Commissioner Howard Announces 'The Carroll Business Path'

Carroll County Board of Commissioner President Doug Howard announced the launch of a new initiative called "The Carroll Business Path" at Friday's "Get Business Now!" Small Business Conference at Carroll Community College.

More than 300 people attended the conference. The event brought together established business owners and consultants to speak about finding success in starting and running a small business. 

The "Carroll Business Path" initiative is the collaboration of four organizations integral to business development in Carroll County--Carroll County, the Chamber of Commerce, Carroll Community College and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The goal is for small, emerging and growing businesses to have one point of contact for all the business resources and information available in Carroll County, according to a news release.

The office will be located at Carroll Community College’s Miller Center for Small Business, and clients will be directed to the business services they need whether those services are provided by the County, the Community College, the Chamber of Commerce, or the SBDC.

"I am most pleased with the announcement of the Carroll Business Path ... that will be one path for start-ups and existing businesses to access resources, take classes, get counseling and get their business going and growing," Commissioner Howard said. 

"We know that the much needed economic recovery and the creation of jobs will come from new and growing small businesses," Howard said.

The Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, Christian Johansson, spoke at the conference about the state’s resources for business development. He outlined Invest-Maryland, a $70 million business program, the Small Business Resource Center and the state’s Research and Development tax credit program.

"Carroll County has the resources, the success stories and great opportunities all around for entrepreneurs to be successful and for more jobs to be created. The Get Business Now! Conference was a very good step in the right direction," Howard said.