AAEDC Celebrates Growth and Diversity of Local Businesses Through Business Appreciation Week

October 27, 2025

Annapolis, MD (October 28, 2025) – The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) and County Executive Stuart Pittman celebrated the diversity and economic contributions of local businesses during Business Appreciation Week (BAW) in Anne Arundel County, held October 20-24, 2025. After visiting over 70 businesses in both 2023 and 2024, AAEDC kept its streak going by visiting 76 businesses in 2025.

“Small businesses are not only the backbone of our local economy, but also of our communities,” said County Executive Pittman. “Business Appreciation Week is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the more than sixty-six thousand diverse businesses that call Anne Arundel County home.”

Throughout the week, over 50 ambassadors including County Executive Pittman, AAEDC staff, and officials from 16 county organizations visited businesses to show appreciation and exchange valuable insights. Each visit included discussions about the business’s history, successes and challenges, and county resources available to support its operations and growth, followed by the presentation of an official citation from County Executive Pittman.

“We work directly with local businesses all year long, but Business Appreciation Week is special because of the scale,” said AAEDC President and CEO Amy Gowan. “It’s one concentrated week where we’re out meeting with dozens of businesses to hear their stories, celebrate their work, and receive feedback that helps us shape programs to support business growth across the county.”

Throughout the week, AAEDC visited 76 businesses representing the full spectrum of Anne Arundel County’s 66,000+ companies ranging from new startups to two that have operated for more than a century. The visits spanned diverse sectors, including agriculture, food service, hospitality, and health care. Ownership was equally varied, with 38 women-owned, 19 minority-owned, six Hispanic-owned, six veteran-owned, and four owned by individuals with disabilities.

As in past years, this year’s Business Appreciation Week in Anne Arundel County aligned with the Maryland Economic Development Association’s Maryland Economic Development Week, which celebrates the positive impact of economic development on the local business climate, job growth, and overall quality of life.

To view an image from each business visit, click here.

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AAEDC

Founded in 1993, the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Annapolis, Maryland. AAEDC’s mission is to foster diverse economic growth by empowering businesses, expanding job opportunities, and revitalizing communities in Anne Arundel County. As the go-to partner for local businesses, AAEDC supports the Anne Arundel County business community with key resources and services including financing, site selection, permitting and zoning guidance, market research, community revitalization, and small business counseling. Guided by its core values of connectivity, responsiveness, creativity, and excellence, AAEDC builds strategic partnerships and delivers innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of the business community. Learn more at www.aaedc.org.

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