Howard County's businesses and jobs

Location, quality of life and a pro-business environment are three of the reasons almost 10,000 companies call Howard County home, creating more than 157,000 jobs. According to the Howard County Economic Development Authority, this county is home to about 70 million square feet of office, industrial and flex space.

In Howard County, among the wealthiest jurisdictions in the nation with a median household income of $115,576, approximately one-third of the residents commute to Washington, about 20 miles south, while another third commute to Baltimore, just 10 miles northeast. Many local companies recruit workers from both metropolitan areas, which, combined, form the fourth-largest business market in the United States.

Common industries in the county include professional business and scientific services, information technology, advanced manufacturing and health care services, according to the economic development authority.

The Port of Baltimore is 20 minutes from the county seat, and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is even closer.

BUSINESS RESOURCES

Howard County Economic Development Authority: 410-313-6500, hceda.org

Howard County Chamber of Commerce: 410-730-4111, howardchamber.com

BWI Business Partnership: 410-859-1000, bwipartner.org

Baltimore Metropolitan Council: 410-732-0500, baltometro.org

Maryland Governor’s Office of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs: 410-697-9600, goma.maryland.gov

Maryland Small Business Development Center: 301-403-8300, marylandsbdc.org

Howard County Economic Development Authority: 410-313-6500, hceda.org

Howard County Chamber of Commerce: 410-730-4111, howardchamber.com

BWI Business Partnership: 410-859-1000, bwipartner.org

Baltimore Metropolitan Council: 410-732-0500, baltometro.org

Maryland Governor’s Office of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs: 410-697-9600, goma.maryland.gov

Maryland Small Business Development Center: 301-403-8300, marylandsbdc.org

Howard County Economic Development Authority: 410-313-6500, hceda.org

Howard County Chamber of Commerce: 410-730-4111, howardchamber.com

BWI Business Partnership: 410-859-1000, bwipartner.org

Baltimore Metropolitan Council: 410-732-0500, baltometro.org

Maryland Governor’s Office of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs: 410-697-9600, goma.maryland.gov

Maryland Small Business Development Center: 301-403-8300, marylandsbdc.org

HOWARD COUNTY BUSINESS AT A GLANCE

Population: 321,113

Jobs: 157,255

Private businesses: 9,880

Major employers*:

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory: 7,000 employees

Howard County General Hospital: 1,765 employees

Verizon: 1,700 employees

Howard Community College: 1,410 employees

Lorien Health Systems: 1,190 employees

Columbia Association: 1,180 employees

Coastal Sunbelt Produce: 1,050 employees

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory: 7,000 employees

Howard County General Hospital: 1,765 employees

Verizon: 1,700 employees

Howard Community College: 1,410 employees

Lorien Health Systems: 1,190 employees

Columbia Association: 1,180 employees

Coastal Sunbelt Produce: 1,050 employees

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory: 7,000 employees

Howard County General Hospital: 1,765 employees

Verizon: 1,700 employees

Howard Community College: 1,410 employees

Lorien Health Systems: 1,190 employees

Columbia Association: 1,180 employees

Coastal Sunbelt Produce: 1,050 employees

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Maryland Department of Commerce

*Excludes post offices, state and local governments, national retail and national food service; includes higher education.