Message from the CEO

Frequentis USA Celebrating 25 Years

Congratulations to Frequentis USA ! Headquartered in Columbia, Frequentis USA is a leading international supplier of communication and information systems for control centers.

It was an honor to celebrate the company’s commitment to innovation and growth with President , Dieter Eier, Ambassador Petra Schneebauer and Markus Bardach.

Unpacking a Dynamic and Visionary Howard County

The Baltimore Banner's inaugural Howard County event, "Unpacking a Dynamic and Visionary Region", held on June 4th was a success. This event convened a distinguished panel of community leaders and public servants to discuss the future potential of Howard County.

Key highlights from the event include:

• Transformation of the Columbia Lakefront: A visionary project aimed at revitalizing the area to create a vibrant, community-centric space.
• Growth of Small Businesses: Strategies and support systems designed to foster the success and expansion of local enterprises.
• Commitment to Innovation: Emphasizing the role of innovation in driving economic and community development.

The discussions reaffirmed that Howard County is a premier destination—a vibrant hub where individuals can live, work, play, grow and thrive. With a shared vision and collaborative effort, we are dedicated to ensuring Howard County’s prosperity for generations to come.

Ignite Innovation: Highlights from the

2024 Howard County Innovation Summit

The 2024 Howard County Innovation Summit, held on June 4th, brought together creative, inspiring and empowering industry leaders for a day of educational sessions, creative discourse and valuable networking opportunities.

Together, we ignited creativity, fostered collaboration and drove transformation. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to making this event a remarkable success. 

BGE Energizing Small Business Grants Available

BGE has opened up another round of their Energizing Small Business Grants! This program offers grants of $20,000 aiming to foster growth and stability in the local entrepreneurial community.

The BGE Energizing Small Business Grants are designed to provide financial support for various business needs, including expansion, operational improvements and maintaining business continuity during challenging times. Since 2021, 89 Howard County businesses have been awarded $1.8 million in grants under this program. Last February, BGE President and CEO Carim Khouzami, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and HCEDA CEO Jennifer Jones presented BGE grants to 30 Howard County businesses. The grants awarded serve not only as a financial boost but also as a beacon of hope and resilience for our community.

Interested applicants can find more information and submit their applications through the Hello Alice website. 

Expand Your Business Horizons: International Opportunities

Export Opportunities to Europe

Last week Team Maryland took nine Maryland companies to UK's InfoSecurity Conference. The companies met with potential customers and partners for their products and services.

If you are a small to midsize Howard County business in the Cybersecurity/IT sector considering exporting or establishing a presence in the European market, schedule an one-on-one virtual information session. The information session will review the trade mission in October and exporting to Germany, Ireland and the UK. Schedule a 30-minute session with us to discuss your readiness and available support programs. Please respond by June 15, 2024.  

Maryland Trade Mission to China

This November, the Maryland Department of Commerce will lead a trade mission to China aimed at fostering economic collaboration and expanding trade opportunities between Maryland and China. The anchor event of the mission will be the China International Import Expo (CIIE), held from November 5-10 in Shanghai. The mission will also include business networking and site tours in surrounding prefectures.

A select number of companies from the agriculture/seafood, cleantech, logistics, and life sciences industries will be recruited to join this mission. Participants can take advantage of the ExportMD program to defray costs. To learn more, register for one of our information sessions on June 18.

Register for the Info Session

Expand Your Business in Korea

Are you interested in expanding your business to Korea or increasing your current sales in the country? Representatives from our Maryland State Korea Office and the Office of International Investment and Trade (OIIT) from the Maryland Department of Commerce are available to assist you. Meetings are available on June 27 or June 28 in Rockville and Baltimore, Maryland.

Schedule a Meeting

Boost Your Business with Top Tech Talent

The Maryland Technology Internship Program (MTIP) aims to retain Maryland's top tech talent by expanding the availability of paid technical internships. Administered by UMBC and funded by the State of Maryland, MTIP provides financial assistance to technology-based businesses and state and local agencies, enabling them to hire more interns. Enhance your team's capabilities while supporting the growth of Maryland's tech workforce.

Spotlighting our Creative Entrepreneurs

Each week, we will feature an artist in our Accelerator space.  Sieva Smith is an artist renowned for a bold and boundary-pushing approach to artistic expression.

Sieva’s work is characterized by a fearless commitment to risk-taking and collaboration, continuously challenging conventional norms and expanding the possibilities of their craft. Drawing inspiration from unexpected sources, Sieva creates captivating pieces that capture diverse perspectives and invite viewers to embrace a fresh and transformative view of the world.

Unveil Your Business Blind Spots:

Transformative Workshop for Entrepreneurs

Discover the 5 major blind spots that cause 90% of business owners to become stressed, burnt out and lose significant profits.

In this transformative workshop, business owners and entrepreneurs will discover what each of the 5 Major Blind Spots are and embark on a journey to uncover and address the underlying challenges that often go unnoticed. Learn how to significantly impact business success as we highlight the critical role of emotional intelligence in leadership, team dynamics and customer relations.

Recent Highlights: What You Need to Know

• The Howard County Office of Workforce Development (OWD) is hosting the SYEP program from 7/1-8/9. OWD will provide a pool of high-quality youth employees and will cover wages. Learn More

• How Howard County is Improving Mental Health for LGBTQ+ Members. Read More

• The 2024 Farmers Market information has been updated. Read More