2018 recap: global expansions, booming biohealth, a bright future for cyber

12/19/2018| Julie Miller

2018 recap: global expansions, booming biohealth, a bright future for cyber

12/19/2018 | Julie Miller

In 2018, Maryland saw a groundbreaking for the headquarters of a major global company, and a ribbon cutting for another. We saw announcement after announcement of biohealth companies committing to Maryland, and major developments in cybersecurity, promising a bright future for the sector. Let’s revisit some of the highlights of 2018.

Global Companies Said “Yes” to Maryland

Many global companies have located their headquarters or/and other operations in Maryland, and as evidenced by the growth of these multinational companies in 2018, Maryland is working out for them.

Early in the year, Stanley Black & Decker and Bank of America announced expansions, and the addition of 400 and 600 jobs, respectively. In June, Marriott International, the largest hotel chain in the world, broke ground at the site of its new headquarters. Later in the year, Guinness cut the ribbon on its massive brewery—the first in the United States since 1954. The momentum continued in the fall when McCormick Corporation opened its brand new $170M global headquarters in Hunt Valley.

Biohealth Boomed

Maryland continues to be recognized as one of the nation’s top clusters for biotech, thanks to assets like the NIH, FDA, Johns Hopkins University, and of course, Maryland’s incredible workforce. And based off the news of many bio companies growing here, word is catching on.

In February, Applied BioMimetic announced the relocation of its headquarters from Cincinnati, Ohio to Gaithersburg, Maryland. A few weeks later, Viela Bio, a spin-out of MedImmune, launched in Maryland and announced the hiring of 100 people. In March, both Paragon BioServices and Supernus Pharmaceuticals announced major expansions, adding 200 jobs in Anne Arundel County and 160 new jobs in Gaithersburg, respectively. (Not surprisingly, both Paragon BioServices and Supernus Pharmaceuticals were named to Deloitte’s top 500 fastest growing tech companies this year!) REGENXBIO continued to keep things exciting, announcing plans for a new headquarters in Rockville and the doubling of its workforce.

And with the groundbreaking of Viva White Oak, a massive development adjoining a centralized FDA facility, it's clear that biohealth companies will continue to flourish in Maryland.

Cyber Works Here

A cybersecurity ecosystem continues to flourish in Maryland, evidenced by the ongoing growth of IT and cybersecurity companies in 2018.

This year, Cybrary announced it will bring 200 jobs to Prince George’s County, and Vision Technology said it plans for 100 new jobs in Glen Burnie. TierPoint announced it was adding a facility in Linthicum Heights, its second Maryland location. Additionally, CES announced it was expanding in Queen Anne’s County.

And after 14 years with headquarters in Washington D.C., ID Agent made the move to Maryland, bringing 10 jobs and plans to double its workforce. It was also an exciting year for Columbia-based Tenable, which broke ground on a massive new headquarters and made its debut on the public market. And with the announcement of a planned cybersecurity hub in Baltimore’s Port Covington, Maryland, without a doubt, will be home to thriving cybersecurity sector for years to come.

Are you planning to expand in 2019? Let us know how you’re keeping the momentum going!

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