Ellicott City Named Main Street Maryland Community

Howard County government issued the following statement about Ellicott City’s designation as a Maryland Main Street community:

EHoward County Executive Ken Ulman announced that Ellicott City has been designated a Main Street Maryland Community, making it eligible for financial and planning resources from the State of Maryland. The designation was announced by Maryland Department of House and Community Development Acting Secretary Clarence Snuggs during a ceremony at the Howard County Welcome Center.

“The thriving business and residential community in Ellicott City will benefit from this new partnership with the state,” County Executive Ulman said. “Ellicott City is the finest downtown and historic district in Maryland, and the Main Street Maryland program dovetails with our plans to make it even better in the future.”

Ellicott City becomes the first Main Street Maryland community in Howard County, and the 28thin Maryland. Ellicott City will now receive priority consideration for state funding, orientation and training for a Main Street Manager, technical planning assistance and members in the National Main Street Trust Center.

“Ellicott City contains the best Maryland has to offer, and we are glad to welcome this community into the program,” said Secretary Snuggs.

In approving the designation, state officials noted Ellicott City’s architectural charm, illustrated by more than 200 18th- and 19th-century buildings and numerous historical attraction—including the B & O Railroad Museum Ellicott City Station—the oldest surviving railroad station in America.

The local Main Street effort will be administered by the nonprofit Ellicott City Partnership in partnership with Howard County Government, residents, business and property owners and funding support from the Howard County Economic Development Authority.

“This is one more tool that the Ellicott City Partnership will have available to help with the success of Main Street,” said Debra Korb, Ellicott City Partnership Executive Director.

County Executive Ulman and Secretary Snuggs also announced that Ellicott City would be participating in the “Make it To Main Street” initiative, in partnership with the Regional Manufacturing Initiative. The program is designed to raise awareness of Maryland made goods available in designated Main Street Maryland communities and facilitate the purchase of those goods from the businesses within those Main Streets.