Howard County Executive Calvin Ball Touts Successful Canadian Trade Mission, Fostering Partnerships to Drive Innovation, Investment, and Economic and Workforce Development

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the resounding success of Howard County’s weeklong diplomatic Canadian Trade Mission, where he joined a delegation of Howard County representatives led by Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA). The trip focused on building strong local partnerships with Ontario and creating pathways for Canadian and international tech companies to successfully enter the United States market through Howard County. Pictures from the trip can be found on the County’s Flickr website.

Organized by the Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA), Ball was accompanied by representatives from HCEDA, Howard County Government, Howard Community College (HCC), and the local business community, including: 

• Jennifer Jones, CEO, HCEDA
• Bob Zhang, Director of International Business, HCEDA
• Marcellous Frye, Jr., Board Chair, HCEDA
• Dr. Daria Willis, President, HCC and Board Member, HCEDA
• Seema Singh, CEO, FOODCO USA
• James Jean-Baptiste, CEO, CyberLinx Solutions LLC
• Colin Hamill, CEO, Sentinel Forge Technologies
• David Leeds, Chief, Information Security Officer, Howard County Government
• Angela Cabellon, Chief of Staff, Howard County Government
• Stephanie Adibe, Administrator, Office of Workforce Development, Howard County Government
• Safa Hira, Director of Communications, Howard County Government

NIAGARA

Ball kicked off the trip in Niagara, where HCEDA, the Niagara Region, and local innovation institutions partnered together to highlight the region’s strengths in food processing, agtech, advanced manufacturing, and entrepreneurship. 

The delegation began their visit at Niagara College Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, where they learned how the center supports southern Ontario businesses in bringing products to market using cutting-edge capabilities in engineering design, 3D laser scanning, lean manufacturing, and prototyping. The group also hosted a forum where Howard County and Niagara companies could introduce their businesses, exchange insights, and explore collaboration opportunities. Ball also delivered a speech themed “Why Local Partnerships Matter – A Gateway to the US Capital Region’s Tech Ecosystem.”

The delegation then visited the:

• Niagara Falls Innovation Hub, a nonprofit tech and business resource center empowering entrepreneurs and driving regional innovation;
• Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (VRIC), to discover how VRIC’s research in horticulture science and agrifood innovation is a vital part of Ontario’s agricultural research and development ecosystem; and 
• Pellar Estates Winery to meet with Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake Gary Zalepa to discuss Niagara’s viticulture and Howard County’s robust agtech sector. 

While visiting with leaders at the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub, Ball, HCEDA, and the Hub’s CEO Dan Bordenave signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a partnership to advance economic development opportunities in the areas of: 

• Advanced manufacturing and technology; 
• Agtech and food innovation;
• Cybersecurity and digital technology;
• Innovation and technology commercialization;
• Tourism and cultural exchange; and 
• Workforce development and education. 

This Memorandum of Understanding will promote knowledge-exchange between the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub and Howard County, strengthening strategies to support start-up businesses, promote a skilled workforce, and collaborate across key industries.

This first wave of the trade mission provided Ball and the delegation the opportunity to engage directly with cutting-edge technology centers, research institutions, and innovation hubs working to advance clean technologies, food safety, and prototyping.

TORONTO 

Next in Toronto, Ball spoke at the prestigious Toronto Tech Week 2025 conference. A weeklong citywide collection of events to connect and celebrate the builders, Ball delivered his keynote address, “Why Local Partnerships Matter – A Gateway to the US Capital Region’s Tech Ecosystem,” during the conference’s Bridging Innovation Together: U.S. Market Entry Breakfast & Trade Forum. 

Hosted in partnership between HCEDA and Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, the forum focused on building strong local partnerships with Ontario and creating pathways for Canadian and international tech companies to successfully enter the U.S. market through Howard County. Howard County is becoming an even more highly desired destination for international businesses to establish new ties in the United States, which grows the County’s tax base, creates job opportunities, and enhances the quality of life for Howard County residents.

OTTAWA

Ball and the delegation wrapped up their Canadian Trade Mission in Ottawa, where HCEDA partnered with Invest Ottawa to host the “Bridging Innovation: The Ottawa - Howard County Partnership Forum. Ottawa and Howard County are both leading cybersecurity ecosystems driven by proximity to national cyber and defense agencies like the NSA and Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. The forum provided the two communities the opportunity to foster cross-border collaboration between companies, innovation hubs, and government partners, helping early-stage and growth cybersecurity businesses build lasting partnerships and explore U.S. and Canadian market opportunities.

While in Ottawa, Ball, HCEDA CEO Jennifer Jones, and Invest Ottawa’s CEO Sonya Shorey signed a Letter of Intent establishing a partnership across the cybersecurity and resilience, digital technology, advanced engineering, agtech, and health technologies sectors. This Letter of Intent will also facilitate sharing knowledge on the best practices to support new businesses and will now two-way trade expansion. Furthermore, the Letter of Intent outlines plans to provide soft-landing support for companies in both jurisdictions, which will facilitate smooth pathways for business expansion efforts between Howard County and Ottawa.

During the Canadian Trade Mission, the delegation also explored uOttawa-IBM Cyber Range, uOttawa STEM Complex, and Area X.O. These centers of innovation offered key insights on cutting-edge technology and cybersecurity education programs and next-gen technology research and development efforts that are spurring global innovation and entrepreneurship. Finally, this trip provided critical exposure to Howard County firms, including CyberLinx Solutions LLC, FOODCO USA, and Sentinel Forge Technologies, that are exploring entry into international markets. Identifying these international opportunities for Howard County-based businesses supports the local economy in Howard County through new potential for growth and expansion.

Here’s what others had to say:

• Marcellous Frye, Board Chair, HCEDA – “I’m thrilled to see Howard County taking a proactive role on the global stage. This mission demonstrated how strategic international engagement can create real value for our local businesses. The partnerships we built during this trip will drive economic growth and innovation for years to come.”
• Dr. Daria J. Willis, President, Howard Community College – "Education is a critical component of economic development for local communities and global exchange. Howard Community College is thrilled to be a part of Dr. Ball's forward-thinking vision for Howard County's growth. Our students and faculty will be tremendous ambassadors for our nation as our partnership with Canada grows in scope and impact."
• Stephanie Adibe, Administrator, Howard County Office of Workforce Development – “Collaboration across regions is key to building a resilient workforce pipeline, and creating meaningful pathways between talent and opportunity is at the heart of what we do. We know that talent drives innovation and economic inclusion across workforce programs, educational institutions, and upskilling efforts. It was a pleasure to join the Howard County Delegation in expanding our efforts to connect people with businesses, and I look forward to continuing our strong partnerships in building the talent pipeline.
• James Jean-Baptiste, Principal, CyberLinx Solutions LLC – “CyberLinx Solutions was thrilled to participate in this trade mission to explore strategic partnerships in Canada. As an Information Technology company committed to cybersecurity, innovation, and education, we view this as a unique opportunity to expand our services, promote cross-border security collaboration, and align with Canada's thriving small business and innovation ecosystems.”
• Seema Singh, CEO, FOODCO USA – “As the founder of FOODCO USA, a proud women-owned food distribution company, I am honored to take part in this trade mission to Canada. Our goal is to establish meaningful partnerships with Canadian businesses, particularly in the area of hydroponic farming. We believe hydroponics represents a sustainable and innovative solution for providing fresh, high-quality food year-round. Through this mission, FOODCO USA looks forward to collaborating with Canadian stakeholders to support food security, strengthen cross-border trade, and bring healthy, locally grown products to more communities.”
• Colin Hamill, CEO, Sentinel Forge Technologies – “It was a pleasure to take part in Howard County’s trade delegation to Canada and to have the opportunity to introduce our cybersecurity solution, GuardTower, to an international audience. In a time of increasing threats from cybercriminals & hostile nation states, giving our allies the tools to protect themselves has never been more important.”