Here’s where tech fits into Maryland’s Economic Development Week

This week, economic development is taking over Maryland.

The Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) is hosting its annual Economic Development Week from Oct. 23 through. 27, with events all over the state. This series includes work visits, conferences and proclamations from Gov. Wes Moore, the Maryland Department of Commerce, TEDCO and more.

Richard Griffin, director of economic development for Frederick, Maryland, said the event emphasizes how crucial economic development is for the state’s success.

In particular, it’s designed to increase awareness of economic development contributions in business, climate, job retention, growth, tax base and quality of life for residents. Tech companies, he told Technical.ly, are a key element, and organizers want state leaders to recognize the power, job creation and growth opportunities they bring.

“We know that economic development transforms lives because it helps create jobs, and particularly in Maryland, we’re very focused on family-supporting jobs, good jobs with good wages and family-supporting benefits,” Griffin said. “Technology companies are very important to us as part of that.”

Economic Development Week’s featured programming includes Anne Arundel County’s Business Appreciation Week, Howard County Business Appreciation Week and Queen Anne’s County Economic Development Week. In Frederick, Griffin said they’ll be conducting lots of business surveys throughout the week to see how to better meet the business community’s needs and thank them for the contributions they make to the community.

Additional events include:

• Protecting Maryland Agriculture: Smart Farming Cybersecurity Challenges & Solutions — Wednesday, Oct. 25, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• 2023 MEDA Fall Conference: Innovations in Manufacturing — Wednesday, Oct. 25, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Building Your Growth Team and Experts Roundtable from FSC First — Thursday, Oct. 26, 5 to 7 p.m.
• 2024 Business Growth Roadmap from the Montgomery County Black Collective — Thursday, Oct. 26, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Tech is a key focus of the week’s events, Griffin said, because improving infrastructure for communication, data sharing, collaboration and information technology can be just as important as roads and bridges.

“Economic development can’t be taken for granted because the state of Maryland is one of the most technologically advanced states in the country,” Griffin said. “We want to make sure that new technology jobs are here and we want to recognize the contributions that those companies and businesses are making across the state.”