November 29, 2023 |
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When We Choose Small and Shop Local, We All Win Big
This past Saturday, we toured locally owned small businesses here in Howard County to celebrate Small Business Saturday. At each stop, I was inspired by the entrepreneurs who offer unique goods, services, dining options and community spaces right here in our own county.
I encourage all my fellow residents to patronize our locally owned small businesses not only during the holiday season but year-round. It keeps more dollars circulating right here at home, fuels job growth and supports the families and neighbors who have invested in our communities.
When we choose small and shop local, we all win big. Remember to make every Saturday a Small Business Saturday! |
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Sincerely,
Jennifer Jones
CEO, Howard County Economic Development Authority |
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Small Business Saturday Recap
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The Howard County community celebrated Small Business Saturday on Saturday, November 25. The event was held in partnership with Visit Howard County, Ellicott City Partnership, and Savage Mill. Throughout the celebrations at Savage Mill and in Ellicott City’s historic district, the HCEDA team visited multiple small businesses with Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, including
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Featured Resource: Minority Business Directory |
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To create more visibility and representation for underserved communities, HCEDA created the Howard County Minority Business Directory. This directory is a community-driven resource created to support local entrepreneurs and encourage investment in our communities.
If you’re looking for new products or services to try this holiday season, our comprehensive list can help you search for a business that fits your needs. We encourage you to use our directory as a resource to better understand the impact of your spending and embrace conscious consumerism during this season of giving.
Is your minority-owned business listed in our business directory? Sign up here to be featured!
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This holiday season, HCEDA and our Maryland Innovation Center team encourage you to shop small. Small businesses make a significant impact on our local economy by creating more jobs, nurturing growth, bringing in more visitors, and investing their profits back into the local community! The MIC is home to a wide variety of businesses; here are just a few resident businesses that you can support and celebrate with us:
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Catalyst Fund Success Story:
Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness
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Dr. Deepan Chatterjee is the founder of the Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness, a facility dedicated to providing holistic care to its patients. Emphasizing a balanced focus on both mental and physical health, the Center integrates Eastern mindfulness practices with conventional Western psychiatric treatments. This approach strives to create a harmonious blend of methodologies for the benefit of their patients.
On their journey to support Howard County residents, the Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness has encountered a few challenges. As a startup psychiatric practice, it was difficult to find loans to grow their business, as they didn’t have a year of bank statements to provide.
However, with our support, the Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness acquired a Catalyst Fund loan to purchase a TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) machine. The TMS is a cutting-edge FDA-approved technology to treat psychiatric illnesses such as major depressive disorder, OCD, and anxious depression. HCEDA's assistance helped enable the Center to offer this innovative and potentially transformative treatment option to the community.
When asked how HCEDA’s efforts have impacted his business and the local community, Dr. Chatterjee, stated that “the support shown by HCEDA for small business owners is awesome as small businesses are the backbone of our county, state, and nation's economy. Events such as Business Appreciation Week are fundamental to supporting and growing small businesses of all kinds in Howard County.”
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Learn more about the Catalyst Fund |
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Save the Date: Jazzy New Year |
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Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings |
Join us and County Executive Calvin Ball for the grand opening of Olympic Indoor Sports, a high-performance facility that provides training in Baseball, Softball & Cricket skills. The ribbon cutting will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 3:30 p.m. at 9179 Red Branch Rd Suite #L, Columbia, MD 21045.
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