Business

Over 100 unionized workers from the University System of Maryland rallied in College Park on Wednesday in a call to return to the bargaining table to address their job concerns, such as pay that they say neglects to keep up with the rising cost of living. The employees are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 3, which counts nearly 45,000 public service workers as members.

Prince Georgians have had the option of stopping by the Regal movie theater when they finished their shopping at Bowie Town Center to see the summer blockbuster of their choice for well over a decade. However, Regal 14 shuttered its doors for good in late April, leaving behind memories of past viewings— from the Harry Potter to the Avengers series.

Commercial gaming, which includes slots and table games at casinos and legal sports wagering, totaled $16.07 billion in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2023, according to the American Gaming Association. The 8.1% increase in year-over-year growth during the second quarter marks the tenth consecutive quarter of annual growth. Coupled with the first quarter, commercial gaming totaled $32.7 billion, the strongest six months ever.

A recently released study said the wealth gap between nonwhite and white families has increased by $40,000 since the March on Washington took place on Aug. 28, 1963. The study was conducted by the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, an anti-poverty, policy, and advocacy organization based in New York City. The organization’s CEO, Jennifer Jones Austin, said the gap is disturbing, noting the observance of a day — July 23 — dedicated to African American women workers getting their fair share of pay.

Fewer Greater Baltimore companies made the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies this year than in any year since 2015, a drop in revenue growth that comes as investment has also plateaued in the area. Forty nine local companies made this year’s list, down from 63 in 2022. It’s the first time the region has dipped under 50 listed companies since 45 Greater Baltimore businesses made the list in 2015.

About a decade later, the surrounding neighborhoods changed rapidly, as speculators induced homeowners to sell their houses at rock-bottom prices, then sold the houses at a premium to incoming Black residents, according to the author W. Edward Orser. Newer shopping centers siphoned business from the Edmondson Village Shopping Center, which gradually deteriorated. The shopping center, once known for its distinctive Colonial Williamsburg architecture and its Christmas lights, became known for crime and the occasional fire.

Thirty-one companies in Greater Washington earned places in the top 500 of the annual Inc. 5000 list tracking the country’s fastest-growing private companies, an improved showing for the region from a year ago. Goldschmitt and Associates, a Leesburg government contractor specializing in tech modernization, came in at No. 34 overall — the best placement among both Greater Washington and Virginia companies. The company has posted three-year growth of 10,293%, according to data analyzed by Inc. It placed at No. 18 overall in the Mid-Atlantic region.

National defense technology company Leonardo DRS has moved one of its Montgomery County locations to Frederick. The roughly 85,000-square-foot building on Executive Court is part of the company’s Airborne and Intelligence Systems sector, which develops radio systems used in advanced electronic warfare and intelligence gathering for the U.S. military and other intelligence agencies.