“Pitch Across Maryland” kicks off in Pocomoke City

“Pitch Across Maryland”, a contest held by Startup Maryland, kicked off for its 4th year on Monday morning.

The pitch participants were invited on the Startup Maryland bus, where they were allotted four minutes to wow a community that could hopefully expand their business.

Jamey Brittingham was one of those hopefuls. The Worcester County native owns MamerSass, which is an eco-friendly retailer in Chincoteague, Virginia. She’s the one and only employee at the shop, and she tells 47 ABC that she is ready for more.

“We could have logistic people who could pick up this textiles, we have a lot that we want to do,” Says Brittingham really…we’re busting at the seam so it’s a good problem, really that our business is going well. We’re just trying to grow and expand into Maryland.”

Startup Maryland founder and CEO Michael Binko says the panel will choose the best eight ideas from across the state with potential for high growth. Those eight get to attend an expo in Linthicum on November 17. There, they get their ideas in front of an audience of hundreds, including more investors.

The tour normally kicks off in Ocean City but this year, Binko says Pocomoke caught the attention of Startup.       

“Pocomoke was something we had started to hear some activity going around “reborn” manufacturing, some heavy industries work…and that was exciting to us because that’s an old guard maryland industry that is seeing new life.” He says.

That kind of “new life” is something Merry Mears says she sees across Worcester County. Mears says in her three years as deputy director of Economic Development, there’s been steady uptick of small businesses.

“We have a lot of programs in place such as our vault loan fund, which is a low interest loan fund offered through us and anne arundel economic development corporation.” She explains.” Interest loans are 2.5 to 5 percent…you’d be hard-pressed to find that in other places.”

The bus also stopped at Salisbury University’s campus on Monday, and is expected to tour through Cambridge and Easton on Tuesday.

The last stop on the tour will be in Annapolis on October 2.