What it is

The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public-private partnership funded by Montgomery County, Maryland. Its mission is to attract, retain and expand businesses in the county, working with local and state government, industry, academic and community partners. It is based at 1801 Rockville Pike in Rockville.

What it offers founders

MCEDC provides comprehensive, confidential and no cost support to businesses in its key industries: Research and Development, Innovation Economy, Financial Services, and Space and Defense. Its services include:

  • Site Selection: help finding locations that fit a company's talent, infrastructure and growth needs.
  • Research: workforce and industry trends, market intelligence and economic impact data.
  • International: support for foreign companies entering or expanding in the U.S. market.
  • Incentives guidance: help navigating programs such as the Montgomery County Job Creation Fund, which offers up to $10,000 per new job ($12,000 in Community Equity Index areas) for companies creating at least five full time jobs paying $100,000 or more, and the Maryland Global Gateway Program, which reimburses up to $10,000 of initial costs for international companies opening a first U.S. office.

Who it is for

MCEDC works with companies that want to establish or expand in Montgomery County, from international firms opening a first U.S. location to growing local employers. It does not run a dedicated startup accelerator, so it is most useful for founders who are hiring, choosing a location or moving into the county. The site also points to county programs such as the MOVE Grant and the ACE Loan Program run with the Latino Economic Development Center.

How to engage

Request a consultation through the Talk with Our Team form, giving your company, industry and whether you are already in the county. A team member follows up to understand your needs and identify resources. Review the incentives page and services overview before reaching out. The office phone is (240) 641-6700.

Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem

MCEDC is the county's main economic development partner for companies weighing a move or expansion there. MCEDC notes that 90 percent of county businesses have fewer than 50 employees and that the county runs an SBIR/STTR matching grant program.