By: Jon Sham

Under Armour is looking to expand its Tide Point complex, and its looking to the city for TIF bonds to help. The talks continue on a merger between University of Maryland’s College Park and Baltimore campuses. Those stories and more in this week’s business top 5.

1. St. Joseph Medical Center seeks ’strategic relationship’ – by Daily Record Staff

St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson has issued a request for proposals to “a select group of Maryland health care systems,” asking for written responses within 30 days on establishing a “strategic relationship” with the 263-bed hospital.

Such an arrangement, St. Joseph officials said in a release, would “enhance the quality of care and breadth of services to the people and communities that” both parties serve. The release did not identify the health care systems invited to participate.

2. Under Armour wants TIF for HQ expansion – by Melody Simmons

The Baltimore City Council is expected to consider a request by Under Armour Inc. for tax increment financing bonds to fund a portion of the company’s massive expansion at Locust Point’s Tide Point complex.

The sportswear giant would use the TIF bonds to install a public greenway path near the waterfront connecting Locust Point with Fort McHenry as well as to upgrade the pier, bulkhead and promenade at Tide Point to dock large clipper ships for the bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812 next summer, said Shawn King, director of campus development at Under Armour.

3. UM merger proposal gets positive response – by Nicholas Sohr

The idea of merging two University of Maryland institutions — College Park and Baltimore — received a largely positive response Wednesday at a campus forum hosted by UMCP President Wallace D. Loh and Provost Ann Wylie.

“Collectively, we can create a model to move the state in a way economic impact is larger than anyone realizes,” said Dr. Robert S. Gold, dean of the School of Public Health, at the event.

4. Jockey club, Penn National headed to arbitration over Rosecroft simulcasts – by Nicholas Sohr

The Maryland Jockey Club and Penn National Gaming Inc. will turn to an independent arbitrator to craft a simulcast arrangement for Rosecroft Raceway after the two sides missed another deadline Saturday.

The deal, which would allow the long-struggling harness track to show and take bets on out-of-state thoroughbred races, is a prerequisite for the jockey club to receive up to $6 million in state operating aid in 2012 for Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park.

5. BWI to get twice-weekly service to Germany – by Nicholas Sohr

German air carrier Condor Airlines will begin flying twice-weekly, seasonal service from Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to Frankfurt in July, the airport announced Monday.

Condor, the third-largest German airline, will be the second European carrier in BWI’s William Donald Schaefer International Terminal, which opened in 1997 to great expectations that have gone unmet as Dulles International Airport has become the region’s overseas hub.