Assistance & Advocacy
Dorchester is a welcoming community ready to offer a helping hand to businesses looking to locate or grow here. We are committed to building a strong infrastructure for businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive.
As economic development ombudsmen, we can facilitate introductions, identify appropriate resources and assist you in navigating local, state or federal opportunities.
Contact us for assistance with:
- Financing & Tax Incentives (see below)
- Workforce Development (see below)
- Site Selection
We are familiar with the county’s commercial real estate landscape and can help you locate property to start or expand your business. We offer site tours and can consult with you on finance opportunities and permitting processes. Learn more about commercial real estate available in Dorchester or to access the Maryland Zoom Prospector, click here:

Finance & Tax Incentives
When you invest in Dorchester, we invest in you. Businesses looking to move or expand here are eligible for select location opportunities. You may also be eligible for financial incentives to help reduce acquisition and operating costs.
Learn about project, income and real property tax credits for capital investment and job creation, loans or preferred contracting opportunities.

State Tax Incentives
Job Creation Tax Credit – Available for new or expanding businesses that create at least 10 full time permanent positions and been granted a property tax credit.
One Maryland Tax Credit – Establish or expand a business facility in a priority funding area (PFA) and you may be eligible for the One Maryland credit. Dorchester is a PFA.
Enterprise Zone Tax Credits – Businesses locating in an Enterprise zone receive a property tax credit for 10 years against local property taxes and a credit based on wages for qualified employees.
Research and Development Tax Credit – Qualified research and development expenses are exempt from state taxes.
Brownfields Tax Incentives – For sites located in and eligible for Brownfields Revitalization Program.
Maryland Disability Employment Tax Credit
Community Investment Tax Credit
Visit the Maryland Commerce’s tax credit programs page for more information.
Investment & Loan Programs
We work with a number of funding entities who run multiple programs providing emerging, existing and high-tech businesses access to early-stage capital. Based on the project’s potential return, job creation or economic development promotion.
A few entities we work with include:
- MARBIDCO
- Eight VOLT (Video Lottery Terminal) funds
- Maryland Small Business Development Financing
- Small Business Administration
- Department of Housing and Community Development
- Revolving Loan Funds
- Maryland Department of Commerce
- Maryland Capital Enterprises.
Workforce Development
We understand that the key to your success is a strong, skilled and stable employee base. As a partner with Maryland’s Workforce Investment Board, we help new and growing businesses in Dorchester forge relationships and secure resources to recruit, hire and support their personnel needs.
From partnerships with education providers and collaborations with industry leaders to training services and initiatives, our team can help you navigate workforce development programs.
By supporting local labor market needs of the unemployed, under-employed, and current workforce, we can develop a skilled labor force readily able to advance and grow Dorchester jobs.

Training Partners & Facilities
County employers and residents also have access to a dozen higher education, professional development and job training resources within a 50-mile radius include:
- Aspen Institute
- Chesapeake College Cambridge Center
- Chesapeake College Wye Campus
- Dorchester Career & Technology Center
- Delaware Technical Community College
- Salisbury University
- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- Washington College
- Wor-Wic Community College
