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Lockheed Martin of Bethesda plans to lay off about 800 workers this year at its Space Systems division facilities in Denver and Sunnyvale, Calif., or about 4.5 percent of its work force in those locations.

The layoffs will affect workers at all levels, including technical, managerial and administrative positions, the company said in a statement. The division produces human space flight systems, along with a range of satellites and instruments, ballistic missiles and missile defense systems.

"The action we are taking, though difficult, is necessary to adapt to our current projected business base and to maintain an appropriate workforce to meet our customers' needs," said Joanne Maguire, Space Systems executive vice president, in a statement.

Swedish company to open Annapolis office

Swebo Bioenergy International, a Swedish company that develops, produces and sells climate-neutral bioenergy systems, plans to open an office in Annapolis this fall to head its U.S. operations.

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) met with Swebo executives in June during his economic development mission to Sweden, according to information from the governor's office. Company executives visited the state and toured several areas as potential sites. The company initially plans to hire three employees, but anticipates hiring an additional 15 to 20 employees to help start its U.S. manufacturing operation. The company focuses on systems using wood and solar energy.

"I am pleased that our economic development mission to Sweden produced such significant and swift results," O'Malley said in a statement. "Swebo International will be a great addition to the business community in Maryland, which, because of Maryland's leadership in the use of smart, green technologies, is quickly becoming a very attractive location for alternative energy companies."

Shipyards land $4M in stimulus money

Two Maryland shipyards have received more than $4 million in federal stimulus money to help create new jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

General Ship Repair in Baltimore won $2.4 million to build a new 1,000-ton dry dock. The project is expected to be completed within a year and the company estimated it will hire 20 new employees because of the expansion.

Dredge builder Ellicott Dredges in Baltimore has won $1.7 million to upgrade its facility, including information technology and mechanical systems. The improvements are to help the company retain 20 jobs and create five new jobs in the next year.

Port of Baltimore wins

$3.5M in stimulus funding

The Port of Baltimore will receive $3.5 million in stimulus funding for cleaner-burning diesel technology for harbor operations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.

The new technology will cut diesel emissions by up to 90 percent, drastically reducing fine particulates and other pollutants that contribute to ozone smog, the EPA said. The project will also create jobs and reduce rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

CDC to employers:

Be clean and flexible

Federal health officials are telling employers to plan for the upcoming flu season, which could be more serious than past years, with both seasonal and H1N1 flu expected.

Employers should encourage workers to wash their hands well and often, and to stay home if they're infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those with a higher risk of serious medical complications from a flu infection should work from home. Workplaces should be kept clean.

Making the right decisions will not only improve public health, it also has the potential to protect economic productivity: Employees who are sick and stay home will not spread the flu in the workplace, according to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

"One of the most important things that employers can do is to make sure their human resources and leave policies are flexible and follow public health guidance,'' said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "If employees are sick, they need to be encouraged to stay home. If people begin to experience flu-like symptoms at work, they should be sent home and possibly encouraged to seek medical treatment."

Employers should also try to make sick leave policies flexible for workers who may have to stay home with ill relatives or if a child's school is closed, the CDC said. Employers should also consider offering vaccine against seasonal flu, and encourage employees to be vaccinated against seasonal and H1N1 flu.

Information: www.flu.gov.

SunEdison project in N.C. would generate 18 megawatts

SunEdison of Beltsville has acquired a 356.7-acre property in Linwood, N.C., where it plans to build an 18-megawatt photovoltaic project.

SunEdison said the $173 million project should start producing electricity by December 2010. Duke Energy Corp. of Charlotte, N.C., has contracted to purchase its output for 20 years. The project will produce enough electricity to power 2,647 homes, according to SunEdison information.

The company said a 2007 state energy law helped draw it to North Carolina. The law requires public utilities such as Duke to provide 3 percent of their electricity from a combination of renewable sources and energy savings by 2012. The mandate increases incrementally to 12.5 percent in 2021.

Survey: Collection agencies squeezed by recession

Collection agencies are getting more business but aren't collecting as much, according to a new survey released by Kaulkin Ginsberg of Rockville, an adviser to the accounts receivable management industry.

Two-thirds of agencies reported moderate or significant increases in account placements from their clients, according to the survey. Respondents also said that second-quarter collection performance fell from the first quarter.

"With consumers strapped for cash, collection agencies are accepting payment plans rather than getting a payment in full," said Patrick Lunsford, senior editor at insideARM.com. "This impacts the bottom line of many agencies."

Also, layoffs are continuing in the industry, according to Kaulkin Ginsberg, with 32.2 percent of respondents reporting second-quarter layoffs, the highest percentage since the survey began in mid-2008. Also, 41.4 percent of debt buyer participants reported layoffs in the quarter.

Entrepreneurship training targets Montgomery women

A new entrepreneur training program is being launched for low-income, minority and recent immigrant women in Montgomery County.

Citi Foundation is providing a grant for the program, which will be run over the next eight months by the nonprofit Community Business Partnership of Springfield, Va., and Rockville Economic Development, according to the Springfield group. The agencies will also determine if funding is available to create a women's business center.

The Montgomery County Women's Business Initiative will hold its first free workshop, "The ABCs of Starting a Business," from 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Ave. Registration: www.rockvilleredi.org or 301-315-8096.

Smith business school joins global network

The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business in College Park has joined the nonprofit Global Business School Network, which comprises more than 30 business schools.

"A commitment to globalization, combined with a strong focus on social value creation, is the centerpiece of our strategy and vision," said G. Anandalingam, dean of the Smith school. "The Global Business School Network's mission to educate the next generation of mangers in developing countries makes us perfect partners in our mutual quest to use business education to make the world a better place."

As part of the network, the Smith school will work to share knowledge and help build programs at business schools in emerging markets. In other news, the Smith School's undergraduate program is ranked No. 16 in the nation, according to the latest U.S.News & World Report college ranking report, "America's Best Colleges 2010," released Thursday.