Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

During this holiday season, we want to thank you for choosing Howard County to live, work, shop, play, and conduct business. We look back at 2024 and celebrate our collective successes and achievements such as:

• International Collaboration: A successful 11-day European trade mission fostered global partnerships and explored export opportunities for our cybersecurity/IT sector.  Read More

• Business Appreciation Week: Partnered with County Executive Ball, ambassadors, and local businesses to visit over 400 businesses and celebrate the heartbeat of our economy. Read More
  

• Business Connection: Co-hosted and partnered on nearly 40 events with community organizations to foster connections and support within the business community.

• Prestigious Recognition: Earned the 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award from the IEDC for our Economic Edge newsletter. Read More

• MIC Community Success: Supported a dynamic community of 90 resident and affiliate members achieving significant milestones. This year, 48% added employees, 96% increased payroll, 88% grew revenue, 76% gained new customers, and 28% secured investments or funding, highlighting MIC’s role in fostering growth and innovation. Read More

• Apprenticeship Growth: Celebrated National Apprenticeship Week, working with Howard Community College, the Office of Workforce Development, and County Executive’s Office. Read More

• Innovative Workforce Development: Health Tech Alley launched a groundbreaking apprenticeship program, shaping the workforce of tomorrow. Read More

• Supporting Women Entrepreneurs: MWBC, in partnership with our team and the County Executive’s office, celebrated its new Savage Mill location with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony.  Read More

• Website Redesign: We launched a new website with enhanced functionality, intuitive navigation, and updated data maps to better serve our community.  Read More

• The Accelerator Space: Opened a dynamic venue featuring local Maryland art and hosting impactful programming. Read More.

Market Pulse Pitch Series: Shaping the Future of Life Sciences

Prepare to experience an evening of innovation, inspiration and opportunity at the Market Pulse Pitch Series! This highly anticipated event is your gateway to connecting with the brightest minds and most promising ventures in the life sciences industry.

The Market Pulse Pitch Series is more than a showcase; it’s an exclusive gathering of trailblazers shaping the future of healthcare and technology. Investors, life science and health tech companies and community partners will converge for an evening of dynamic pitches, strategic networking and powerful collaborations. A distinguished panel of judges from MD Commerce, Fulton Bank, JLABS and Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center will lend their expertise to evaluate the pitches and spotlight the most innovative solutions. Attendees will also enjoy complimentary food and beverages, making it easy to connect in a relaxed yet professional atmosphere.

The companies pitching at Market Pulse represent a diverse and dynamic landscape of innovation. These companies are leaders in their fields, focusing on addressing challenges through unique solutions, such as:

• Warrior Centric Health: Transforming the way underserved populations receive care with innovative data-driven insights and comprehensive outreach tools.
• NasaClip: A hands-free, innovative approach to stopping nosebleeds quickly and safely at home or in the clinic without invasive treatments.
• Karrington Clinical Laboratory: Setting new standards in clinical testing with advanced molecular diagnostics, Next-Generation Sequencing, and cutting-edge research.
• Ambu: A leader in single-use endoscopy technologies that continue to set the standard in areas like pulmonology, ENT, urology and gastroenterology.
• Vasoptic Medical Inc.: Innovators using advanced optical imaging to monitor blood flow dynamics in real time without requiring contrast agents—revolutionizing clinical diagnostics.

This is your opportunity to connect, collaborate and create lasting impact in an industry that’s reshaping the world. Seats are limited, so don’t wait—mark your calendar for January 13 and join us at the Market Pulse Pitch Series.

Jazzy New Year Celebration: Ring in 2025 with Style

We invite you to an unforgettable evening of networking, fine dining and fantastic jazz at the annual Jazzy New Year Celebration. This special event brings together business owners, entrepreneurs, community leaders and HCEDA partners for a stylish evening of connection and celebration.

What to Expect:

• A Gourmet Experience: Enjoy a delectable menu featuring lobster tails, crab cakes, beef short ribs and pork osso bucco, paired with an open bar.
• Live Jazz Magic: Featuring the incredible Unified Jazz Ensemble, known for their creative interpretations of jazz standards and innovative original compositions.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded business leaders, entrepreneurs and community partners to foster new relationships and opportunities.

Don’t miss this chance to celebrate success, new beginnings, and shared opportunities with members of the Howard County business community. Whether you’re looking to build partnerships, explore collaborations, or simply enjoy a night of great food, music, and company—Jazzy New Year is your perfect way to start 2024.