Howard County Business Incentives

Email Ivy Gales at Ivy.Gales@Maryland.gov for information.

Job Creation Tax Credit (JCTC)

Provides state income tax credits of up to $3,000 per job or $5,000 per job in a revitalization area to businesses that create a minimum number of new full-time positions. Learn more here

Partnership for Workforce Quality (PWQ)

Provides matching training grants and support services to improve the competitive position of small and mid-sized manufacturing and technology companies. Learn more here

Advantage Maryland (MEDAAF)

Funds grants, loans and investments in priority funding areas of the state to support economic development initiatives including business attraction and retention, infrastructure support, brownfield redevelopment, revolving loan funds and local strategic planning. Learn more here

Route 1 Tax Credit Program

The Route 1 Tax Credit Program encourages revitalization along the Route 1 corridor by helping owners of commercial and industrial properties renovate and improve the appearance of their properties including façade upgrades, exterior painting and lighting, screening and landscaping and new signage. Learn more here

Email incentives@hceda.org with questions

Property Tax Credits

Grants tax credits to expanding or relocating companies that own real property in Howard County that is new construction or an improvement to an existing facility, plan to employ at least 12 additional full-time employees and make a substantial investment (defined as the acquisition of building, land or equipment totaling at least $2 million or the creation of 10 positions with salaries greater than the current Howard County annual average). The credit is based on the assessed value of a newly constructed building not currently on the tax books and applies only to the space occupied by the company.

Howard County Workforce Training Grant Program

Reimburses employers for eligible workforce training expenses. This program is funded by the Economic Development Incentive Fund and is typically used as a matching component of state funding proposals. Eligibility is determined case-by-case, based on the number of jobs created/retained.

Howard County Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs)

Issues tax exempt bonds for manufacturing companies and non-profit organizations with a normal project range of $1 million to $10 million. Approved use includes land, new buildings, new machinery and equipment, some soft costs and working capital up to 25% of the total. A significantly discounted interest rate may be floating or fixed, with the normal term of 15 to 20 years on real estate and seven to 10 years on equipment.