For the past 20 years, Harford County has transformed from a warehouse and distribution center to a prime location for commercial office space.
“Eight years ago, we made a conscious decision to get away from warehouse and large transportation,” said James Richardson, director of the Harford County Economic Development Department. “We are now starting to have a pretty good mix of office space.”
One of the newest projects is Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace. It features a 235-acre golf course, which recently hosted a McDonald?s Ladies Professional Golf Association event.
Currently, Phase One of the Bulle Rock Corporate Campus is under construction, with M&T Bank as the lead tenant. The site features office space available from 6,000 square feet with an additional 350,000 square feet available for lease or build-to-suit, according to Joseph Bradley, a sales and leasing agent for Manekin.
Specializing in the Baltimore/Washington market, Manekin is developing the site which also has direct access to U.S. Army?s Aberdeen Proving Ground.
The military facility could become an economic engine for Harford County in the coming years, Richardson said.
Harford County expects to gain 8,200 jobs actually on Aberdeen Proving Ground and an estimated 10,000 off-post positions for contractors, according Harford County Executive David Craig.
“These, in combination with jobs that will be indirectly created, translate into a potential total of 35,000 new jobs and a projected population increase which could go as high as 55,000 over the next ten years,” Craig said in a statement.
Harford County has already gotten $300,000 from the federal government to set up an office for the county?s Base Realignment and Closure office. Aberdeen Proving Ground is slated to get thousands of jobs in the coming years. The county is also seeking a $1.3 million grants to work on compiling accurate data and demographic needs of Harford County as Aberdeen Proving Ground expand.
Richardson said the county also hopes companies will take advantage of several enterprise zones in the county that offer tax breaks as incentives to locate and develop property inside the zone.
“The cost of land and labor make Harford County attractive,” Richardson said.
Harford County Enterprise Zones:
» Edgewood/Joppa zone located at Route 40, Maryland Route 24 and Maryland 755.
» Greater Aberdeen/Havre de Grace zone located along Route 40 and within the municipalities of Aberdeen and Havre de Grace.
Source: Harford County Economic Development Department
