Enterprise Zone Breakthrough, Weekend Fun & Rolling Road's Wild History

Greetings Neighbors,

Howard County just scored its first-ever Enterprise Zone—an economic boost that could reshape Elkridge and Columbia Gateway. We've also rounded up this week’s most engaging events, from summer concerts to farmers markets. Plus, take a fascinating detour down Rolling Road’s roots as a tobacco route shaped by enslaved labor. Thanks to Candle Light Funeral Home for making this issue possible. (If you’d like to be a sponsor, reply to this email!) Let’s dive in.

In this week’s issue:

• Howard County Gets an Enterprise Zone Destination

• Things to do this week

• Rolling Road’s History

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Thank you to our friends at Candle Light Funeral Home for sponsoring this week’s newsletter:

Elkridge & Columbia Get Game-Changing Enterprise Zone Designation

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball unveiled the county's first-ever Enterprise Zone on January 28, 2025, bringing major tax incentives to businesses along Route 1 in Elkridge and Columbia Gateway. An Enterprise Zone is a state-designated area where businesses receive property tax credits for capital improvements and income tax credits for job creation—essentially, it's a tool to encourage economic development in targeted areas.

The announcement was made at Saval Foodservice's facility on Dorsey Road in Elkridge. "The designation of this Enterprise Zone is a game-changer for businesses like ours and the surrounding community," said Paul Saval, Owner of Saval Foods LLC. The zone covers approximately 1,000 acres of business and industrial space between Routes 100 and 175.

Here's what residents can expect: Businesses that invest in property improvements will receive property tax credits up to 80% for 10 years. Companies also get a $1,000 state income tax credit for each new full-time employee hired, with up to $6,000 over three years for economically disadvantaged workers. This designation aims to revitalize underutilized spaces and attract businesses in manufacturing, logistics, research and development, and technology sectors.

"This Enterprise Zone designation will be a premier tool in Howard County's strategy for business attraction and strategic redevelopment," Ball said. The initiative aligns with the Gateway Master Plan's vision to transform the area into an "innovation district"—a hub for research institutions, tech startups, and creative businesses that collaborate and share ideas. While exact job numbers weren't specified in the announcement, the related Tradepoint Atlantic expansion alone is expected to create 500 new supply chain and logistics jobs. Businesses interested in learning more can contact the Howard County Economic Development Authority at [email protected].

Source: Howard County Government

Happening This Week

Featured Events

More events

Key: $ - Costs Money; R - Requires Registration; D - More Details

Monday June 9

Paint It! Ellicott City Reception at Howard County Center for the Arts in Ellicott City 6:00-8:00pm D: Free reception with live music, refreshments, and juror awards

Irish Set Dance Lessons at Catonsville Clubhouse in Catonsville 7:30pm $

Tuesday June 10

Simple Minds: Alive & Kicking Tour 2025 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia 7:00pm $ 

Celtic Music Class & Session at Catonsville Clubhouse in Catonsville 6:30pm $ 

Wednesday June 11

Catonsville Wednesday Farmers Market at Christian Temple in Catonsville 10:00am-12:00pm D 

Unbook Club at Backwater Books in Ellicott City 6:30-8pm D

Song Circle at Catonsville Clubhouse in Catonsville 7:00pm D

Trivia at White Oak Tavern in Ellicott City 7-9 pm

Thursday June 12

Live Drawing Sessions at Catonsville Clubhouse in Catonsville 6:00pm $

Summer Concert Series at Turf Valley Town Square in Ellicott City 6:30-8:00pm D

Bibliolove Romance Book Club at Backwater Books 7-8pm D

Friday June 13

Mt. Joy - Hope We Have Fun Tour at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia 8:30pm $

Frederick Road Fridays featuring Controlled Chaos at 15 Mellor Avenue in Catonsville 6:30-8:30pm D

Nate Clendenen - Live Music at White Oak Tavern in Ellicott City 8:00-11:00pm

Saturday June 14

Free Breathwork Class at the Catonsville Clubhouse 11am-1pm R

Free Father’s Day Gift Workshop at the Catonsville Clubhouse 12-2pm R

All Good Now Festival - Day 1 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia 12:00pm $ 

The Wild Anacostias - Live Music at Catonsville Clubhouse 7:30-10pm $ 

Sarah Larsen and Friends - Live Music at Backwater Books 8-10pm D

Old Ellicott City Farmers Market at Tiber Park in Ellicott City 9:00am-1:00pm D

Lurman Woodland Theatre - Mallow Hill at Hilltop & Bloomsbury in Catonsville 6:00-8:00pm D

James Von Lenz - Live Music at White Oak Tavern in Ellicott City 8:00-11:00pm

Sunday June 15

Catonsville Sunday Farmers Market at 15 Mellor Avenue in Catonsville 9:00am-12:00pm D

All Good Now Festival - Day 2 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia 12:00pm $

Lurman Woodland Theatre - Eric Scott at Hilltop & Bloomsbury in Catonsville 6:00-8:00pm D

Venues Open to Public During the Week:

• B&O Ellicott City Station Museum: Free admission, Wed-Sun 11am-4pm

• Robinson Nature Center: General admission required, Wed-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm

• Patapsco Valley State Park: Park entrance fee required, trails open dawn to dusk

• Howard County Conservancy: Free admission, trails open dawn to dusk

Did You Know Rolling Road’s History?

Rolling Road, one of our area's main thoroughfares, began as a Native American trail that connected Elkridge Landing to points north.

When tobacco became Maryland's cash crop in the 1700s, planters repurposed this ancient pathway into a "rolling road"—so named because enslaved workers and oxen literally rolled massive wooden barrels called hogsheads (weighing up to 1,000 pounds when full of tobacco) down this route to ships waiting at Elkridge Landing on the Patapsco River.

These hogsheads were fitted with axles and pulled like wheels, creating deep ruts that helped establish the road's permanent path.

The same route that once carried Maryland tobacco to European markets now carries commuters through Catonsville, Arbutus, and beyond—a daily reminder that we're driving on centuries of history.

That’s it for this week’s view. Please share this newsletter with your local friends and neighbors via this link. We’re stronger together.

Until next time,

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