Montgomery County lost 18,000 jobs in the past four years, a trend officials are trying to reverse — but they warn that the growth may be slow. The county is trying to lure more business through a variety of programs including a tax credit for biotech companies, an incubator for startups, an easier permitting and zoning process, and more marketing, Department of Economic Development Director Steven Silverman told a County Council committee Monday.

Silverman noted that Montgomery’s economic development lags that of rival Fairfax County, which is generally considered to be economically and demographically similar. Fairfax has lost 12,000 jobs in the past four years.