AAEDC Celebrates Growth and Diversity of Local Businesses Through Business Appreciation Week

October 29, 2024

Annapolis, Maryland (October 29, 2024) – The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) and County Executive Stuart Pittman celebrated the diversity and economic contributions of local businesses during Business Appreciation Week (BAW) in Anne Arundel County, held October 21-25, 2024. After visiting 74 businesses in 2023, when the organization brought back BAW for the first time following the COVID-19 pandemic, AAEDC visited 77 businesses in 2024.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy,” said County Executive Pittman. “Business Appreciation Week is an opportunity to recognize their contributions to our communities and thank them for choosing to call Anne Arundel County their home.”

Throughout the week, nearly 60 ambassadors including County Executive Pittman, AAEDC staff, and officials from 17 county organizations visited businesses to show appreciation and exchange valuable insights. Each visit included informal discussions about the business’s history, its successes and challenges, and county resources available to support its growth, followed by the presentation of a formal citation from County Executive Pittman.

“We were proud to bring back Business Appreciation Week in 2023, and the response from the business community in 2024 was tremendous,” said AAEDC President and CEO Amy Gowan. “This year exceeded expectations and was rewarding for both businesses and ambassadors. Hearing directly from businesses gave us valuable insights into current economic conditions and will guide the development and expansion of our programs to support growth and foster a more equitable economy.”

The 77 diverse businesses that AAEDC visited represented a true cross-section of Anne Arundel County’s 61,000 businesses, ranging from newly established ventures to a 111-year-old company. Of these, 23 were minority-owned, 36 were women-owned, and five were Veteran-owned, and they collectively employ approximately 4,689 people in Anne Arundel County.

At the conclusion of Business Appreciation Week, AAEDC signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to officially solidify their partnership. This partnership reinforces AAEDC’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to business resources for traditionally underserved communities. Together, they will work collaboratively to serve the Hispanic business community in Anne Arundel County, focusing on expanding business opportunities, supporting growth, and increasing the overall economic impact of Hispanic businesses.

As in past years, this year’s Business Appreciation Week in Anne Arundel County aligned with the Maryland Economic Development Association’s Maryland Economic Development Week, which celebrates the positive impact of economic development on the local business climate, job growth, and overall quality of life.

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About the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation

Founded in 1993, the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Annapolis, Maryland. AAEDC’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for business growth in Anne Arundel County, thereby increasing job opportunities, expanding the tax base, and improving citizens’ quality of life. To do so, it provides the public with services including financing, site selection assistance, regulatory guidance, workforce training grants, market research, and small business resources. More broadly, AAEDC plays a vital role in enhancing commercial districts, improving infrastructure, and growing high-value business sectors such as technology and cybersecurity. To learn more, visit www.aaedc.org.

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