ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today cut the ribbon on the new Opportunity and Economic Mobility Center (OEMC) located at 9755 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia. Photos from the event can be viewed on the Howard County Government’s Flickr website and video can be found on the County Executive’s Facebook webpage.
These are tumultuous, turbulent times for a great many of our residents who work for or contract with the federal government when they were suddenly forced to scramble to find new jobs, alternative childcare or rethink their career after the devastating DOGE cuts. These unfortunate incidents have reminded us of the importance of stepping up for our affected residents by offering an efficient one-stop shop where they can utilize our vital resources at the Office of Workforce Development and Department of Housing with the added benefit of a new childcare center. Our hope is that the consolidation of these resources will help our residents who need support during difficult transitions.
The County’s Office of Workforce Development (OWD) and Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will be headquartered in this building. Additionally, the Maryland Department of Labor and the Maryland State Department of Education will also call 9755 its new home for services offered to Howard County residents.
Preparing Marylanders for career opportunities is at the heart of our work: to empower individuals, support local communities, and build a stronger economy. The Howard County Opportunity and Economic Mobility Center will be a thriving, bustling hub for youth to begin career exploration and for adults – including former federal workers – to plan the next steps in their careers.
“This ribbon cutting represents a tangible, worthy, and meaningful win for state-local partnership and for the people of Maryland,” said Atif Chaudry, Secretary, Maryland Department of General Services. “Through new leases, and forward-thinking, we’re able to bring an invaluable group of public services together under one roof to uplift the lives of others - making this building a hub of hope. And by bringing these services together, we are making it easier for people to access the resources they need to cut through red tape and achieve economic mobility.”
Since Ball announced the creation of the OEMC late last year, departments have moved into the new building in phases. OWD was the first to relocate to the new location in December 2025; the office was previously located at 7161 Columbia Gateway Drive in Columbia. At its new location, OWD will offer job services for displaced federal workers and other residents who can access training workshops, receive job coaching and consulting, resume services, and so much more.
“Economic mobility is built through access, opportunity, and collaboration. This new building strengthens all three by bringing critical services together in one accessible location where residents can connect with employment opportunities, housing resources, and supportive services,” said Stephanie Adibe, OWD Administrator. “We are proud to be part of a campus dedicated to helping individuals and families build brighter futures and reach their full potential.”
Howard County has the third highest number of apprentice sponsors of all Maryland counties. This reflects the county’s concerted effort to grow the number of apprentices and apprentice sponsors. A record number of 394 Howard County residents are registered apprentices, with more than 1,660 apprentices statewide who are registered to Howard County sponsors. In 2025, OWD was awarded $150,000 from the County to create its Apprenticeship Opportunity Program, which offers incentives to businesses that create and retain new apprenticeships in the county.
"My journey with Howard County’s Workforce Development Center began in 2013 when I made the decision to return to school full-time to become an esthetician. I had a clear vision: to one day open a wellness center that would serve and uplift our community. Through the support of my case manager, Thomas Smith, and a workforce grant, that vision became possible,” said Sophia Tade, Founder, Eeyah Holistic Spa & Boutique. “This new Opportunity and Economic Mobility Center embodies the promise that with the right resources, guidance, and support, individuals and families can achieve lasting success. I am grateful to Howard County for creating a place where hope meets action and where community members can access the tools needed to build brighter futures."
This spring, DHCD moved from 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive to the new building. DHCD will continue to provide residents and those looking to call Howard County home with Moderate Income Housing Unit homeownership and rental units, downpayment assistance, home repair support, referrals to affordable housing units, homebuyer education, and coordination of the county’s homeless response system.
“The physical distance of our move from 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive to the new Opportunity and Economic Mobility Center was less than a mile, but the impact of this move is much larger,” said Kelly Cimino, DHCD Director. “Physically locating the housing department staff all in one place will streamline our operations, and co-locating the housing department with the Office of Workforce Development will strengthen our partnership to serve residents seeking employment and housing resources.”
Since becoming County Executive in December 2018, Ball and his administration have championed affordable housing. The County has provided more than $4 million in foreclosure prevention support, as well as provided settlement and downpayment assistance through its affordable homeownership programs, such as Opportunities for Wealth-Building Now. Moreover, since 2019, more than 300 households have received more than $10.7 million in funding for downpayment assistance to access homeownership and build generational wealth for their families.
“I want to sincerely thank County Executive Calvin Ball for his leadership and commitment to programs that empower families like mine,” said first-time homebuyer Tiesha Cottingham. “Your dedication to expanding opportunities for homeownership is making a real and lasting impact in our community”.
Ball has also focused on providing more affordable housing options for residents. Since Fiscal Year 2023, more than 800 mixed-income homes have been preserved, created, or added to the development pipeline, including the recently opened Patuxent Commons. Other projects include The Legacy at Twin Rivers, the Vision at Parkway, and the Legacy at Cedar Lane.
“The Housing and Community Development Board is excited for the Department of Housing and Community Development to be co-located with the Office of Workforce Development in the new Opportunity and Economic Mobility Center. The collaborative partnership between these agencies will benefit the residents of Howard County,” from Cedric Brown, Chair, Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development Board.
A future childcare center will open at the OEMC, operated by the County’s Department of Recreation & Parks (DRP). The approximately 7,400-square-foot space is expected to accommodate 40 to 60 children from infancy to age five. Once complete, the center will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. year-round. The opening of the childcare center is expected to create about 20 new jobs. This childcare center will be the first time that DRP offers infant care through its childcare program.
"For government employees, nonprofit workers, and other working families, access to safe, reliable, affordable childcare close to where they work can make an enormous difference. It can reduce stress on families and make daily routines easier,” said Nick Mooneyhan, Director, DRP. “That is especially important in a community like ours, where so many people dedicate their professional lives to public service and serving others."
Through its Recreational Licensed Child Care program, DRP currently operates two Early Learning Centers geared towards children ages three to five and before- and after-care programs in 23 Howard County Public School System elementary schools, serving nearly 2,000 children. This will be the Recreation & Parks’ first childcare center, created to serve the children of Howard County Government employees who would receive priority registration.
The opening of the OEMC is the latest effort by Ball to consolidate County offices and local partners to streamline critical services for residents. The County’s Department of Community Resources and Services, the Community Action Council of Howard County, the NonProfit Collaborative, and the Maryland Department of Human Services’ Howard County Department of Social Services are all co-located along Patuxent Woods Drive.