Howard County received $770,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds to be used in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The County is planning to grant these funds to housing providers (such as the Housing Commission, Bridges to Housing Stability, Heritage Housing Partners and Community Action Council) to provide rent assistance to tenants that could be facing eviction for non-payment of rent due to COVID-19. 

As the County braces for revenue impacts potentially exceeding $35 million in fiscal year 2020 and significant impacts beyond due to the COVID-19 virus, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and Howard County Public School System Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano jointly announced the partial delay of a plan to eliminate the $39.2 million HCPSS Health and Dental Fund deficit.

Howard County provided guidance to essential businesses on required face coverings for employees, based on Governor Hogan’s Executive Order yesterday. Effective Saturday, April 18th, at 7:00 a.m., all retail establishments and food service staff must wear face coverings in areas open to the public and other staff members, and when interacting with customers.

County Executive Calvin Ball announced progress on multiple lawsuits being filed by Howard County on behalf of residents.

Today, Governor Hogan signed an Executive Order requiring all residents to wear face masks at all stores, pharmacies, or on public transportation, effective Saturday April 18th at 7:00 am. Face coverings can be homemade using bandanas, scarves, or t-shirts or residents may also wear disposable or cloth masks. Tutorials for homemade masks are available online from the Center for Disease Control.

Howard County releases overview of the COVID-19 impact on its operating budget, focusing on the the revenue and expenditure impacts resulting from this pandemic.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced today COVID-19 cases will be broken down by zip code on the county's COVID-19 case dashboard. Cases broken down by age will also be available. 

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball launches "HoCo Farms Connect," an innovative new tool that allows farms to list their produce and other products that are available for purchase, connecting county residents with county farms.

Today, the Howard County Health Department confirmed additional deaths due to coronavirus in Howard County, bringing the total deaths in Howard County to nine. The additional deaths were two women in their 60s, two women in their 80s, a man in his 30s, and a man in his 60s.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the enhanced stream debris removal program, part of the Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan, was triggered last night after more than an hour of severe sustained winds.

Today, County Executive Calvin Ball signed an Executive Order allowing one-time discretionary bonus payments to personnel who must report to work to perform mission critical work. The order provides a $1,500 bonus to full-time on-site personnel and $600 to those who are intermittently on-site.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball signed an Executive Order today allowing one-time discretionary bonus payments to personnel who must report to work to perform mission critical work. The order provides a $1,500 bonus to full-time on-site personnel and $600 to those who are intermittently on-site.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball signed an Executive Order today allowing one-time discretionary bonus payments to personnel who must report to work to perform mission critical work. The order provides a $1,500 bonus to full-time on-site personnel and $600 to those who are intermittently on-site. The Executive Order can be viewed here. 

While the Alpha Ridge Landfill remains open at this time during Governor's 'Stay at Home' Executive Order, the Landfill should only be used by residents who do not have curbside collection service (either provided by the County or a private hauler).

oday, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball hosted a press conference to provide updates on the COVID-19 response. Ball announced the third Howard County death from coronavirus, a woman in her 80s with underlying health conditions.

Howard County was designated by Governor Hogan today as a “Hot Spot” within the state of Maryland, allowing the region to be a priority for federal assistance.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will hold a press conference on April 8th at noon, to address the ongoing response to COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued new guidance on cloth face coverings and now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain such as grocery stores and pharmacies. Since many people infected with the coronavirus have few or no symptoms, this is a step to help prevent those people from transmitting the virus to others. It is not a measure to protect you from catching the virus. 

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball to visit the new COVID-19 drive-thru testing site in Columbia on Tuesday, April 7th. 

The Howard County Economic Development Authority joined with economic development organizations from Anne Arundel, Charles, Frederick, Prince George’s, and Montgomery Counties in signing a Joint Statement on Regional Collaboration among Maryland Capital Region Local Economic Development Organizations to outline their collective commitment to growing a stronger Maryland Capital Region.  

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and the Office of Human Trafficking Prevention to hold the second annual Howard County conference on November 8, 2019, to highlight efforts to identify, eliminate and prevent sexual and labor trafficking in our region.

On Saturday, October 19, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will join the Department of Community Resources and Services and its Office on Aging and Independence in hosting “Master Aging: Engage, Educate, Inspire,” a reimagination of the 50+ EXPO, which has been the premier event for older adults in Howard County for 20 years.

On Friday, October 18, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and other Howard County leaders will gather for a vigil and wreath laying to honor the memory and legacy of the late United States Representative Elijah Cummings.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has announced major updates to the Howard County Forest Conservation Act, which had not been updated since the 1990s, to bring it into compliance with state law and strengthen environmental regulation.

Howard County’s Department of Public Works to hold a public meeting on Thursday, October 24, to present plans to restore approximately 1,300 linear feet of the Carrolls Branch and 700 linear feet of two unnamed tributaries, and to restore and create approximately 4.76 acres of primarily forested wetland ecosystem in the area.