Howard County Executive Calvin Ball Announces Release of Film Industry and Location Marketing (FILM) Task Force Report

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the release of the Film Industry and Location Marketing (FILM) Task Force’s Final Report.

Established by Executive Order 2026-04 in February, Ball announced the formation of the FILM Task Force, a 13-member committee charged with developing a coordinated strategy to position Howard County as a leading film-ready jurisdiction in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region. For seven months, the Task Force met monthly to review, discuss, and advance the key deliverables identified in the executive order. The group met with experts, conducted research, and engaged in policy deliberations to prepare its final report.

To position Howard County as a leading film-ready jurisdiction, the FILM Task Force evaluated current capabilities, proposed operational improvements, and designed a comprehensive framework of recommendations for incentives, logistics, permitting, workforce, and location marketing. The Task Force focused its work across four major domains, each essential to establishing Howard County as a fully recognized Film-Ready Community:

1. Interagency Coordination and Process Streamlining
2. Incentives & Economic Development Tools
3. Location Assets & Industry Readiness
4. Marketing and Branding Strategies

In August, the FILM Task Force approved its Film-Ready Community Action Plan for Howard County, which will be a comprehensive strategic plan detailing short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations for building a sustainable local film economy.

Overall, the FILM Task Force developed 17 recommendations, identifying the following five as the highest priorities for local policy makers to consider:

1. Hiring a dedicated film liaison within the Howard County Tourism Council. The film liaison should be a central figure to manage film-related communications, inquiries, and marketing. Currently, film-related activities are fragmented between departments and agencies within Howard County Government and partner agencies. There is no central place or role for film productions to contact the County and navigate permitting, locations, incentives, and other processes. The Film Liaison would address this gap by offering coordinated and streamlined services to support a film-ready county.
2. Establish an appointed Film Commission, composed of relevant community leaders and subject matter experts, to continue to review County policy and advise the County, nonprofits, and private organizations on the best practices to make Howard County attractive for film productions.
3. Create a dedicated film website to serve as a central hub of information, marketing, and communication, allowing the County to share information and accept inquiries in one place.
4. Publish a database of local film locations to show off Howard County’s various scenic and film-ready locations. For example, Howard County is home to various parks, historic sites, and natural resources that would serve as excellent filming sites.
5. Invest in a comprehensive branding and marketing plan to advertise Howard County as a film-ready jurisdiction and a welcoming environment for film productions. Howard County is in a central, scenic area of Maryland, between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and with strong transportation and hospitality infrastructure.

Additional recommendations the Task Force suggest the County pursue include:

1. Creating an intake form for prospective film productions;
2. Reviewing and updating County policies on use of facilities;
3. Streamlining and creating a guide for the permitting process;
4. Developing a film guide for private organizations;
5. Establishing small grants for local and independent film productions;
6. Supporting and expanding local film festivals;
7. Participating in State-level advocacy for expanded incentives;
8. Investing in workforce development and apprenticeship opportunities in the creative economy;
9. Creating a Howard County film hospitality guide;
10. Developing creator-focused studio spaces;
11. Partnering with the Maryland Film Office to participate in a filming location database;
12. Becoming a member of the Association of Film Commissioners International

The Task Force’s 17 recommendations are designed to work together. A dedicated Film Liaison and Film Commission would give the County a consistent point of contact and ongoing oversight; streamlined permitting and updated facility-use policies would reduce the friction that has historically discouraged productions from choosing Howard County; new incentives, grants, and workforce partnerships would support both large-scale productions and the County’s independent filmmakers and creative workforce; and a coordinated marketing and branding strategy would ensure that Howard County’s efforts translate into real visibility within a competitive regional and national market.

To learn more about the Howard County FILM Task Force, visit the County’s “Film Industry and Location Marketing (FILM) Task Force” website.

Here’s what Task Force members had to say:

• Amanda Hof, Executive Director of Visit Howard County and Co-Chair of the FILM Task Force – “Howard County has the locations, talent and hospitality assets to become a premier destination for film and media production. This report provides a clear path to make our county more film-ready, attract new investment and showcase Howard County to audiences around the world.”
• Robert Neal Marshall, Co-Chair of the FILM Task Force – “Howard County has a rich history as a backdrop for major, award-winning productions, and this task force marks a major step toward reclaiming that position. Film production is a powerful economic driver and vital art form. By streamlining permitting, establishing dedicated leadership, and expanding our creative workforce, these recommendations help build a film-ready foundation locally while ensuring Howard County remains an active, cohesive voice in statewide legislative advocacy for Maryland’s film industry.”
• Josh Slates, Director of the Maryland Film Office – “The Maryland Film Office has been a proud strategic partner of the Howard County FILM Task Force since its initial meeting in February. We are aligned in many mutual beneficial pursuits, as we are equally committed to supporting burgeoning Maryland filmmakers and promoting local film and television production through targeted incentive programs at both the state and county level. One of the goals of the Task Force is to showcase and highlight the county's unique ability to host and support large scale studio productions such as the long-running HBO series Veep and the feature film Game Change. We wholeheartedly support the Task Force's recommendation of promoting inter-agency coordination within the county in order to reliably provide essential services and streamlined permitting processes to film and television production crews.”
• Jennifer Jones, CEO, Howard County Economic Development Authority – “Film and media represent a real economic development opportunity for Howard County. The industry creates opportunities for our small businesses, hospitality sector, creative talent, and workforce. This report gives us a framework to better connect those assets, reduce barriers to doing business here, and position Howard County to compete for new investment and production opportunities.”
• Julie Miller, Director of Media Relations and Communications at Columbia Association – “Howard County offers a unique blend of scenic landscapes, distinctive neighborhoods and vibrant community spaces, giving filmmakers a diverse range of locations to bring their stories to life. Now is the time to showcase these assets under a compelling brand, while making it clear to producers that Howard County is ready to welcome them.”
• Kristi Simon, President & CEO of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce and a member of the FILM Task Force – “Film and media production represents an exciting opportunity to diversify Howard County’s economy and create new opportunities for businesses of all sizes. When productions come to our community, they create a ripple effect that can benefit local restaurants, hotels, retailers, contractors, creatives and more. By making Howard County more film-ready and easier to navigate for production companies, we can attract new investment, support local businesses, create jobs, and generate economic activity while showcasing all that our county has to offer.”
• Dewan Clayborn, President and CEO, Central Maryland Chamber of Commerce – “Film is not a niche. It is a supply chain. Every production that chooses Howard County puts money into caterers, builders, hotels, electricians, and drivers who never appear on screen. The FILM Task Force gave this industry a front door and a plan, and the Central Maryland Chamber is ready to help our members walk through it.”