Maryland Commerce Secretary Henry Coker Jr. Visits Montgomery County-Based Businesses Driving Growth in Target Industries

For Immediate Release

November 17, 2025

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD – Last week, Maryland’s Secretary of Commerce Henry Coker Jr., alongside representatives from the Montgomery County Government, the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), BioHub, and the Rockville Economic Development Inc., visited four Montgomery County businesses across the Technology, Life Sciences and Hospitality industries, which are key target industries for the State of Maryland. The visits recognized the businesses’ contributions to the state’s economy and provided an opportunity to learn more about their work and growth. The companies visited included Omega 3 Nutrition, X-energy, DEKA Biosciences, and Donohoe Hospitality Services.

“Montgomery County represents some of the very best in Maryland innovation. The businesses we visited reflect the strength, diversity, and collaboration that define our state’s business community,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Harry Coker, Jr. “We could visit businesses in Montgomery County all day, every day for a month and still barely scratch the surface of what makes this county such a crucial economic engine for our state. I’m deeply grateful to our partners in Montgomery County for welcoming us and sharing their incredible work.”

“Montgomery County is home to remarkable companies that are shaping the future of science, technology, and hospitality,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “I appreciate Secretary Coker spending time with us to see that work up close. We are building an economy rooted in innovation, talent, and shared prosperity. We will continue working with the Moore/Miller Administration to support companies that create good jobs, strengthen our communities, and keep Maryland at the forefront of discovery and economic growth.”

All four companies exemplify the forward-thinking businesses that thrive within Montgomery County’s dynamic business ecosystem. Maryland-founded and Rockville-based Omega 3 Nutrition, a nutrition brand dedicated to enhancing brain health through organic, brain-boosting ingredients, recently closed an oversubscribed seed round with investment from the Maryland Momentum Fund.

X-energy, a leading nuclear reactor and fuel design technology company focused on clean energy generation, recently announced plans to consolidate its two Rockville offices into a new 125,000-square-foot headquarters at Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The company plans to retain 260 full-time employees and create more than 525 new jobs over the next six years.

Germantown-based DEKA Biosciences is an early-stage biotechnology company pioneering next-generation targeted cytokine therapies to treat cancer and inflammatory diseases. Meanwhile, Donohoe Hospitality Services is one of the largest independent hotel management companies in the region, representing over $1 billion in hotel asset value.  

“Thank you to Secretary Coker for recognizing the important work these companies are doing to advance Maryland’s leadership in innovation and economic growth,” said Elana Fine, MCEDC Board Chair. “These companies showcase why Montgomery County is a leading destination for talent and investment across all industries. We’re proud to support their continued success and to help foster a business environment where groundbreaking companies flourish.”

Montgomery County serves as the anchor to the nation’s third-largest biopharma hub and is a growing global technology cluster. With more than 3,000 establishments in life sciences, technology, and advanced satellite communications, the County continues to drive Maryland’s economy and reinforce the state’s reputation as a hub for high-growth industries.