Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation

What Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation does

Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization founded in 1993 and headquartered at 2660 Riva Road, Suite 200, Annapolis, Maryland. As the designated economic development corporation for Anne Arundel County, AAEDC serves more than 67,000 businesses across the county through a hybrid go-to-motion combining direct service delivery (expert guidance, financing, site selection, regulatory navigation, market research, workforce training grants) and event-based outreach (Arundel Biz Expo, Business Appreciation Week, Arundel Grown, Glen Burnie Farmers Market). Leadership includes President & CEO Amy Gowan, Vice President of Marketing & Communications Victoria Zelefsky, and Agricultural Business Development Director Shelley Garrett.

AAEDC's core product surface is a portfolio of financial solutions rather than a unified technology platform. The financial products include the VOLT Fund family (VOLT Fund loans of $25,000–$1,000,000, VOLT Microloan, VOLT Growth up to $100,000), the Arundel Community Reinvestment (ACR) Fund offering 0% interest loans up to $100,000, the Next Stage Tech Fund ($50,000–$250,000 below-market loans for tech companies), and grant programs including the Agricultural Business Improvement Grant (ABIG, up to $10,000) and the Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant Program ($10,000–$50,000). Complementary products include the Inclusive Ventures Program (IVP) business accelerator (launched January 2021), a Farm Equipment Rental Program, and community revitalization initiatives (Glen Burnie Town Center transformation, Villages at Sawmill Creek redevelopment).

AAEDC's business model is a public-funding and grant-funded nonprofit model: services are largely provided at no cost to businesses, while specific financing programs (e.g., VOLT Fund loans) carry program-defined pricing terms. Revenue derives from county appropriations, state agency grants (notably MD DHCD), foundation grants (Baltimore Community Foundation, MARBIDCO), and program-related income. The organization monetizes not through commercial revenue but through programmatic throughput — deploying capital, supporting businesses, and executing placemaking and redevelopment projects on behalf of the county. Customer segments are heavily diversified across SMBs, MBEs/WBEs/Veteran-owned businesses, agricultural producers, Key Bridge-impacted businesses, and technology companies, with no single anchor account.

Name

Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation

Legal name

Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation

Website

https://aaedc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization serving 67,000+ businesses in Anne Arundel County, Maryland through financing programs, business support services, site selection, and community revitalization initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Small business financing
• Site selection assistance
• Business accelerator programs
• Community revitalization

Headquarters

HQ city

Annapolis Junction

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Grants: AAEDC operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993, funded through public sources, grants, and program allocations to support economic development activities in Anne Arundel County.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

AAEDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization that provides financing programs (VOLT Fund, VOLT Microloan, VOLT Growth, ACR Fund, Next Stage Tech Fund), grant programs (ABIG, Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant), the IVP Business Accelerator, site selection assistance, regulatory guidance, workforce training grants, market research, and community revitalization initiatives to businesses in Anne Arundel County. It is the designated county economic development entity, supporting the 67,000+ businesses in the region from startups through established companies.

Product overview

Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) operates as a 501(c)(3) economic development organization that serves as a catalyst for business growth in Anne Arundel County. Rather than a unified software product, AAEDC offers a comprehensive portfolio of financial solutions and business support services. The core financial products include the VOLT Fund family (VOLT Fund, VOLT Microloan, VOLT Growth), the Arundel Community Reinvestment (ACR) Fund, the Next Stage Tech Fund, and the Agricultural Business Improvement Grant (ABIG) program. These are complemented by the Inclusive Ventures Program (IVP) business accelerator, the Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant Program for emergency recovery, and the Farm Equipment Rental Program for agricultural operations. AAEDC also leads significant community revitalization initiatives including the Glen Burnie Town Center transformation with placemaking projects like the Better Plaza and public art murals, plus the Villages at Sawmill Creek redevelopment project. The organization hosts annual events including Business Appreciation Week, the Arundel Biz Expo, and A Taste of Arundel Grown to support and celebrate the local business community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VOLT Fund: Flexible, growth-focused loans from $25,000 to $1,000,000 for small, minority-owned, women-owned, and Veteran-owned businesses across Maryland.
• VOLT Microloan
• VOLT Growth Fund
• Inclusive Ventures Program (IVP)
• Arundel Community Reinvestment (ACR) Fund
• Next Stage Tech Fund
• Agricultural Business Improvement Grant (ABIG)

Products and services

• VOLT Fund Flexible, growth-focused loans from $25,000 to $1,000,000 for small, minority-owned, women-owned, and Veteran-owned businesses across Maryland.
• VOLT Microloan Microloan program providing accessible financing options for small businesses to support initial growth and operations.
• VOLT Growth Fund Offers innovative product companies up to $100,000 loans with flexible underwriting standards and payment terms of up to ten years that allow for revenue growth, workforce expansion, and future equity investment.
• Arundel Community Reinvestment (ACR) Fund 0% interest loans of up to $100,000 for businesses and property owners looking to make improvements to the exterior of an eligible commercial property.
• Next Stage Tech Fund Flexible, below-market loans from $50,000 to $250,000 to help Anne Arundel County technology companies move from early traction to sustained growth.
• Agricultural Business Improvement Grant (ABIG) Matching grants of up to $10,000 to help farm-based businesses in Anne Arundel County expand their operations and increase revenue. Program launched December 2023 and expanded in 2025 to include commercial watermen.
• Inclusive Ventures Program (IVP) / IVP Business Accelerator A free eight-week online program that helps small, minority-owned, women-owned, and Veteran-owned businesses in Anne Arundel County succeed and grow by providing business education, mentorship, grant funding, and access to additional capital. Created and launched by AAEDC in January 2021.
• Farm Equipment Rental Program Affordable access to farm equipment to support local agricultural operations and conservation practices in Anne Arundel County.
• Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant Program Emergency grant program providing $10,000 to $50,000 grants to small businesses severely impacted by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, administered in partnership with Baltimore Community Foundation.
• Glen Burnie Town Center Revitalization Comprehensive placemaking and community revitalization initiative for the Glen Burnie Town Center including public art murals, gateway signage, the Better Plaza activation, and Farmers Market programming.
• Villages at Sawmill Creek (7409 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard Redevelopment) Transit-oriented community development project transforming 13 acres of county-owned land into a vibrant residential hub with housing, open green space, and pedestrian connections to the Glen Burnie Town Center and light rail station.
• Business Support Services Comprehensive business support including expert guidance, practical tools, site selection assistance, regulatory guidance, market research, workforce training grants, and small business counseling.
• Economic Development Revenue Bonds Revenue bonds offered as a financial solution to support economic development projects in Anne Arundel County.
• PACE Financing Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing offered through AAEDC's financial solutions to support energy efficiency and clean energy improvements for commercial properties.
• A Taste of Arundel Grown Signature annual event celebrating local agriculture by showcasing food, beer, and wine primarily grown, raised, or produced in Anne Arundel County, supporting farmers and watermen while raising funds for the Agricultural Business Improvement Grant program.
• Business Appreciation Week (BAW) Annual week-long initiative where ambassador teams visit businesses across the county's seven council districts to show appreciation, exchange insights, and present official citations from the County Executive.
• Arundel Biz Expo AAEDC's signature annual event offering an all-in-one experience for Anne Arundel County businesses featuring presentations, interactive panels, and meaningful connections with nearly 50 exhibitors.
• Glen Burnie Farmers Market Weekly farmers market at the Glen Burnie Town Center featuring locally grown, raised, and produced foods and goods, food trucks, and free parking, supporting agricultural producers and community connection.

Quantifiable outcome

• AAEDC supported 24 grants totaling $3 million awarded to 66 small businesses impacted by the Key Bridge collapse across Baltimore City, Southeast Baltimore County, and Northern Anne Arundel County.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sawmill Partners, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026AAEDC led the competitive RFP process that selected Sawmill Partners, LLC as the development partner for the transformation of 7409 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard. The 13-acre county-owned site is slated for redevelopment into the Villages at Sawmill Creek, a vibrant transit-oriented community. The Land Disposition and Development Agreement (LDDA) was executed on March 11, 2026. Sawmill Partners brings experience in sustainable urban redevelopment and strong community connections.
• Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026AAEDC partnered with MARBIDCO to award $53,861 in matching grants to nine farm-based businesses and commercial watermen through the Agricultural Business Improvement Grant (ABIG) program. MARBIDCO contributed over $24,000 to seven of the nine grants, helping expand the program's reach. MARBIDCO is a quasi-governmental financial intermediary serving Maryland's agricultural, forestry, and seafood industries, having approved 1,500+ financings totaling over $122.5 million since 2007.
• Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025GBC partnered with BCF and local economic development organizations including AAEDC to deliver $3 million in direct cash grants to 66 small businesses impacted by the Key Bridge collapse. GBC's role was to help coordinate the regional recovery effort across Baltimore City, Southeast Baltimore County, and Northern Anne Arundel County.
• Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025LEDC served as a nonprofit partner administering Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grants in Baltimore County, awarding 25 grants to impacted businesses including restaurants, trucking companies, and marine service providers.
• Baltimore Community Lending (BCL)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025BCL administered Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grants in Baltimore City, awarding 17 grants to companies spanning transportation and logistics, supply chain, construction, and food services sectors.
• Maryland Small Business Development Center (Maryland SBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2025Through the Bridges to Business Program funded by BCF, AAEDC expanded no-cost business counseling provided through the Maryland SBDC as part of Key Bridge recovery efforts and ongoing small business support.
• Better Block FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2025AAEDC partnered with Better Block Foundation to create the Glen Burnie Better Plaza, a placemaking project that transformed the Glen Burnie Town Center into a vibrant gathering space. The project was developed through a 120-day community engagement process and unveiled at a two-day community festival on June 6-7, 2025. The plaza will remain open through fall 2025 with community feedback guiding future permanent improvements.
• Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2025AAEDC partnered with Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) to deploy over $1.5M in grant funding to support businesses severely impacted by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and carry out placemaking initiatives in Glen Burnie. Through this partnership, BCF launched the Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant Program offering $10,000-$50,000 grants, and AAEDC received over a dozen applications. BCF also provided an additional $537,000 grant supporting the Glen Burnie Place Based Investment Program and Bridges to Business Program including an annual Business Leadership & Networking Expo.
• Anne Arundel County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2024AAEDC works closely with Anne Arundel County Government, including County Executive Steuart Pittman, to advance economic development initiatives. Key collaborative efforts include the PAVE Program (Executive Order 65) targeting Certified Business Enterprise participation, the Villages at Sawmill Creek redevelopment, Glen Burnie Town Center revitalization, and Key Bridge recovery grants.
• Maryland Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAEDC utilizes Project Restore funding from MD DHCD to fill vacant commercial properties in Glen Burnie Town Center. MD DHCD also provided a $300,000 grant from the FY25 State Revitalization Program for environmental remediation at the 7409 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard site, and Community Legacy Grant funding for the Glen Burnie mural project.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Maryland Department of Commerce: State-level economic development agency that funds and partners with county EDCs including AAEDC; sets state-level programs (Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority, Advantage Maryland) that flow through county organizations.
• Greater Baltimore Committee: Regional business leadership organization that partners with AAEDC (e.g., Key Bridge Fund coordination) and runs parallel regional economic and policy advocacy work across the Baltimore metro.

Direct peers

• Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation: County-level Maryland EDC with similar financing, site selection, and revitalization roles, with comparable emphasis on minority business inclusion and federal-proximity economic strategy (joint base Andrews, NASA).
• Baltimore County Department of Economic Development: Government-run EDC for adjacent Baltimore County with overlapping service territory in northern Anne Arundel and active coordination with AAEDC on Key Bridge response and CBE/MBE programming.
• Howard County Economic Development Authority: County-level Maryland EDC with a comparable mandate to attract, retain, and grow businesses; offers financing programs, site selection, and workforce support in an adjacent jurisdiction with similar mix of defense, tech, and life sciences employers.
• Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC): Regional nonprofit administering small business grants and counseling across the Baltimore-Washington region; AAEDC partnered with LEDC on Key Bridge recovery grants and shares focus on minority-owned business development.
• Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation: Maryland county EDC running parallel programs in business financing, real estate site selection, and industry development (biohealth, cybersecurity, IT), serving a substantially larger SMB base — the most direct structural peer in the state.
• Maryland Small Business Development Center: Statewide SBDC network providing no-cost business counseling — AAEDC directly partners with Maryland SBDC for the Bridges to Business Program and shares overlap in target SMB segments, funding navigation, and accelerator-style support.

Regional players

• Washington DC Economic Development Partnership: Public-private partnership EDC for Washington, DC that provides comparable business attraction, retention, and small business services; operates under a similar public-private model though at city scale.
• Frederick County Office of Economic Development: Maryland county EDC with similar SMB-focused programs (financing, site selection, ag support) but operating in a different regional market; useful structural comparable though not a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheAAEDC
• Facebookfacebook.com/AnneArundelEconomicDevelopmentCorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1277861
• Instagraminstagram.com/arundelbiz
• Xx.com/AAEDC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation