Happy Anniversary to us, The Project Resource Group – Home of Maryland With Pride!

 

The Project Resource Group, LLC began keying its business plan on this date, April 11th, 15 years ago, in 2011. We became a limited liability company on August 8th that year, formerly registering with the State to do business in Maryland. Since that time, we have remained true to our original business model:

  • Perform on consulting agreements that support business and workforce development for manufacturers in Maryland.
  • Operate an awareness initiative that champions the strength and diversity of the products made in our state, registering to trade as Maryland With Pride.

Early on, respecting an ever-expanding definition of what it means to be “Maryland-made,” our outreach grew to embrace products produced by Maryland manufacturers, artists, crafts persons, and agribusinesses. Aligning our mission with those of product producers and industry service and resource providers across the state, we also readily identified with other initiatives that supported “buy Maryland, buy local, and buy USA.”

 

Our slogan, The Project Resource Group – When Collaboration Makes Sound Business Sense – has stood the test of time over our 15 year history of partnering with organizations with common missions as well as Maryland-made goods producers and sellers that became members of Maryland With Pride. Associations formed through consulting engagements extended our relationships and service capacity range as well as our reach beyond Maryland borders, primarily to surrounding states, but sometimes further nationally. Some activities that you may recognize include the following consulting or Maryland With Pride initiatives:

 

  • Maryland With Pride’s Maryland-made shopper, producer, and seller promotions, including the Buy Maryland Directory.
  • Support for Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland manufacturing champions and stars awareness celebrations as well as Industry 4.0, energy efficiency, and workforce development projects.
  • Make It To Main Street campaigns promoting awareness of establishments that produce or sell Maryland-made items in official Maryland Main Street communities.
  • Maryland With Pride member product and event contributions supporting Maryland Economic Development Association conference and scholarship programs.
  • Mid-Atlantic Region Minority Business Development Agency Advanced Manufacturing Center business development program engagement.
  • K-through-College Workforce Development support, including former digital publication of the Maryland Collegian Career Resource Guide for college and university students statewide.

Paid consulting projects enabled us to offer Maryland With Pride services to Maryland-made goods producers at low- or no-costs and to shoppers and other Maryland product enthusiasts free. Like many operations large and small, we are challenged by the current economy, yet holding firm and working to emerge whole. Look forward to anniversary announcements and activities through the balance of April. Then we will pause for long-term planning and vacation mid-May through June.

We appreciate the friendly and productive reception that we have experienced over the years from a wide-range of stakeholders – shoppers, producers, sellers, industry service and resource providers – who advocate for goods made in Maryland and elsewhere on-shore. Sincerest thanks!

 

Chris Plater

TPRG President