Reprinted from the Comptroller Connection, Small Business Edition, August 20, 2025
This summer has been a time of connection and collaboration across Maryland. Our team met with local leaders, celebrated innovations, and shared resources to help businesses and nonprofits grow.
Highlights included a tour of Frederick County, visiting Ion Storage, joining Governor Moore for the Liatris Labs expansion in Rockville, and welcoming Coforma to Pike and Rose in Bethesda. We also connected with entrepreneurs and partners at the AAPI Chamber of Commerce/HoCo Council Summer Connect in Ellicott City, the Cyber Howard Maryland Networking Event, and Power Moves, a leadership discussion for government contractors in Columbia.
In addition to our visits on the ground, we continued hosting webinars last month focused on recent tax changes and hosted events to promote the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). We also wrapped up another successful Maryland Tax-Free Week, boosting families and businesses during the busy back-to-school season.
As always, our office is here to support you whether you are celebrating a milestone, navigating challenges, or seeking ways to connect with state resources. We look forward to visiting your business, hearing your story, and working together to keep Maryland moving forward.
My best,
Brooke E. Lierman
Comptroller of Maryland
Advisory Council Application
Calling all business leaders!
The Comptroller of Maryland’s office is excited to announce that applications for the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland’s 2026-2028 term of the Comptroller’s Advisory Councils, including the Business Advisory Council, are now open through Friday, September 5, 2025.
For more information, please visit https://www.marylandcomptroller.gov/Advisory.html, and to apply, check out the Advisory Council Application Form.
Hardship Assistance from the Maryland Comptroller’s Office:
If you’re facing financial hardship and struggling to pay your Maryland state tax liabilities, our office offers programs to help:
Offer in Compromise (OIC)
Tax Payment Plans
Fresh Start Tax Payments Program
Important to Remember:
Compliance: It’s crucial to stay compliant with future tax obligations and make timely payments to avoid further penalties. Outstanding compliance issues must be addressed immediately. Contact the small business director to resolve them.
Contacting the Comptroller: For general business tax assistance, you can call the Taxpayer Service Section at 410-260-7980 (Central Maryland) or 1-800-MDTAXES (1-800-638-2937) (elsewhere) or check contact phone numbers for specific needs.
Taxpayer Advocate: You can reach the Taxpayer Advocate at 410-260-6222 or TaxpayerAdvocate@marylandtaxes.gov.
To contact the Office of the Comptroller regarding small business matters, please get in touch with:
Jinal Contractor at jcontractor@marylandtaxes.gov
Small Business and Community Development Director
Registration is open for #MANOAC25 – Bridging Communities, October 8 and 9, 2025
This year, the Office of the Comptroller is holding its second annual nonprofit conference, Bridging Communities, as part of the Maryland Nonprofits 2025 Annual Conference. Bridging Communities will be held on October 8 as a pre-conference for the October 9 Maryland Nonprofits Annual Conference.
It will feature panels on state resources for community development financing, including the new Maryland Community Investment Corporation, revitalization tax credits, and green banks. Individuals can register for both conference days or the Comptroller’s sessions on October 8.
Register now: Maryland Nonprofits 2025 Annual Conference
Fall 2025 Upcoming Events & Training Opportunities
Thursday, September 11: CEO of the Year & The Power 10 Awards 2025 hosted by Baltimore Business Journal (BBJ)
Friday, September 12, 2025: Ready, Set, GROW! Procurement Connections Workshops!
Tuesday, September 16: Small Business Resource Day for Central Maryland hosted by U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Baltimore District Office
Thursday, September 25: Metro’s meet the primes
Wednesday, October 8: Bridging Communities Conference, Organized by the Comptroller of Maryland
Thursday, October 09: Meet the Primes 2025 hosted by Baltimore County Public Schools
Interested in Doing Business with the State?
The Comptroller of Maryland’s Procurement Forecast for FY26 can be accessed here:
Procurement Forecasting Database and select Comptroller from a drop-down menu.
Don’t forget to sign your business up on the eMaryland Marketplace Advantage “Bid Board” for access to the electronic solicitation notifications and, depending on the procurement, the ability to bid online: The Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program to self-certify your small business in Maryland.
The Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program to become a certified minority business in Maryland; and The Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (VSBE) Program to complete the 3-step certification process.
About Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s mission is to enhance and promote a business-friendly environment for current and prospective enterprises and to advocate for policies that support and strengthen the economic vitality of Talbot County. The department’s vision for Talbot County is built on the principles of strong communities, empowered businesses, and innovative solutions.
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