Harford County’s Office of Economic Development will celebrate local businesses during its ninth annual Business Appreciation Week starting on Monday, September 19 through Friday, September 23, 2016. Events will reinforce the value of a strong business community and spotlight Harford County’s resources to help businesses thrive. Throughout the week, county leaders will visit more than 60 companies to recognize their successes and commemorate business anniversaries ranging from one year to nearly 140 years.
“Harford County businesses are essential to our quality of life,” said County Executive Barry Glassman. “In addition to providing goods and services we need and want, businesses create jobs and give back to the community. To help them succeed, my administration is streamlining processes and reaching out with resources year round. We are also proud to support Business Appreciation Week. We want businesses to know they are welcome in Harford County.”
Throughout the year, Harford County’s Office of Economic Development (OED) promotes finance programs, workforce technical training grants, site selection, small business start-up support and other services through company visits, seminars, workshops, and a free monthly e-newsletter, Biz Bytes. Subscribe to Biz Bytes here: http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/list.aspx.
“Doing business in Harford County is a good business decision,” said Karen Holt, director of Harford County OED. “Our goal is to support local companies as they grow here in Harford, acclaim their successes and help mitigate issues that would impact their ability to flourish.”
Business Appreciation Week is a high-octane version of OED’s year round efforts and an opportunity to celebrate annual achievements. Visitors to companies during the week will include county officials, OED staff, and members of the Economic Development Advisory Board, also known as EDAB.
Monday will jump start the week with a hospitality luncheon for hoteliers, hosted in partnership with Visit Harford. The event will recognize the hotels’ support for tourism as an economic engine and the county’s competitive grants for nonprofit tourism programs and operations.
Tuesday will include visits to Churchville businesses and joint visits with city officials to companies in Aberdeen and Havre de Grace.
Wednesday will feature a breakfast for business leaders in Bynum Run Business Park, Forest Hill Business Park, and Forest Hill Airpark, followed by visits to area companies.
Thursday visits will include Abingdon businesses and joint visits with town officials to companies in Bel Air. Also on Thursday, economist Anirban Basu, chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, will facilitate a focus group roundtable with Susquehanna Workforce Network at a luncheon hosted by OED. The focus group will identify workforce issues among the region’s employers of 75 or more individuals. Thursday evening is reserved for the Harford Awards, a red carpet event from the Harford County Chamber of Commerce to be held at Water’s Edge Events Center in Belcamp. The annual Harford Awards recognize outstanding local businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits.
Friday’s events include company visits on the Route 40 corridor in Edgewood and Joppatowne. The week’s festivities will culminate with a meet-and-greet Friday evening at Independent Brewing Company in Bel Air, with support from York Insurance Services, Inc. This last event will celebrate Harford County’s burgeoning farm brewery industry, made possible through legislation initiated by the Glassman administration.
For photos and other highlights throughout Harford County’s celebration of Business Appreciation Week 2016, follow Harford County OED on LinkedIn and Facebook.
