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Yesterday, I announced that a team of top business and technology leaders volunteered to assist in Baltimore's grassroots effort to attract Google Fiber for Communities to our great city. Google Fiber for Communities is an initiative that asks American cities and municipalities to compete for up to a billion dollars in fiber optic network infrastructure. This new infrastructure will be able to deliver speeds nearly 100 times faster than most internet connections. Google, Inc. asked local governments and communities to express interest and provide information by completing a "request for information" or RFI.
In my opinion, Baltimore is the best and most appropriate city in America for Google to invest in with a new blazing fast internet infrastructure. Baltimore is a city with a rich history of technological innovation. We are a perfect match for Google's initiative.
Researchers at places such as Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland Medical Center will use this new bandwidth to bring three-dimensional imaging to the web. Doctors will advance the use of electronic medical records which will help make health care more efficient, accurate and affordable.
The new broadband fiber will also make a huge difference in our communities. The great kids in our schools, when connected to this new high-speed internet, will shine even brighter.
I enlisted the support of the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore to assist the already burgeoning grassroots campaign by recruiting additional support from larger corporations and institutions. One of Baltimore's latest success stories, Under Armour, agreed to supply in-house marketing capabilities to assist the effort.
To lead this great effort, I was proud to announce Baltimore technology entrepreneur Tom Loveland as our volunteer "Google Czar." He is responsible for working with the Mayor's Office of Economic Development and Neighborhoods to complete and submit the RFI by the March 26th due date.
Mr. Loveland is the CEO of Mind Over Machines, an IT strategy and application design firm, and co-founder of Gerretson LLC, a cybersecurity firm. In response to the passage of the "tech tax" in 2007, he led a lobbying and grassroots effort that resulted in the unprecedented repeal of the "Tech Tax" before it took effect as law. The Daily Record recognized Loveland as an Influential Marylander in 2009 and an Innovator of the Year in 2008.
Mr. Loveland added, "Baltimore is a tinderbox of innovation. Google Fiber is the spark, a game-changer that could turn Baltimore into a global innovation leader. Mayor Rawlings-Blake understands that and I'm honored to serve the City."
At the conclusion of the press conference, I premiered a new YouTube video that will be posted on www.BmoreFiber.com, a grassroots website designed to lure Google's initiative to Baltimore. I want to thank Mr. David Troy and all the other organizers and volunteers who created the BmoreFiber movement.
I urge all Baltimore residents to visit BmoreFiber and find out more about Baltimore's effort to bring Google to Baltimore, watch video testimonials and to join the conversation about this important initiative. |
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Sincerely,
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Mayor, City of Baltimore
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4-10 Challenge
March 1-April 1
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is challenging you and your organization to take 10 minutes to fill out the 10 Census questions throughout the month of March, so that Baltimore City can maximize the federal and state funding it will receive over the next 10 years. After you fill out and mail in your Census form, contact 10 other people and urge them to fill it out. Encourage everyone in the organizations you work with to participate in the 4-10 Challenge throughout the month of March. The contest will run from March 1st and will end on Census day, April 1, 2010.
Prizes will be awarded to organizations that use the most creative outreach methods to get the word out about the Census (block parties, posters, promotions, etc.).
NOTE: Only Census employees are allowed to collect Census forms. This competition is SOLELY to spread awareness about the Census and encourage participation).
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QAC Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Friday, March 19, 11:00am-12:00pm
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake invites you to the Census 2010 Questionnaire Assistance Center ribbon cutting ceremony at CASA de Maryland, 2224 East Fayette Street. Light refreshments will be served.
Please R.S.V.P. to Catalina Rodriguez at 410-818-6193. |
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FIRST Robotics Competition Chesapeake Regional March 12-13, 9:00am-4:00pm
In this fast-paced sports-like challenge, more than 1,000 high school students compete with robots they have designed and built. The challenges are designed not only to test their robots, but to help students build alliances, cooperate in teams, and exercise professionalism. This event will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center, 1 West Pratt Street, Hall A, and is FREE and open to the public.
For more information, visit www.chesapeakefirst.org. |
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World Glaucoma Day Saturday, March 13, 9:00am-12:00pm
Baltimore City will honor World Glaucoma Day with FREE vision screening as part of The Eyes Have It Program, an ongoing effort to fight glaucoma. The screening will take place at Good Samaritan Hospital's main lobby, 5601 Loch Raven Boulevard. No advance appointment is necessary.
For more information, visit www.baltimorehealth.org. |
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St. Patrick's Parade Sunday, March 14, 2:00pm
Join Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake at Baltimore's annual St. Patrick's Parade. This year marks the parade's 54th anniversary. The parade steps off from the Washington Monument and proceeds south on Charles Street to Pratt Street, and then on to Market Place.
For more information, visit irishparade.net. |
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Women's Self-Defense Class Sunday, March 14, 3:00pm-4:30pm
TurnAround, Inc. and the Y of Central Maryland bring you FREE self-defense classes for women. Classes are offered the 2nd and 4th sunday of each month at the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Family Center Y at Stadium Place, 900 East 33rd Street. All women, especially survivors of violence, are encouraged to attend.
For more information, call 410-377-8111 or visit www.ymcamd.org. |
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"Hats, Heels & Ties" Fundraiser Sunday, March 21, 3:00pm
Pennsylvania Avenue Mainstreet and Druid Heights Community Development Corporation bring you live music, delectable eats, hat boutiques and both live and silent auctions to support the return of the Pennsylvania Avenue Easter Parade. The fundraiser will be hosted at the Tremont Hotel, Edinburgh Room, 225 North Charles Street. Tickets are $35 each and can be purchased here.
For more information call Linda C. Richardson at 410-523-1350. |
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National Youth Violence Prevention Week March 22-28
Activities and events will be held nationwide to spotlight the issue of youth violence. The Baltimore City Health Department's Office of Youth Violence Prevention, in collaboration with the Mayor's Office and several city agencies and community-based organizations, has created a week of events, workshops, and open houses to spotlight this issue.
Call 443-984-3566 to find out what events are taking place in your neighborhood.
If your organization would like to get involved or host a Youth Violence Prevention Week event, contact the Baltimore City Health Department Office of Youth Violence Prevention at 443-984-3566 before March 15. |
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Playing for Peace Basketball Tournament Wednesday, March 24, 4:30pm-10:30pm
As part of National Youth Violence Prevention Week, Safe Streets and Operation Safe Kids bring you the Playing for Peace Basketball Tournament. The tournament will be held at the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center, 1100 East Fayette Street.
For more information, call 443-984-3566. |
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Smart Homebuying Night Wednesday, March 24, 5:00pm
This FREE event hosted by Live Baltimore will help you take the first steps toward purchasing a home in the City of Baltimore. Meet with real estate agents, mortgage lenders and other professionals to ask your homebuying questions. A pre-purchase counseling certificate class will be offered. Seating is limited, and pre-registration required for the class. The event will take place at the Coppin State University Dining & Meeting Hall, 2500 West North Avenue.
For more information and to pre-register, visit www.livebaltimore.com/events/homebuyingbaltimore or call 410-637-3750. |
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B2B Green Forum Friday, March 26, 8:00am-4:45pm
Businesses from the mid-Atlantic region will learn from each other and share current and future best practices for green business and sustainable trends. The B2B Green Forum is also setup for networking and business development. CEO of Used Cardboard Boxes, Marty Metro will be the keynote speaker at this day filled with informative speakers and learning sessions. The B2B Green Forum will take place at The Engineers Club, 11 West Mount Vernon Place. Pre-registration is required.
For more information and to pre-register, visit www.b2bgreenforum.com. |
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9th Annual City of Baltimore Procurement and Outreach Fair Tuesday, March 30, 8:00am-12:00pm
Join the Mayor's Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development for an opportunity for businesses to network with city, state and federal quasi-public government agencies and corporate companies to increase procurement opportunities with the City of Baltimore. Admission and parking are free to the public. Pre-registration is not required. The fair will be held at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, 1400 West Cold Spring Lane.
For more information, contact the Mayor's Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development at 410-396-3818.
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