and financial support from the Prince George's County Department of Housing and Community Development. These funding sources help make the development financially feasible while ensuring long-term affordability for residents.

Metro Grove is also one of the projects benefiting from Maryland's Housing Expansion and Affordability Act, legislation designed to encourage higher-density affordable housing near rail stations throughout the state. The law aims to remove development barriers that can limit the construction of much-needed housing in transit-accessible locations, recognizing that proximity to public transportation creates lasting economic and environmental benefits.

As Prince George's County continues to attract investment and expand access to housing, projects like Metro Grove demonstrate how thoughtful development can address housing affordability while supporting a stronger workforce, attracting future investment and fostering sustainable economic growth across the County.

Original Source:
https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2026/07/15/suitland-affordable-housing-development.html

Gragg Cardona, Mosaic to develop 100 acres by Bowie State MARC station

A major step forward in the redevelopment of the Bowie State University MARC Station area is reinforcing Prince George's County's position as a destination for transit-oriented investment, innovation and sustainable economic growth.

As reported by Daniel Zawodny in The Baltimore Banner and by the Washington Business Journal, development teams have been selected to advance the transformation of nearly 100 acres surrounding the Bowie State University MARC Station into a vibrant mixed-use district featuring new housing, retail, commercial space and enhanced transit infrastructure.

For Prince George's County, the project represents more than a real estate investment. It reflects a broader strategy to create connected communities where residents can more easily live, work, learn and access regional employment centers. By pairing expanded housing opportunities with improved transportation access, the redevelopment has the potential to attract new employers, support existing businesses and encourage private investment throughout the surrounding area.

The station's location along the MARC Penn Line, positioned between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, creates a strategic advantage for businesses seeking access to one of the nation's largest economic corridors. Improvements planned for the site, including upgraded transit facilities, pedestrian connections and walkable development, can help strengthen workforce mobility while increasing the area's appeal to developers, entrepreneurs and commercial tenants.

The redevelopment also reinforces Bowie State University's role as an economic anchor. As Maryland's oldest historically Black college and university, the institution already contributes significantly to the regional economy through education, research and workforce development. A thriving mixed-use district surrounding the campus can further strengthen partnerships between academia, industry and the private sector while creating new opportunities for innovation and talent retention.

As Prince George's County continues investing in transit-oriented development, projects like the Bowie State MARC Station redevelopment demonstrate how strategic infrastructure investments can help build resilient communities, expand housing options and create an environment where businesses and residents can thrive for decades to come.

Original Source:
https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2026/07/21/bowie-state-university-marc-station-developers.html

LinkedIn Shares Tips on Effective Posting

LinkedIn shared new advice on how to maximize content performance in the app, with a simple checklist of what should be included in every LinkedIn update.

The platform also shared insights into optimizing content for artificial intelligence chatbot citations, with LinkedIn content being among the most referenced source material for AI tools.

First, on general posting tips. LinkedIn has shared a simple checklist for effective content creation in the app, which applies to both creators and brands.

So two to three posts per week, with a question to spark ongoing discussion and engagement.

As per LinkedIn: “Consistency is one of the biggest drivers of reach on LinkedIn. Posting regularly signals to the algorithm that you’re an active, valuable contributor.”

It’s also interesting to note the length here, with LinkedIn advising that creators should post longer updates to maximize interest.

LinkedIn also noted that creators should engage with comments within the first hour of posting, while it also suggested that creators should repurpose their top-performing posts in new formats.  

LinkedIn VP of Marketing Davang Shah also recently shared notes on how to optimize LinkedIn posts for LLM consumption.

According to Shah, creators should write a clean, strong opening line, because that first sentence will generally become the post’s URL.

As per Shah: “LinkedIn uses the first line of your post to generate its URL. Avoid starting with hashtags like #socialmedia, as they create generic URLs and dilute your keyword signal. Instead, lead with your keywords.”

Read More LinkedIn Share Tips on Effective Posting on Social Media Today

NIST Launches Center to Drive the Manufacture of Quantum Technologies

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced an agreement with SRI International, a nonprofit research and development institution, to help advance U.S. quantum research, development and manufacturing capabilities. Under the agreement, SRI is establishing the Quantum Manufacturing Engineering Center (QMEC) to accelerate manufacturing of scalable, high-performance quantum components and systems to drive significant growth in the U.S. quantum industry. NIST plans to make an initial investment of $20 million in the center’s activities.

“Quantum science promises to generate new knowledge and technologies that will supercharge scientific research and unlock enormous economic potential,” said Deputy Secretary of Commerce Paul Dabbar. “The new Quantum Manufacturing Engineering Center will bring together top experts to ensure both continued U.S. leadership in quantum technologies and that we are the epicenter of manufacturing quantum systems at scale to drive advances in sensing, communications, encryption, computing, biomedicine and other critical areas.” 

The agreement advances the goals outlined in the Executive Order on Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation, and is another important step in implementing NIST’s Strategy for American Technology Leadership in the 21st Century to accelerate the progress of critical and emerging technologies from development to adoption, in close partnership with U.S. industry. This partnership with SRI provides a key platform to advance “the commercial readiness of quantum sensing and quantum-sensor manufacturing” by “supporting research and development pathways that advance quantum-enabling technologies and eliminate manufacturing barriers,” as called for in the June 22, 2026, executive order.

Original Article: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2026/06/nist-launches-center-drive-manufacture-quantum-technologies

University of Maryland Grant Targets Quantum and AI Tools for Cancer Research

The University of Maryland is backing a new effort to use quantum computing and artificial intelligence to speed the search for better ways to detect and treat cancer.

The project is one of 11 research efforts funded through the university’s Grand Challenges Grants Program, a three-year initiative that will provide nearly $15 million for work aimed at major social, health and technology problems, according to a university press release. The cancer project is supported as a team grant and brings together researchers from the A. James Clark School of Engineering and the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.

The research will focus on single-atom catalysts, a class of materials made by placing isolated metal atoms on a supporting surface, according to the university. These materials can drive chemical reactions with high precision and have drawn interest as possible tools in cancer treatment and detection. In cancer therapy, they may help alter the tumor microenvironment, the local area around cancer cells that can influence how tumors grow, resist treatment and respond to therapy.

The University of Maryland team — which includes which includes Teng Li, Keystone Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Maryland Energy Innovation Institute; Lianping Wu, assistant research professor of mechanical engineering and Xiaodi Wu, associate professor of computer science — plans to combine quantum computing and machine learning to design these catalysts more quickly and more accurately than conventional methods allow, according to the project summary. The goal is to build a predictive framework that can identify promising materials for cancer detection and therapy before they move into laboratory testing.

Original Article: https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/06/26/university-of-maryland-grant-targets-quantum-and-ai-tools-for-cancer-research/?utm_source=Sutor-Group-Intelligence-and-Advisory&utm_medium=daily-links&utm_campaign=Substack

A New Kind of Entanglement Helps Quantum Sensors Tune Out Noise

Photon exchange through an optical cavity links two atomic ensembles, creating a shared entangled state. This entanglement is designed to be insensitive to common noise while remaining highly sensitive to differential signals. (Credit: Raphael Kaubruegger, JILA)

In a quest to build the most accurate sensors in the world, scientists are constantly improving their performance. Making them more precise, stable and reliable.

But eventually, physical constraints will prevent further improvements. 

“By fully embracing the laws of quantum physics, one can expand the performance limits imposed by these constraints,” says JQI Fellow Alexey Gorshkov, who is also a Physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a Fellow of the Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science and an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Maryland. “And it's very exciting to come up with protocols that come as close as possible to saturating these limits for different sensing tasks.”

Even the most precise sensors in the world are not fully isolated and are limited by noise—subtle disturbances from the environment like vibrations, electromagnetic fields or temperature changes. 

So, Gorshkov, JILA Fellows Ana Maria Rey and James K. Thompson and their colleagues from the Niels Bohr Institute and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, asked, how can we improve the next generation of sensors despite these limitations? 

READ MORE BELOW

Original Article: https://umdphysics.umd.edu/about-us/news/research-news/2108-new-entang.html

Quantum Security Proof Earns Ph.D. Student Top Conference Acceptance

Computer science Ph.D. student Joseph Carolan developed a new technique for analyzing oracle problems, answering an open question about the quantum security of a key cryptographic method and creating a framework for studying future quantum algorithms.

As the best quantum computers accumulate more qubits and even more hype, computer scientists are still mapping the capabilities and limitations of these new machines.

Since the 1990s, researchers have known that, with enough qubits, quantum computers can quickly break down thousand-digit numbers into their prime factors, threatening some of the most widely used encryption protocols on the internet. In the meantime, among other advances, researchers have also shown that quantum computers can efficiently simulate quantum physics itself, potentially creating promising new opportunities for progress in materials science, chemistry, particle physics and a variety of other fields.

But despite all the progress, proving what these machines can and can’t do is often a painstaking mathematical exercise. Researchers typically start with an idealized model of a computer and a problem of interest, then ask how many resources an algorithm would need to solve it, often considering practical resources like time or memory.

A common way to simplify this analysis is to replace all the messy details of a computation with an all-knowing oracle. In this model of computation, fancifully dubbed the oracle model, all an algorithm can do is pose questions to the oracle and receive answers. If your problem is to find a chest full of treasure among a sea of empty duplicates, the oracle model would let you query one chest at a time, learning at each step whether the queried chest contained the treasure. In the oracle model, the only resource that counts is the number of queries you need to make to find the treasure.

Joseph Carolan, a Ph.D. student in the Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS), has developed a new technique for analyzing a family of oracle problems that had remained stubbornly unresolved for more than a decade. In a 70-page paper accepted at the 58th Annual ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing (STOC 2026), one of the most selective conferences in computer science, Carolan used the oracle model to answer an open question about the quantum security of an important method in cryptography and described a new framework for analyzing other quantum algorithms in the future. He will deliver a talk on the new results at STOC 2026 during the week of June 22–27, 2026. Earlier this year, he presented the research in one of just seven short plenary talks in a full program of more than 130 accepted talks at the 29th Annual Quantum Information Processing Conference.

Original Article: https://quics.umd.edu/about/news/quantum-security-proof-earns-phd-student-top-conference-acceptance