[caption id="attachment_20441" align="alignleft" width="225"] DBED's Regina Tillery, Director of Information & Technology Management, accepts the StateScoop award on behalf of the State of Maryland.[/caption]

Starting a business is easier than ever, especially when using Maryland's award-winning online registration system.

The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) hasreceived a StateScoop 50 Award, which honors those who make state and local government more efficient and effective. Additionally, the International Association of Commercial Administratorsrecently named Maryland as one of five Merit Award recipients. DBED accepted both awards on behalf of the State's Central Business Licensing and Registration Portal.

The CBL portala collaborative effort between DBED, the Comptroller of Maryland, the Department of Assessments and Taxation, and the Department of Information Technologywas developed by the State's eGovernment partner NIC Maryland. The platform creates a one-stop-shop for business owners where they can register a new business, create legal entities, establish trade names, and create state tax accounts.

Launched in late 2012, CBL allows customers to process paperwork for numerous state agencies through one streamlined website, cutting the filing time from 10 weeks to a matter of days. So far, more than 45,000 business registrations have been processed through the portal.

"We engaged 26 state entities and connected each agency's system in this central portal to service the business community," said Regina Tillery, DBED's Director of Information and Technology Management. "We are very grateful for the recognition."

Maryland winners at the 2015 StateScoop 50 Awards include:

• State Up & Comer – Sandra Longs, training manager, Prince George's County, Maryland/OIT
• Innovation of the Year – Central Business Licensing & Registration Portal, DBED
• Innovation of the Year – Maryland Safety Inspection System, Maryland State Police
• State IT Program of the Year – The Maryland Cloud, Maryland Department of IT

Visit easy.maryland.gov to get your business up-and-running in Maryland.