Where to Find Employees for Your Company - Upcoming Job Fairs - August Biz Bytes

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Harford County Business News

August 2023

Harford County offers a flurry of events and activities as we reach summer’s end. Whether it’s meeting with prime contractors, tax free shopping for back to school, a workforce training grant webinar, ribbon cutting celebrations, group training for government contractors, or the Ultimate Tailgate with Fisher House to support wounded warriors, these are hot topics to meet a variety of interests. The Harford County Office of Economic Development is your source for business news and resources to help you thrive in Harford County!

Karen Holt Signature

Karen Holt

Director, Office of Economic Development
410-638-3059
oed@harfordcountymd.gov 

Webinar Details Business Lending Options

Maryland DHCD

If your business or nonprofit is looking to access capital as you grow, attend the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) webinar on Friday, August 11 for details on the various loans, grants and other tools to help. Todd Scott, deputy director of business development and strategic partnerships for DHCD, will discuss opportunity zones, the state Small Business Credit Initiative, the Microenterprise Loan Program and the Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program. The seminar is online at 10 a.m.

Click here for more information


Jump on Tax-Free Shopping Week to Bring in Customers

Shop Maryland

Make sure to promote Maryland’s tax-free shopping week to help draw customers to your business from August 13 to 19. Qualifying clothing and footwear priced $100 or less will be exempt from Maryland sales tax. A complete list of exempt and taxable items is available on the comptroller’s website, www.marylandtaxes.gov, or by calling the Taxpayer Service Section, 410-260-7980 or 800-MD-TAXES. For help promoting the week, visit the comptroller's website.


Find Employees for Your Company at Job Fair on Sept. 28

SWN Job Fair 2023


Businesses looking for qualified employees to fill openings in their company can register today to be a vendor at the Susquehanna Workforce Network job fair on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the APGFCU Arena at Harford Community College. Employer registration is $225. Click here to register.


Milestones

Is your business or a business you know celebrating a milestone anniversary this year and would like to be recognized during our Business Appreciation Week in October? Email oed@harfordcountymd.gov and someone from our team will reach out to schedule a visit! 


COMING EVENTS

Mark Your Calendars

Workforce Technical Training Grant Webinar
Office of Economic Development

Tuesday, August 8
9 - 10 a.m

Virtual

This free webinar, held the second Tuesday of each month, will train businesses on our streamlined grant application system. Our Workforce Technical Training Grant provides matching funds to businesses that accelerate employee technical training to expand or improve production.

Click here for more information


Night at the Ballpark
Harford 250 Celebration

Saturday, August 19
7 - 10 p.m

Ripken Stadium, 873 Long Drive, Aberdeen, MD 21001

Celebrate the exciting history of sports in the county as Harford 250 brings its anniversary celebration to the Aberdeen IronBirds game. Make sure to stay for the fireworks display.

Click here for more information 


Annual Dinner
Army Alliance, Inc.

Monday, September 11
5:30 - 8:30 p.m

Water's Edge Event Center, 4687 Millenium Drive, Belcamp, MD 21017

Join the Army Alliance as they present their nitiatives and debut their 2023 Annual Report. Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kevin Anderson is the featured speaker. 

Click here for more information


Ultimate Tailgate Gala
Fisher House

Saturday, September 16
6 - 10 p.m. 

Water's Edge Event Center, 4687 Millenium Drive, Belcamp, MD 21017

The Fisher House will hosts its 18th annual gala to support wounded warriors and their families. This year's event features a racing simulator and a variety of tailgating foods.

Click here for more information


 

Funding and Resources

Energizing Small Business Grants
BGE

Businesses with 25 employees or less that have been in operation since 2021 or earlier can apply by 6 p.m. on August 18 for grants of $20,000 to assist with COVID-19 recovery. 

Click here for more information


30 Steps for Startups
Maryland Department of Commerce, Maryland Department of Labor, and Will Holmes Consulting

This free, seven-week online course for Maryland entrepreneurs is designed to teach best practices for businesses to avoid costly mistakes and reach profitability faster. It runs from August 16 through September 27 on Wednesday evenings.

Click here for more information


Project Opportunity

A free,10-week entrepreneurship training program designed for veterans who want to start their own business or expand their existing small business. Classes are held on Wednesday evenings beginning September 6 at the Economic Development office, located at 2021 Pulaski Highway, Suite D, in Havre de Grace. 

Click here for more information


'Meet The Primes' Defense Contractors Seminar Sept. 20; Sign Up Now

Meet the Primes


Registration is open for "Meet the Primes," where your small business can meet one on one with prime defense contractors who work directly with the U.S. government. Describe your capabilities to prime contractor representatives and discuss potential future partnerships on federal government contracts. Email oed@harfordcountymd.gov to register, including a capability statement and your top choices of prime contractors for your business to meet. 


Celebrate Harford 250 and Support Local Charities at Gala on Sept. 22

Harford 250 Gala

Local Manufacturer Hosts Grand Opening Celebration

Better Engineering


Better Engineering, a third generation, family-owned manufacturer in Joppatowne, celebrated with a ribbon cutting on Friday, July 28, with state, local and community officials and many of its more than 80 employees in attendance. Company President Keith Hiss acknowledged local and state governments for their support in his acquisition of the site and the resources available to businesses, and thanked company employees for the business' growing success. He also shared future goals, including the launch of an apprenticeship program. 

Do you know a business that is hosting a ribbon cutting and wants county officials to attend? Contact our office at oed@harfordcountymd.gov or 410-638-3059.


Save the Date for Defense, Tech, Intelligence Job Fair on Nov. 3; Pre-Register Today

DTI Job Fair Save the Date

Economic Development Advisory Board Summer Social Features Live Drone Demo

EDAB drone demo


Local business leaders recently saw up close how drones could benefit their businesses. At the Harford County Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) summer social on Tuesday, July 11, SURVICE Engineering demonstrated some of the drone’s technological capabilities and how they can be used in various industries. The social was held at the DXI Construction hangar at the Harford County Airport in Churchville. EDAB is comprised of local business and community leaders whose objective is to identify economic development issues in the county and advise the county executive on potential solutions. Meetings are held bi-monthly and are open to the public. For more information on EDAB, click here.


Harford County Leaders Explore Local Farms

Ag Tour


County and state officials took an agricultural tour of Harford County on Wednesday, July 19, visiting several premier farming operations that specialize in equine, beef, grain, and more. The tour highlighted outstanding local examples of best practices in conservation, land preservation, and other technological innovations in the county's farm community. 

Interested in learning more about agriculture in Harford? Contact Alyssa Jeffries, the county's agricultural specialist, at 410-638-3511 or arjeffries@harfordcountymd.gov, and see more resources listed below. 

 

Homegrown Cover

Check out the newest edition of Homegrown Harford! This year's theme is science and technology in agriculture, and we feature stories on drone usage in farming, biomanufacturing, and more.

Click here to access the magazine online

If you would like print copies of the magazine, contact the Office of Economic Development at 410-638-3059 or oed@harfordcountymd.gov.

Ag Extension

 

Contact the University of Maryland Extension Office in Street to learn about nutrient management programs, 4-H development, home gardening tips, and more. The office can be reached at 410-638-3255. Be sure to visit the Agriculture and Nutrient Management page to find the Ag Notes, the extension office’s monthly newsletter. 


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