What it is

The Harford County Office of Economic Development is the county government office that helps businesses start, grow and locate in Harford County, Maryland. It is based at 220 S. Main Street in Bel Air and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Its Business Toolbox brings together financing, workforce, site selection, permitting and data resources in one place.

What it offers founders

  • Loans: The Loan Programs include the Economic Development Opportunity Fund, with loans up to $50,000 at risk-based rates for equipment, land or building improvements and working capital, and the Revitalization Area Improvement Loan, up to $50,000 over three to five years for facade and some interior improvements along the U.S. Route 40 corridor enterprise zones. That loan is 0 percent when local contractors are used and 1.5 percent otherwise.
  • Workforce training: The Workforce Technical Training Grant is a competitive program in which the county provides matching funds for technical training of existing full-time permanent employees, tied to expanding or improving production capabilities.
  • Learning and connections: LevelUp Harford is a free workshop series run with partners including the Small Business Development Center, covering topics such as permits and inspections, going global, sales strategies and Canva. Sessions are recorded by HarfordTV.
  • Incentives and permitting: Enterprise Zones, Fast Track Permitting and the Edgewood Facade Improvement Program are listed in the Business Toolbox.
  • Agriculture: An Agricultural Business Development Associate supports farm businesses, and the county publishes Homegrown Harford and offers an agricultural education and outreach grant of up to $5,000 for eligible organizations.

Who it is for

The office serves Harford County businesses of all sizes, including startups, manufacturers, defense contractors connected to Aberdeen Proving Ground, farms and tourism businesses. New founders are pointed to the Maryland Small Business Development Center, which offers free, confidential consulting on business planning, financing and marketing, with a named consultant covering Harford County.

How to engage

Start with the Start-ups and Entrepreneurs page, then contact the office at 410-638-3059 or ded@harfordcountymd.gov to discuss financing or incentives. Grant applications, including the Workforce Technical Training Grant, are submitted through the county's eCivis grants portal, and the required files must be downloaded and completed before starting the online application. LevelUp Harford sessions are registered through Eventbrite links on the series page.

Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem

Harford County is home to Aberdeen Proving Ground, and the office publishes guidance for businesses seeking to work with it. For founders located there, the county's small loans and training match fill gaps that state and federal programs often leave for very small firms.