Manufacturing
Continuously Improving the Bottom Line
From ice cream to plastic injection molding, Howard County companies whip up some of the most diverse products in the country. In fact, the potential for significant expansion of Howard County’s manufacturing sector is underscored by a 37% 10-year growth rate in industry employment. Several local and regional higher education institutions also support skill growth and continuing education in the sector. An abundance of associations and advocacy groups add to the county’s manufacturing ecosystem, offering networking, apprenticeship programs and informative learning sessions about current industry trends.
Fast Facts
Contributed by Maryland’s Manufacturing Industry to the State GDP
Million Saved by Maryland Manufacturers Through RMI’s Energy Program
Scheduled Cargo Airlines at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Howard County Manufacturing Jobs
Whether you want a high-tech career as an additive manufacturing specialist or a semiconductor fabrication technician, you’ll find several high paying manufacturing jobs in Howard County on the Maryland Workforce Exchange.
Manufacturing Companies in Howard County
With over 200 manufacturing firms in cities like Cooksville, Elkridge, Columbia and Laurel, Howard County businesses engineer solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Future-Focused for the Next Generation of Makers
Manufacturing education in Howard County offers bountiful opportunities for students to excel in the field. Howard Community College’s Computer-Aided Design (CAD) associate degree program equips students with skills across various CAD systems, while the institution’s 3D Innovation Hub further enhances practical learning, enabling students to engage in real-world additive manufacturing applications. Additionally, Loyola University offers business degree programs at undergraduate and graduate levels that are crucial to high paying jobs in manufacturing like project management, operations management and supply chain management.
Furthering the Manufacturing Industry Vision
Manufacturing businesses find valuable support in Howard County, including dedicated advocacy groups, associations and career upskilling and reskilling. The Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland plays a pivotal role by offering a spectrum of programs and services while advocating for jobs in manufacturing — from STEM classrooms to cleanrooms. Catalyzing growth in Maryland’s manufacturing industry is the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which aids over 500 companies across the state in areas such as strategy, growth, ESG initiatives and talent retention.
A Business-Friendly Environment for Jobs in Manufacturing
Howard County boasts a dynamic landscape for manufacturing employers. Vytex, a family-owned and operated window manufacturer, expanded its Laurel, MD manufacturing facility by an impressive 60,000 square feet in 2019, raising its total square footage to 220,000. Moreover, the region welcomed BTS Biogas from Italy in 2018, with the groundbreaking of its inaugural U.S. food waste-to-energy facility in Howard County and representing an up to $40 million investment in the county.
Dark Cloud Malthouse and the HCEDA
Founded by local Maryland engineer, Danny Buswell and local Maryland brewer, Jesse Kaiss, Dark Cloud Malthouse is the first maltster in Howard County. While most Maryland-brewed beer and distilled spirits are crafted using grain grown and malted thousands of miles away, Danny and Jesse introduced local grains to the Maryland/DC craft beverage market, taking advantage of the HCEDA’s array of business services and professional consultation to establish themselves in the county.
Featured News + Events
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A competitor used to need a team of engineers, months of development, and a deep understanding of a product to build something comparable. Increasingly, AI is compressing that process into something much cheaper and faster. In October, a free, open-source tool called REA (Reverse Engineer Anything) surged past 300,000 GitHub stars. The tool allows AI
Maryland Has a Strong Innovation Story. We Need to Tell It Better.
Maryland has no shortage of innovation assets. From world-class research institutions and federal laboratories to a highly educated workforce and a growing network of technology companies, our state has many of the ingredients needed to compete in today’s innovation economy. But having these assets and telling a compelling story about how they come together to
Howard County Hosts a First for GBC, and the Region Signs On to What’s Next
On Thursday, October 8, around 500 business, government, nonprofit, and civic leaders gathered at Merriweather Post Pavilion for the Greater Baltimore Committee’s 2026 Annual Meeting. It was the first time in GBC’s history that the Annual Meeting came to Howard County. Merriweather was a deliberate choice. GBC selected the venue in part to highlight