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Leading National Financial Firms Sponsor CICTax Accounting, Business Advisory and Banking Expertise Now Available to Start-UpsAnnapolis, MD (April 27, 2005) – American Express Tax and Business Services Inc. and M&T Bank have become sponsors of the Chesapeake Innovation Center (CIC), America’s first business accelerator for the homeland and national security sectors. Under the sponsorships, American Express Tax and Business Services and M&T Bank will offer their services to CIC member companies facing rapid growth in the booming security marketplace. In addition, the sponsors will provide financial support to the operations of the CIC itself. American Express Tax and Business Services has become a Sustaining Sponsor of the CIC. “We are committed to building long-term client relationships and CIC member companies are among the most promising emerging companies in the nation. We believe our specialized knowledge and expertise and our support of the CIC will help them reach their full potential,” said Brian S. Merritt, CPA, Managing Director of the Technology and Emerging Growth Companies Group of American Express Tax and Business Services. “In addition, we appreciate the opportunity to foster economic growth in Anne Arundel County while helping to enhance our nation’s technological edge.” M&T Bank is now a Silver Sponsor of the Center. “M&T Bank is pleased to be the first bank to sponsor the Chesapeake Innovation Center,” said Nicholas Lambrow, president of M&T Bank's Chesapeake region. “We support the vibrant entrepreneurial sector in this region and the development of leading-edge technologies that will help to make our nation stronger.” “The support of premier sponsors such as American Express Tax and Business Services and M&T Bank demonstrates the increasing success of our member companies,” said John Elstner, CEO of the CIC. “Our new sponsors have already begun assisting CIC companies, providing advisory and banking services.” “The CIC sponsorships are just the latest contributions American Express Tax and Business Services and M&T Bank have made to economic development in our county.” said Bill Badger, President of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC). “We thank them for the important role they are playing.” “These sponsorships are yet another step in the development of the ‘Informatics Corridor,’ the high-technology business cluster centered in Anne Arundel County and focused on the homeland security sector, National Security Agency, and other federal and corporate enterprises,” said Janet S. Owens, Anne Arundel County Executive. About the CIC: The CIC harnesses the power of entrepreneurship to enhance our nation’s technological edge. A public-private partnership initiated by the AAEDC, the CIC is a driving component of Maryland’s emerging Informatics Corridor. The Center brings together its member companies – more than a dozen start ups with innovative technologies -- with its partners, large enterprises with requirements for security-related high technology. CIC member companies produce everything from an anthrax treatment to software that replaces the computer password. CIC partners include Northrop Grumman, ARINC, Next Century Corp. and the National Security Agency. Among the Center’s sponsors are DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP, Kelly FedSecure, and Whiteford Taylor and Preston. www.cic-tech.org About
American Express Tax and Business Services Inc.: American Express
Tax and Business Services is the 7th largest accounting and consulting
firm serving businesses in the United States. With more than
2600 professionals in 40 offices throughout the country, we offer broad,
national
resources
combined with local, personalized attention. Our Technology and
Emerging Growth Companies Services (TEC) help entrepreneurial companies
with
accounting, business plan analysis and review, corporate finance,
litigation services,
marketing, operations, outsourcing, tax, technology and other
solutions. The Mid-Atlantic region is served by more than 300 professionals
through our offices in Timonium and Rockville, Maryland, Washington,
DC,
and an
office in Northern Virginia coming soon. About
M&T Bank: M&T Bank Corporation, founded in 1856, is one of
the top 20 bank holding companies in the nation, with $53.9 billion
in assets as of March 31, 2005. With over 660 branch offices and
more than 1,400 ATM locations, M&T Bank has a strong presence in Maryland,
Washington D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia. Media Contact:
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