HCEDA – Agriculture
The Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA) is a public-private partnership whose primary goal is to promote economic growth and stability by supporting existing businesses, targeting new businesses and attracting corporate and regional headquarters.
With agriculture being the 5th largest economic driver, Howard County’s agricultural sales are over $200 million. The County’s own agriculture industry is diverse, consisting of 335 farms, with:
- innovative and robust growth in landscape, greenhouse and horticulture enterprises
- a boom in agri-tourism and locavore food sales to consumers through farmers’ markets and other outlets
- more houses per acre than any other county in the US, along w/ boarding and trading services
HCEDA has an Agricultural Marketing Program which works with the farming community as their constant advocate on agriculture-related legislation and business development. They will also help you “plow through the red tape on other important issues such as:
- zoning
- permitting
- business planning
- grant writing
Visit the HCEDA site to learn more.