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Views from Charles
Celebrating National Black-owned Business Month: Black-owned Businesses Thrive in Charles County
on Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Recent census data recognized Charles County as the most affluent African-American/Black-majority county in the country, with the number of Black families who earn more than $200,000 quadrupling from 2009 to 2020. According to the American Community ... Read More...
It Started With A Tobacco Barn
on Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Barn wedding venues have grown in popularity over the past several years, and when Cindy Bliss found herself back on the family farm, as well as the owner of a spacious, authentic tobacco barn, she made it a source of income as the only permitted ... Read More...
Current Renovation Projects Support Revitalization Strategy in Indian Head
on Thursday, July 14, 2022
Regular passersby in the Town of Indian Head are sure to notice changes to the once-blighted building next to the firehouse on Indian Head Highway going through the middle of town. The dilapidated building, originally consisting of five residential ... Read More...
Charles County, MD: Revitalizing Our Communities
on Thursday, June 16, 2022
This article appeared in Business Facilities magazine as a part of the Charles County Economic Development Department's national advertising.
The small town of Indian Head, in Charles County, MD, is coming to life again thanks to a ... Read More...
Our Commitment to Charles County Small Businesses
on Wednesday, June 8, 2022
We recently came across a social media post that said something like, “Why is it so hard for startups, but then we spend so much to attract new businesses?” This is a common misunderstanding about economic development, versions of which ... Read More...
Charles County EDD Director Graduates from the Advanced Economic Development Leadership (AEDL) Program
on Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Our Economic Development Director, Kelly Robertson-Slagle, recently completed the two-week Advanced Economic Development Leadership executive education program and has earned the Master Economic Development Practitioner (MEDP) certificate. She has ... Read More...
Local Farms Make Charles County A Great Place For Fresh Produce and Food Processing
on Wednesday, May 25, 2022
With strawberry season at its peak and our farmers markets starting up again, it’s becoming even easier to buy fresh produce straight from the source. Here, and even nationally, demand for fresh food and local value-added food products is on ... Read More...
Positive Feedback from Our Charles County Businesses
on Thursday, May 19, 2022
As a part of our inaugural Business Appreciation Week, May 9-13, our Economic Development Department (EDD) staff and partners visited 26 Charles County small businesses in two days, touring their operations and talking to business owners. Our ... Read More...
Economic Development Department Launches Business Appreciation Week, May 9-13
on Thursday, May 5, 2022
The Charles County Economic Development Department will celebrate the achievements of local small businesses during our Business Appreciation Week, May 9-13. This inaugural weekly celebration includes a free Business Resource webinar, special ... Read More...
Logistics Planning Business Speaks Highly of the Charles County Business Growth Advantage Program (BGAP)
on Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Yolanda Higdon, owner of HH Logistics Planning, was one of 14 Charles County business owners selected to participate in Charles County Economic Development’s first 8-week Business Growth Advantage Program (BGAP). Nearing the end of the ... Read More...
Natural Hair Stylist Learns the Business Side of Running A Salon Through Free Training Program
on Tuesday, April 26, 2022
As a business owner and hair stylist focusing on chemical-free, ethic hair care, Keisha Adams has found a sought-after niche in Charles County but is facing common growing pains while trying to expand her business. Those include workforce hiring, ... Read More...
Remembering the 2002 La Plata Tornado and the Resiliency of Our Business Community
on Wednesday, April 20, 2022
On Sunday, April 28, 2002, an F4 tornado touched down in Southern Maryland and ripped through the Town of La Plata, destroying much of the historic downtown. Our Deputy Director, Marcia Keeth, had just started a new career in economic development, ... Read More...
Local Business Owner and Inventor Talks About Charles County Business Growth Advantage Program
on Thursday, April 14, 2022
Mike Steele, owner of Motobriiz LLC, is an engineer by training, motorcycle enthusiast, and inventor of the Motobriiz Wind Powered Chain Oiler. His business started in 2013 with the product he invented (wind-powered motorcycle chain oiler) and sold ... Read More...
Meet Tranice Watts, Co-Chair of Our Business Outreach Committee
on Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Charles Countians might be familiar with the name, Tranice Watts, because of her co-ownership of Patuxent Brewing Company, the county’s first craft brewery and only 100% Black-owned taproom/brewery in the State of Maryland. There’s a lot ... Read More...
Meet Steve Scott, Co-Chair of Our Business Outreach Committee
on Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Our Business Outreach Committee (BOC) was formed a year ago to focus on the issues our Charles County businesses are facing post COVID-19 and advance economic opportunity for our local businesses and residents. Steve Scott, owner of Scott Law Group ... Read More...
New Economic Development Position Will Expand Business Outreach
on Thursday, March 10, 2022
The Charles County Economic Development Department is growing, with an even bigger focus on our existing businesses – also known as business retention and expansion.
Back in 2015, the Economic Development Department (EDD) 5-Year Strategic ... Read More...
Business Outreach Committee Connects Businesses and Government
on Thursday, March 3, 2022
Our Business Outreach Committee (BOC) was formed a year ago to focus on the issues our Charles County businesses are facing post COVID-19 and help encourage and advance economic opportunity for our local businesses and residents. Members of the ... Read More...
Meet Southern Maryland Minority Chamber’s New President
on Wednesday, February 23, 2022
The Southern Maryland Minority Chamber of Commerce (SMMCOC) is a regional voice for small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses. The organization has a new President, Pamela Minor, who brings 25 years of small business ownership, government ... Read More...
5 Reasons Why Businesses Love Charles County
on Monday, February 14, 2022
For Valentine’s Day, we’re sharing what makes Charles County such a loveable location for business. Here are the top five reasons why businesses love Charles County:
There’s No Need for Long Distance Relationships Here.
While ... Read More...
Charles County Government Buys Local
on Wednesday, February 2, 2022
In economic development, we often encourage the public to spend their money here at home and support our local businesses. Charles County Government likes to shop at home, too, through the Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) program.
Charles ... Read More...
Initiative to Certify Southern Maryland As a Work Ready Community
on Thursday, January 20, 2022
The Charles County Economic Development Department (EDD) is part of an exciting workforce development initiative that will boost Southern Maryland’s economic development, develop a strong workforce pipeline, and improve local workforce skills. ... Read More...
Charles County Business Resource Partners
on Thursday, January 13, 2022
Download Business Resources Guide
The Charles County Economic Development Department (EDD) offers a complete range of business services to help entrepreneurs and businesses grow and thrive in Charles County. During the COVID pandemic, we've ... Read More...
New Economic Development Director At Home in Charles County
on Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Kelly Robertson-Slagle was born and raised in Charles County and is happy to be leading the County’s Economic Development Department (EDD) as its new Director. Coming from a family of small business owners, she understands the responsibility ... Read More...
Support Local and Minority-Owned Businesses This Season
on Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Businesses owned by ethnic and minority entrepreneurs are growing fast in Charles County. You can get a glimpse into their culture and support their businesses by patronizing their retail shops, grocery stores, and restaurants, especially during the ... Read More...
A Charles County Christmas Away From Home Includes Big Surprise
on Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Marie Bowling’s first Christmas as a newlywed and away from her home in the Czech Republic could have been a sad one filled with home sickness, but thanks to her new husband’s family in Charles County and even an unexpected surprise, it ... Read More...
9 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in Charles County
on Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Happy Holidays from Charles County. Have a festive, holly, jolly season right here at home by doing something fun with your favorite people. Visit local attractions, decked out for the holidays. Shop at local stores and holiday markets. Join your ... Read More...
Find Unique Gifts and Community Spirit at Shop La Plata Event
on Tuesday, November 23, 2021
The 8th annual Shop La Plata celebration is coming up this weekend in conjunction with Small Business Saturday, always the Saturday after Thanksgiving. New Moon Bodywork and Botanicals, a well-established business along the Charles Street corridor, ... Read More...
Shop Local Series: A Hair Crisis and Local Solution
on Wednesday, November 17, 2021
I saw my favorite hair stylist, Tami, last week for a cut and color that was well overdue. Between my habit of waiting too long to schedule an appointment and then having to wait a couple weeks for a slot due to pandemic social distancing rules (and ... Read More...
2021 Fall Meeting Recap
on Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Our Annual Fall Meeting on November 2, “Opening Doors,” showcased how Charles County positions businesses to thrive and identified the county as a competitive, diverse, and sustainable location for businesses. Commissioner President ... Read More...
Charles County Agriculture: An Assessment and Current Trends
on Thursday, October 28, 2021
Agriculture has been a mainstay of Charles County’s economy and culture for many years.
Several decades ago, this region was primarily recognized for a single crop--tobacco. Since the decline in the region’s tobacco industry, Charles ... Read More...
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