BUSINESS BRIEFS | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

LINTHICUM - The Transportation Security Administration is testing a new system at BWI Thurgood Marshall that will allow crew members faster access to secure areas while increasing the likelihood of catching imposters.

The test of crewPASS was unveiled Thursday, and will continue for 60 days.

"This will prevent airline imposters," said Capt. John Pratter, president of the Air Line Pilots Association.

The program was mandated by Congress after the Sept. 11 attacks. Tests will also be conducted at Pittsburgh International Airport and Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina.

Eligible flight deck crew members will enter the secure area of these checkpoints via the exit lane of the security checkpoint after presenting their airline-issued identification and another form of ID to transportation security officers. Officers will check these credentials using a secure database.

Community college to train government secure-site workers

ARNOLD - Construction workers who want jobs on secure government sites can receive training from Anne Arundel Community College next year.

The college is one of seven state colleges to offer the training, designed to help Maryland address work force challenges associated with federal Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, according to a release.

The AACC training will be funded through a $100,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, which received $4 million from the U.S. Department of Labor for BRAC work-force challenges.

AACC will offer the courses in February 2009.

Manekin to manage local properties

GLEN BURNIE - Columbia-based Manekin LLC announced that it has signed deals to manage new properties in several counties, including Anne Arundel, bringing its asset management portfolio to nearly 8.5 million square feet.

The commercial real estate and residential land development firm said it will manage five new buildings associated with Baltimore Washington Medical Center.

The company will manage the Executive Center, the Aiello Center and the Tate Center on Hospital Drive; the Crain Mayo Medical Building on Crain Highway; and the Special Beginnings Birthing Center on Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard in Arnold, according to a release.

Manekin also will manage the 176,053-square-foot office Building C at Preston Gateway at 1405 Magellan Road in Hanover.

County, state buy development rights to 183-acre Lothian farm

ANNAPOLIS - The state Board of Public Works preserved a 183-acre Lothian farm earlier this month.

The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program will buy the development rights to the property for more than $2.65 million. Anne Arundel County's contribution to the matching-fund program will be $670,000.

The county recently received two applications for the preservation program, both in Harwood, totaling 304 acres. Once the county approves an application, the state arranges appraisals and makes the formal offer to landowners.

The county is set to close on another preservation parcel later this month. That would mean it will have preserved close to 600 acres in the past year.