Md. Code, Economic Development, Title 2.5

Md. Code, Economic Development, Title 2.5
in effect

Md. Code, Economic Development § 2.5-104

§2.5–104. (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the Secretary: (1) shall determine the organizational structure of the Department; and (2) may create or abolish units in the Department. (b) (1) The Governor or the Secretary may establish advisory or decision–making units for the Department. (2) The units shall advise and assist the Secretary on the policies, programs, and activities of the Department. (3) The Governor or the Secretary shall determine the size, qualifications, method of appointment, terms, compensation, manner of removal, and method of filling vacancies of the units. (c) (1) The Secretary shall establish regional offices in the local jurisdictions. (2) The regional offices shall: (i) advise the Secretary on whether the economic needs of each local jurisdiction are being addressed; and (ii) coordinate with municipal and local economic development agencies.

Md. Code, Economic Development § 2.5-105

§2.5–105. To attract and encourage business development and serve the needs of business, the Department shall: (1) advance the economic welfare of the public through programs and activities that develop in a proper manner the natural resources and economic opportunities of the State; (2) promote and encourage the location and creation of new industries and businesses in the State and encourage the retention and expansion of existing industries; (3) support the creation of new businesses and the growth of existing businesses in the State by improving their quality, productivity, and competitive position in the global marketplace; (4) assist the growth and revitalization of small businesses; (5) support the growth of the State and regional economies by providing consulting, technical assistance, and liaison activities on business and economic development issues; (6) promote the development of international trade activities; (7) assist businesses and employees through training and other employment services; (8) promote regulatory reform and coordinate efforts with other State and local units; and (9) foster and develop employment opportunities for residents of the State.

Md. Code, Economic Development § 2.5-106

§2.5–106. The Department shall: (1) investigate and assemble information about the economic development, industrial opportunities, and economic resources of the State, including raw materials, power and water resources, transportation facilities, markets, labor, banking and financing facilities, industrial sites, and other fields of research; (2) encourage location and development of new businesses in the State and the retention and expansion of present enterprises in coordination with local governments and local economic development units; (3) encourage formation of local and sectional development committees and cooperate with local civic groups and other local, State, and federal development units; (4) disseminate information in the interest of industrial development in the State, by publication, advertising, and other means; (5) assist businesses in the areas of technology development and commercialization, small business development, workforce development and productivity, manufacturing modernization, and defense conversion; (6) serve as an ombudsman for businesses affected by State policies and programs; (7) coordinate business assistance service delivery to individual companies; (8) link groups of businesses to address regional and industry specific needs; (9) broker information exchange and entrepreneurial services that enhance economic development through partnerships with businesses, nonprofit organizations, professional groups, local economic development entities, and local governments; (10) assist in developing and conducting regional strategic planning and coordinating State investments with regional economic development entities; (11) collect and assemble information and data available from other State units or instrumentalities; (12) monitor economic conditions, release reports, and maintain interindustry models of State regulations and local economies; (13) use community colleges in the State to help deliver services; (14) administer the programs in the Department; (15) coordinate its efforts and activities with the Apprenticeship and Training Council and Apprenticeship and Training Program in the Maryland Department of Labor; (16) establish and monitor performance measures to determine the success of outreach efforts to businesses; (17) facilitate regular meetings among its regional experts, financial incentive team, and tourism development team to determine the success in meeting overall economic development strategic goals and in addressing the economic development needs of each region; (18) work with community colleges to enhance the role of community colleges in providing workforce training services, including industry–specific education and training in response to the needs of the State; and (19) (i) define, identify, and compile data on State and regional workforce needs; and (ii) work collaboratively with the Maryland Department of Labor and the Maryland Higher Education Commission to produce uniform and consistent baseline data, including common sources and measurements, about workforce needs to inform State policies relating to postsecondary education.

Md. Code, Economic Development § 2.5-107

§2.5–107. (a) The Department shall support industry–led regional technology councils that help private enterprises attempting to establish or expand manufacturing and technology–based businesses. (b) The Department may: (1) select an entity as the regional technology council for a particular region; and (2) determine the geographic areas that constitute a region for purposes of this section. (c) The Department may support a regional technology council through grants, loans, in–kind assistance, advice, or other assistance.

Md. Code, Economic Development § 2.5-108

§2.5–108. (a) To the extent practicable, the Department shall use pertinent data obtained from units or instrumentalities of the State when collecting and assembling information. (b) Except to the extent that disclosure is prohibited by law, the Department has access to all records, data, information, and statistics of other units or instrumentalities of the State.

Md. Code, Economic Development § 2.5-109

§2.5–109. IN EFFECT (a) In this section, “economic development program” means: (1) the Economic Development Opportunities Program Account established under § 7–314 of the State Finance and Procurement Article; (2) the Partnership for Workforce Quality Program established under Title 3, Subtitle 4 of this article; (3) each of the economic development and financial assistance programs established under Title 5 of this article; and (4) each of the tax credit programs administered by the Department, including: (i) the Film Production Activity Tax Credit; (ii) the Job Creation Tax Credit; (iii) the One Maryland Economic Development Tax Credit; (iv) the Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit; (v) the Research and Development Tax Credit; (vi) the Security Clearance Administrative Expenses and Construction and Equipment Costs Tax Credit; (vii) the Innovation Investment Incentive Tax Credit; (viii) the More Jobs for Marylanders Tax Credit; (ix) the Purchase of Cybersecurity Technology or Service Tax Credit; (x) the Opportunity Zone Enhancement Tax Credit; (xi) the Small Business Relief Tax Credit; (xii) any other tax credit program that is administered by the Department under: 1. Title 6 of this article; or 2. Title 10, Subtitle 7 of the Tax – General Article; and (xiii) the Theatrical Production Tax Credit. (b) The Department shall compile data in accordance with this section on the economic development programs administered by the Department. (c) On or before December 31, 2013, and each year thereafter, the Department shall submit a report on the economic development programs that were administered by the Department during the previous fiscal year to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. (d) (1) The report required under this section shall include the following data, if applicable, on the economic development programs administered by the Department: (i) the number of jobs created; (ii) the number of jobs retained; (iii) the estimated amount of State revenue generated; (iv) the status of any special fund; (v) for minority business enterprises, as defined in § 14–301 of the State Finance and Procurement Article: 1. the number of enterprises that received assistance from each economic development program; and 2. the percentage of assistance distributed to each minority business enterprise from each economic development program compared to the total assistance distributed from each economic development program; (vi) a statement indicating whether, during the current reporting year, the Department reduced, revoked, or recaptured a tax credit or any amount of financial assistance from a recipient and, if applicable: 1. the total amount recovered as a result of the reduction, revocation, or recapture, and any penalty assessed; and 2. a justification for the reduction, revocation, or recapture; and (vii) any additional information required by the Department through regulations. (2) The report required under this section shall include data in the aggregate and disaggregated by: (i) each economic development program; and (ii) each recipient of assistance from an economic development program. (3) The report required under this section shall include any additional information required under the law authorizing the economic development program. (e) The Department shall establish, maintain, and update annually a publicly available database on the Department’s website that: (1) provides information that is downloadable by the public in a common machine–readable format; and (2) includes, as applicable: (i) the name of each business entity that is a recipient of an economic development program; (ii) the total amount of tax credits certified, financial assistance paid, and loans forgiven or uncollectible by the Department for each recipient of the tax credit or financial assistance; (iii) the number of jobs actually created or retained by each recipient; (iv) the average salary of the jobs created or retained by each recipient; (v) the amount of capital investment made or project costs incurred by each recipient; and (vi) a statement indicating whether, during the current reporting year, the Department reduced, revoked, or recaptured a tax credit or any amount of financial assistance from a recipient and, if applicable: 1. the total amount recovered as a result of the reduction, revocation, or recapture, and any penalty assessed; and 2. a justification for the reduction, revocation, or recapture. (f) If a recipient of assistance from an economic development program is not meeting the requirements of the economic development program, the Department shall implement a process to assist the recipient in meeting the program requirements. §2.5–109. // EFFECTIVE JUNE 30, 2027 PER CHAPTERS 258 AND 259 OF 2022 // (a) In this section, “economic development program” means: (1) the Economic Development Opportunities Program Account established under § 7–314 of the State Finance and Procurement Article; (2) the Partnership for Workforce Quality Program established under Title 3, Subtitle 4 of this article; (3) each of the economic development and financial assistance programs established under Title 5 of this article; and (4) each of the tax credit programs administered by the Department, including: (i) the Film Production Activity Tax Credit; (ii) the Job Creation Tax Credit; (iii) the One Maryland Economic Development Tax Credit; (iv) the Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit; (v) the Research and Development Tax Credit; (vi) the Security Clearance Administrative Expenses and Construction and Equipment Costs Tax Credit; (vii) the Innovation Investment Incentive Tax Credit; (viii) the More Jobs for Marylanders Tax Credit; (ix) the Purchase of Cybersecurity Technology or Service Tax Credit; (x) the Opportunity Zone Enhancement Tax Credit; (xi) the Small Business Relief Tax Credit; and (xii) any other tax credit program that is administered by the Department under: 1. Title 6 of this article; or 2. Title 10, Subtitle 7 of the Tax – General Article. (b) The Department shall compile data in accordance with this section on the economic development programs administered by the Department. (c) On or before December 31, 2013, and each year thereafter, the Department shall submit a report on the economic development programs that were administered by the Department during the previous fiscal year to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. (d) (1) The report required under this section shall include the following data, if applicable, on the economic development programs administered by the Department: (i) the number of jobs created; (ii) the number of jobs retained; (iii) the estimated amount of State revenue generated; (iv) the status of any special fund; (v) for minority business enterprises, as defined in § 14–301 of the State Finance and Procurement Article: 1. the number of enterprises that received assistance from each economic development program; and 2. the percentage of assistance distributed to each minority business enterprise from each economic development program compared to the total assistance distributed from each economic development program; (vi) a statement indicating whether, during the current reporting year, the Department reduced, revoked, or recaptured a tax credit or any amount of financial assistance from a recipient and, if applicable: 1. the total amount recovered as a result of the reduction, revocation, or recapture, and any penalty assessed; and 2. a justification for the reduction, revocation, or recapture; and (vii) any additional information required by the Department through regulations. (2) The report required under this section shall include data in the aggregate and disaggregated by: (i) each economic development program; and (ii) each recipient of assistance from an economic development program. (3) The report required under this section shall include any additional information required under the law authorizing the economic development program. (e) The Department shall establish, maintain, and update annually a publicly available database on the Department’s website that: (1) provides information that is downloadable by the public in a common machine–readable format; and (2) includes, as applicable: (i) the name of each business entity that is a recipient of an economic development program; (ii) the total amount of tax credits certified, financial assistance paid, and loans forgiven or uncollectible by the Department for each recipient of the tax credit or financial assistance; (iii) the number of jobs actually created or retained by each recipient; (iv) the average salary of the jobs created or retained by each recipient; (v) the amount of capital investment made or project costs incurred by each recipient; and (vi) a statement indicating whether, during the current reporting year, the Department reduced, revoked, or recaptured a tax credit or any amount of financial assistance from a recipient and, if applicable: 1. the total amount recovered as a result of the reduction, revocation, or recapture, and any penalty assessed; and 2. a justification for the reduction, revocation, or recapture. (f) If a recipient of assistance from an economic development program is not meeting the requirements of the economic development program, the Department shall implement a process to assist the recipient in meeting the program requirements.

Md. Code, Economic Development § 2.5-110

§2.5–110. IN EFFECT // EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2027 PER CHAPTERS 314 AND 315 OF 2025 // (a) There is a nonprofit organizations navigator in the Department. (b) The Secretary shall designate the navigator. (c) The navigator shall: (1) provide technical assistance to nonprofit organizations in obtaining access to and applying for State grant programs; (2) work with nonprofit organizations and units of State government to resolve procedural complexities and delays in State grant–making processes; (3) collect and share information on opportunities for federal, State, and local grants with nonprofit organizations; and (4) represent nonprofit organizations’ interests and concerns as a member of the Maryland Efficient Grant Application Council established under § 2–209 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. §2.5–110. NOT IN EFFECT // EFFECTIVE JUNE 30, 2029 PER CHAPTERS 314 AND 315 OF 2025 // (a) There is a nonprofit organizations navigator in the Department. (b) The Secretary shall designate the navigator. (c) The navigator shall: (1) provide technical assistance to nonprofit organizations in obtaining access to and applying for State grant programs; (2) work with nonprofit organizations and units of State government to resolve procedural complexities and delays in State grant–making processes; and (3) collect and share information on opportunities for federal, State, and local grants with nonprofit organizations.

Md. Code, Economic Development § 2.5-202

§2.5–202. (a) There is a Maryland Economic Development Commission staffed by the Department. (b) The purpose of the Commission is to: (1) establish economic development policy in the State; (2) advise the Secretary on economic development policy in the State; (3) oversee the operations of the Department and its units, including the Department’s efforts to support the creation of, attract, and retain businesses and jobs; and (4) monitor the operations of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, the Maryland Economic Development Corporation, and the Maryland Public–Private Partnership Marketing Corporation, including the efforts of those entities to support the creation, attraction, and retention of businesses and jobs.

Md. Code, Economic Development § 2.5-203

§2.5–203. (a) (1) (i) The Commission consists of: 1. not more than 21 voting members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; 2. two voting members appointed by the President of the Senate of Maryland; 3. two voting members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; 4. A. one member of the Senate of Maryland, designated by the President of the Senate; and B. one member of the House of Delegates, designated by the Speaker of the House; and 5. the following representatives of State units and instrumentalities of the State: A. the Executive Director of the Maryland Economic Development Corporation, or the Executive Director’s designee; B. the Chief Executive Officer of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, or the Chief Executive Officer’s designee; C. the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee; and D. the Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary’s designee. (ii) The Secretary and the Secretary of Labor or their designees, State unit or instrumentality representatives, and members of the General Assembly are nonvoting ex officio members of the Commission. (iii) A designee under subparagraph (i)5 of this paragraph may be an administrator or a senior official of the unit or instrumentality. (2) The geographic representation of the Commission shall cover the entire State and shall include at least one representative from: (i) the upper Eastern Shore; (ii) the lower Eastern Shore; (iii) Calvert County, Charles County, or St. Mary’s County; (iv) Allegany County or Garrett County; and (v) Carroll County, Frederick County, or Washington County. (3) The industries represented by members of the Commission shall: (i) be diverse; and (ii) include at least one representative from: 1. the life sciences industry; and 2. the manufacturing industry. (4) The members appointed shall reflect the racial and gender diversity of the population of the State. (b) The appointed members of the Commission shall have substantial interest or experience in business or knowledge of business and economic development. (c) The Commission and its members are subject to the Maryland Public Ethics Law. (d) (1) The term of an appointed member is 3 years. (2) At the end of a term, an appointed member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies. (3) A member appointed after a term has begun serves only for the remainder of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. (4) The terms of the appointed members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Commission on October 1, 2008. (5) A member may be removed by the Governor with or without cause.

Md. Code, Economic Development § 2.5-204

§2.5–204. (a) The Governor shall designate a chair or cochairs from the voting members of the Commission. (b) The Commission may elect an executive committee or form special subcommittees from its members to exercise the powers and functions of the Commission between meetings of the Commission.

Md. Code, Economic Development § 2.5-205

§2.5–205. (a) (1) The Commission shall meet as often as its duties require, but not less than quarterly. (2) The chair or cochairs shall designate a time and place for meetings of the Commission. (b) A majority of the voting members of the Commission is a quorum. (c) A voting member of the Commission: (1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but (2) is entitled to reimbursement in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations as provided in the State budget. (d) The Department shall provide staff support to the Commission.

Md. Code, Economic Development § 2.5-206

§2.5–206. (a) The Commission may: (1) adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business; (2) hire consultants; and (3) do anything necessary or convenient to carry out its powers and the purposes of this subtitle. (b) The Commission shall: (1) develop and update an economic development strategic plan for the State; (2) seek ideas and advice from each region of the State to develop the economic development strategic plan; (3) recommend to the Governor and the Secretary the program and spending priorities needed to implement the economic development strategic plan; (4) review the allocation of financing incentives; (5) participate in encouraging new businesses to locate in the State; (6) conduct periodic reviews of the economic development activities of the Department, the Maryland Economic Development Corporation, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, and the Maryland Public–Private Partnership Marketing Corporation for compliance with the economic development strategic plan; (7) make recommendations to the Governor and the Secretary to improve economic development activities that fail to achieve economic development strategic goals or are inconsistent with priorities under the economic development strategic plan; and (8) carry out other economic development activities that the Governor or the Secretary requests.

Md. Code, Economic Development § 2.5-207

§2.5–207. (a) On or before January 15 of each year, the Commission shall report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on its activities during the previous year. (b) The report shall include a review of initiatives taken by the Commission and the Department to implement the economic development strategic plan.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatutesFetched: 10/16/2026