Enterprise Zones

Enterprise Zones Map

Harford County's two Enterprise Zones in Aberdeen/Havre de Grace and Edgewood/Joppa are designated by the Maryland Department of Commerce to:

  • Encourage the creation of well-paying new jobs
  • Ensure retention and spur expansion of resident businesses
  • Promote development and occupancy of vacant, underutilized land and buildings
  • Support the county's commitment to revitalizing older industrial areas of Harford County

Enterprise Zone tax incentives

Harford County encourages development in its two Enterprise Zones by providing tax credits to businesses that invest in the area. There are two types of tax credits available: Local Real Property Tax Credits and State Income/Job Tax Credits.

  • Real property tax credits are available for up to 10 years on capital investments, with a credit of 80% on increases in assessed value of real property for the first five years. The credit then decreases by 10% annually for the remaining five years.  
  • There are two types of income/job creation tax credits. First is a one-time $1,000 tax credit per NEW job created.  This credit is submitted with your annual tax filing along with a 500 CR tax form (attached). An additional tax credit is available for businesses that hire economically-disadvantaged employees, with the credit increasing to $6,000 total per eligible employee distributed over three years.
  • Application deadline is October 1st
  • The Enterprise Zone Administrator MUST be contacted prior to construction to discuss timeline to ensure real property tax credits are timed with July 1st. The building must be occupied to receive this credit.
  • A breakdown itemized cost for construction and/or renovation should be submitted with the application along with the site plan showing any changes to the interior/exterior of the buildings.

Contact Shawn Krout, Enterprise Zone Administrator, for more information: 410-638-3414 or slkrout@harfordcountymd.gov. 

Aberdeen/Havre de Grace 

  • Amended November 2017 (expires 6/14/26) 
  • 9,720+ acre zone 
  • $398M in capital investments since 2006
  • Properties along U.S. Route 40 and in Aberdeen and Havre de Grace municipalities 
    • East to include portions of Aberdeen Proving Ground 
    • South to Belcamp and Perryman 
    • West to HEAT Center 
  • Business parks within the zone 
    • 40 East Industrial Park 
    • Aberdeen Industrial Center 
    • Advantage Business Center 
    • Chesapeake Industrial Park 
    • Cranberry Run Business Park 
    • Enterprise Business Park 
    • Hardee's Industrial Park 
    • Harford Gateway 
    • Hickory Ridge Industrial Park 
    • North Gate Business Park 
    • Perryman Industrial Park 
    • Rock Glenn Business Park 
    • The HEAT Center 
    • Water's Edge Corporate Campus 

Eligibility 

Business must be located within the zone and meet minimum requirements for job creation or for capital investment, including, but not limited to, specified design standards. 

Minimum capital investment construction/rehabilitation of real property

  • $100,000 if business has 10 or less employees
  • $125,000 if business has 11 or more employees 

Minimum job creation 

  • Two NEW jobs* (if business has 10 or less employees) 
  • Five NEW jobs* (if business has 11 or more employees) 
  • Working 35 hours per week or more, hourly pay must be 150% of minimum wage; half of work time must be within Enterprise Zone 

Edgewood/Joppa 

  • Re-designated June 2014 (expires 6/01/24) 
  • 4,293 acre zone 
  • $136M in capital investment since 2006
  • Properties situated along U.S. Routes 40 and 7, and MD 24, 755, 152
  • Business parks within the zone 
    • Clayton Station 
    • Emmorton Business Park 
    • Fashion Park 
    • Joppa Commerce Center 
    • Lakeside Business Park 
    • Magnolia Business Park 
    • William Paca Business Park 

Eligibility

Business must be located within the zone and meet minimum requirements for job creation or for capital investment, including, but not limited to, specified design standards. 

Minimum capital investment construction/rehabilitation of real property:

$100,000 

Minimum Job Creation:

Five NEW jobs (working 35 hours per week or more, hourly pay must be 150% of minimum wage; half of work time must be within Enterprise Zone)