Maryland is not waiting for the new year or a new governor to start taking applications for a program intended to boost business development around colleges and universities. The state is now taking applications for its new Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise Zone program(called the "Rise Zone" program for short). It requires two application stages. The first stage, which is now open, requires higher education institutions, regional higher educational centers or nonprofit organizations that are associated with federal agencies to apply to the state Department of Business and Economic Development. The state will then qualify those groups.

Image: Jaclyn Borowski A new state program aims to build business zones around universities like the University of Maryland in College Park.