We Mean
Business in
Howard County

Located directly between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Howard County gives businesses and individuals the resources and support for limitless success.

Why Howard County

For Local Businesses & Entrepreneurs

In Howard County, small businesses benefit from HCEDA’s Maryland Innovation Center, a strong network of local and regional experts, and thriving business districts across the entire county.

Explore Business Resources

For Relocating Companies

Whether you’re an international business seeking a soft landing or a growing business looking to fund a new regional development, HCEDA provides dedicated and personalized service to get you on the fast track to success.

Grow with Us

For Ambitious Professionals

Join an innovative and sustainable community in Howard County — where art, culture and outdoor recreation abound.

Discover Our Lifestyle

EXPLORE HOCO

Howard County Highlights

Explore highlights from Howard County and our neighboring regions with our interactive map. Dive into our vibrant community and see why it's an ideal place to live, work and play.

  • BWI Airport, Dulles Airport, Reagan Airport
  • Columbia Gateway
  • I-70, I-95, US 29
  • Kenneth S Ulman Innovation Hub
  • Port of Baltimore
EXPLORE HOCO
I-70 US 29 Port of Baltimore BWI Airport Kenneth S Ulman Innovation Hub Columbia Gateway I-95 Dulles Airport Reagan Airport

I-70

I 70 interstate

 

Interstate 70 is the primary east–west Interstate in Maryland. It passes through the northern section of Howard County, providing highway access through the 10 states between Maryland to Utah.

US 29

US 29 Highway

 

The US 29 highway runs from Baltimore to Pensacola, FL and serves the Howard County cities of Columbia and Ellicott City, providing the westernmost north-south route between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.

Port of Baltimore

Port of Baltimore

 

Howard County is located just a short 21 miles from the Port of Baltimore, the 13th busiest of the nation’s 360 ports. Closer to the Midwest than any other East Coast port, the Port is within an overnight drive of one-third of the nation’s population. Five public and twelve private terminals handle its traffic, including containerized cargo, ro/ro, autos, coal, wood pulp and more.

 
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BWI Airport

BWI Airport

 

Located just 30 minutes from Howard County’s center, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport offers over 350 non-stop flights daily to international destinations and national hubs alike.

 
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Kenneth S Ulman Innovation Hub

Kenneth S Ulman Innovation Hub

 

Kenneth S Ulman Innovation Hub is home to the HCEDA and Maryland Innovation Center. They are dedicated to developing a community of innovation in the Baltimore-Washington corridors by providing an ecosystem of support to new and existing entrepreneurs. The space offers 63,000 sf across 5 floors, including such amenities as a 150-person conference/event space, additional conference and meeting rooms, breakout spaces, a video studio, and podcast studio.

Columbia Gateway

Columbia Gateway

 

Located at the intersection of I-95 and Rt. 175, midway between Washington and Baltimore, Columbia Gateway is home to over 300 businesses, employing approximately 10,000 people. It is in plans to turn into an innovation district where leading-edge companies work with anchor educational intuitions and startups to collaborate on new technologies and services.

 
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I-95

 

The longest Interstate Highway within Maryland and one of the most traveled in the state, I-95 passes through the Western part of Howard County and provides immediate access to 15 states on the East Coast, from Florida to Maine.

Dulles Airport

 

Washington Dulles International Airport lies an hour away from Howard County and serves over 125 international destinations worldwide, handling millions of passengers and cargo each year.

 
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Reagan Airport

 

Predominantly used for domestic flights, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport sits about an hour away from Howard County. It offers flights to 91 nonstop destinations and served 24.5 million passengers in 2022, the most of any of the region’s three airports.

 
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Tools & Resources

Small & Minority Business

Howard County Economic Development Authority offers the support to help small and minority-owned businesses thrive. Explore resources and opportunities for local enterprises, minority-owned businesses and new entrepreneurs interested in innovating on new levels.

Find Your Foundation

Taxes & Incentives

Find the best fit for your company’s unique needs with our variety of programs, incentives and tax credits, whether you're looking to expand, diversify or relocate to the “Greenest County in the United States.”

Explore Your Options
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

Major Employers

Learn about some of the biggest businesses charting exceptional growth in Howard County. From major healthcare centers, Fortune 500 companies and the nation’s largest university-affiliated research center, some of the most ambitious businesses meet here in Maryland.

Meet Your Potential