Montgomery County Welcomes Baltic Delegation 

Montgomery County, Md., the anchor of the third largest biopharma in the nation, is home to thousands of innovative businesses across all industries, including life sciences, satellite and advanced communications, and quantum. Home to four out of the top ten most diverse cities in the nation—Germantown, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, and Rockville—the county’s diversity and well-established business ecosystem play a major role in attracting international companies to the area.  

Last month, County Executive Marc Elrich, representatives of Maryland Dept of Commerce, the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, Rockville Economic Development Inc., and others hosted approximately one dozen companies from the Baltic States and Sweden that are interested in expanding their operations into the U.S. market, to showcase the advantages Montgomery County provides to companies looking to settle here. The companies, which all work across the life sciences sector, received a tailored tour and met with key partners to learn more about the county’s strategic location, business community and quality of life. Representatives also discussed the various incentives available to foreign companies looking to move to the county. 

One of the most attractive incentives offered by the state of Maryland is the Global Gateway Soft Landing Program. It offers foreign companies a low-risk entry point into Maryland’s innovation ecosystem by providing resources including workspace, mentorship, and networking opportunities through a variety of local incubators, including the Rockville Innovation Center, which the delegation visited.  

During the visit, the delegation also learned about Montgomery County’s quality of life – including its top-notch public school system and proximity to three international airports —Dulles International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Airport, and Ronald Reagen Washington National—makes it extremely easy for foreign companies with international employees to travel home. Additionally, Bethesda has been named one of the top 25 places to live un the United States out of a list of 250 major cities, according to a recent report from U.S. News and World Report.  

With its strategic location, diverse talent pool, and strong international business ecosystem offering programs like the Global Gateway Soft Landing Program, Montgomery County serves as a launchpad for many foreign companies looking to find their footing in the United States, while also offering their employees an exceptional quality of life.