Business

After 33 years and four children, Baby Boomers Marta and Octavian Dragos say they feel trapped in what was once their dream home in El Cerrito, California. Both over 70, the Dragos are empty nesters, and like many of their generation, they’re trying to figure out how to downsize from their 3,000-square-foot, five-bedroom home. “We are here in a huge house with no family nearby, trying to make a wise decision, both financially and for our well-being,” said Dragos, a retired teacher.

Allegany County officials announced Thursday they are in the process of developing a grant program for downtown businesses. Several downtown businesses are struggling in the midst of an extensive 18-month construction project that has impeded access, caused water outages, and reduced customer patronage, according to multiple business owners. Dave Caporale, president of the Allegany County Board of Commissioners, announced the grant program at Thursday’s meeting of the board.

The 10-story 1 E. Pratt St. office tower near the Inner Harbor sold at a brisk foreclosure auction to an entity of Harborplace’s redevelopment team on Thursday for $25 million. The downtown landmark at Pratt and Light streets anchored by PNC Bank, Cushman & Wakefield, Gensler and Kona Grill sold to a single, unnamed bidder who Michael Nord, a trustee for the foreclosure, described as “the lender.” MCB Real Estate became the lender of the property last year after the firm acquired the note on the property.

A $1,000 ticket to Sunday’s AFC Championship game at M&T Bank Stadium might not be the most expensive part of football fans’ weekends in Baltimore. Hotel prices across the city are up again as fans from far and wide — plus TV crews and maybe a few Taylor Swift fans — travel to Baltimore to see the Ravens host the Kansas City Chiefs for a chance to go to the Super Bowl. Properties close to the stadium, like the Hampton Inn Baltimore-Downtown-Convention Center and the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court, are fully booked from Jan. 26 to Jan. 28.

Greater Baltimore travelers looking for warmer locations will have a new international option this spring. Bermuda’s boutique airline, BermudAir, will have three weekly, nonstop flights to and from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport starting March 18, the airline announced Wednesday. The Anne Arundel County airport is the fourth destination in the United States offering nonstop flights for the airline, which launched last year.

Montgomery County companies had a strong year of investment in 2023, with more than $2.2 billion generated through more than 100 deals, the Montgomery County Economic Development Corp. said Wednesday. Companies in a wide range of industries, from life sciences and technology to manufacturing and real estate, brought in substantial investments, showcasing a positive economic direction going into 2024.

Good news for business travelers: Frontier Airlines is adding new routes to Charlotte, North Carolina, Chicago and Detroit at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Frontier said Tuesday it will kick off the service on April 10 with a new daily flight to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and four-day-a-week service to Chicago Midway. The BWI to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport flight will be offered three times a week in April and then four times a week starting May 25.