The annual CIAA tournament has been a boon for Baltimore’s economy over the last few years, spurring millions in tax revenue and spending while highlighting the majority-Black city's unique culture and economy. With the HBCU basketball competition's local future up in the air, some stakeholders want to keep the ball rolling (pun intended). Continue scrolling to read more about the tournament and its reach beyond the court.
In other news, Loyola University Maryland’s signature accelerator held a demo day for its latest cohort of startups. Learn more about them below.
— Kaela, Technical.ly lead reporter in Baltimore and DC
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Ever since it first nabbed the contract to host in 2019, Charm City's gotten a lot out of the CIAA tournament — even with neither of its HBCUs competing in the athletic conference.
Baltimore saw $23.6 million in direct spending during the 2024 tournament, part of $32.5 million in total economic impact.
That impact extends beyond the basketball court and into various other sectors. For instance, Verizon hosted a tech-focused summit, while CIAA also put on a college fair for high school students.
“The tournament particularly uplifts Black-owned businesses, highlights our HBCU legacy,” said Al Hutchinson, the president and CEO of the city’s tourism agency Visit Baltimore, “and adds to the vibrant mix of music, arts and culture that define Baltimore’s Black community.” Continue reading ...
Meet Loyola's newest Baltipreneurs
For its sixth year, the university's tentpole accelerator attracted 300 people to see 11 early-stage businesses demo their innovations.
Members of the new Baltipreneurs cohort received a $2,000 stipend, learning opportunities and mentorship over four months. They specialized in diverse industries ranging from fashion to mining exploration to AI in healthcare. Continue reading ...
• Baltimore auto dealers are bracing for higher retail prices thanks to tariffs that kick in today. The Port of Baltimore ties the region closely to the auto industry. [Baltimore Banner]
• Governments are increasingly applying traditional tax rules to digital service providers. A recent proposal in Maryland that's already getting pushback from tech community members highlights the trend. One local founder writes that a recent bill would harm businesses and force companies to relocate. [Technical.ly]
• Mayor Brandon Scott released the city's $4.6 billion spending plan, which could change drastically based on the Trump administration's cuts. [WYPR/Baltimore Banner]
• Meritus Health, HQed in Hagerstown, unveiled the $90 million academic building housing Maryland's first new medical school in 100 years. [Baltimore Business Journal]
• Maryland's comptroller launched a new website with a customer service portal for offerings including state taxes. [Office of the Comptroller]
• Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Luigi Mangione in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione previously cofounded a Baltimore gaming company and had internships at Johns Hopkins and Firaxis Games. [AP News/Technical.ly]
• Maryland is funneling laid-off federal workers into teaching positions. [CBS]
🗓️ On the Calendar
• Learn about the patent process at a talk hosted by Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures on April 3. [Details here]
• Code in the Schools invites girls and gender-expansive youth to explore possible careers in computer science at a special summit on April 6. [Details here]
• Celebrate the accomplishments of Morgan State University staff and students at its Innovation of the Year Awards on April 7. [Details here]
• See ventures duke it out for $10,000 and a StarTUp Accelerator spot during the College Cup pitch competition at Towson University on April 8. [Details here]
• Baltimore Climate Tech Meetup and UpSurge Baltimore host a climate tech-focused Equitech Tuesday together on April 22 (Earth Day). [Details here]
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