MEDA Announces 2026 Economic Development Annual Award Winners
Havre de Grace, MD (February 11, 2026) – The Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 MEDA Annual Awards, sponsored by Miles & Stockbridge. Each year, the MEDA Awards recognize the people, programs, projects, and initiatives that drive economic development and strengthen communities throughout the State of Maryland.
“Each year, it is inspiring to witness the collective impact of the people, projects, programs, and initiatives working together to drive progress across Maryland,” said Tammi Thomas, president of MEDA’s Board of Directors. “This year’s award winners reflect a strong commitment to the state. Individual efforts that, taken together, continue to advance long-term progress and help ensure Maryland remains a place where communities thrive, and businesses choose to grow.”
The MEDA Economic Development Project Award will be presented to Wexford Science & Technology and the University of Maryland BioPark 4 MLK Project, recognizing private-sector leadership and commitment to economic development in Maryland. This catalytic mixed-use life sciences development connects the University of Maryland BioPark, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), and the University of Maryland Medical Center, while also delivering critically needed second-stage wet lab space for growing life sciences and biotechnology companies, helping them scale and remain in Baltimore City.
The Economic Development Program Award, which recognizes economic development entities for innovative programs that advance best practices, will be presented in both the Small Community and Large Community categories. In the Small Community category, Crafted in Bowie, Old Town Bowie’s Maker District Program, is being recognized for operationalizing the vision to transform one of Maryland’s most historic neighborhoods into a vibrant Maker District that blends heritage, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In the Large Community category, Maryland Global Gateway Soft Landing is being recognized as a first-in-the-nation model that intentionally connects international companies with Maryland’s specialized partner incubators, accelerators, and innovation centers. The program offers foreign companies considering a permanent presence in the United States six months of free membership in one of 17 incubators and accelerators across Maryland and tracks partnerships formed, jobs created, and collaborative projects launched, contributing directly to Maryland’s innovation and employment growth.
The Economic Development Marketing Award honors organizations that achieve significant results through an overall marketing or branding campaign. It will be presented to Building Markets for Wild-Caught Blue Catfish initiative, recognizing an innovative program that advances economic development best practices. Led by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the program works to expand domestic and international markets for Maryland wild- caught blue catfish.
This year, an honorable mention will be awarded to O2J Visitation LLC for the Visitation Hotel in the City of Frederick in the Economic Development Project category, recognizing the transformation of the historic 1846 Visitation Academy into a mixed-use destination that blends historic preservation with modern hospitality and residential uses. An additional honorable mention will be awarded to Mobilize Montgomery in the Economic Development Program category, which was created to address an unprecedented workforce disruption in Montgomery County, home to more than 50,000 federal workers, following federal budget cuts and workforce reductions that began in early 2025.
The 2026 award winners will be recognized at the MEDA Awards Banquet on April 27, held during the MEDA Annual Conference, April 26–28, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge, Maryland. For more information, visit medamd.com.
About MEDA
MEDA is a nonprofit organization of economic development professionals. Established in 1961, MEDA members promote the economic well-being of Maryland by working to improve the state’s business climate and the professionalism of those in the field of economic development.
MEDA’s membership includes economic development practitioners employed by the government, businesses, and chambers of commerce, as well as other professionals with an interest in the economy of Maryland. Through its regular meetings, special programs, and projects, members address such diverse issues as local planning, workforce, transportation, international trade, tourism, and finance. To learn more about MEDA, visit https://www.medamd.com/.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Mia Vaccaro
mia@pprstrategies.com
240.608.4446
