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Greater Crofton Chamber
Of Commerce
Member Spotlight Questionnaire
Name of Business: The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC)
Point of Contact: Steve Adams or info@aaedc.org
Length of time business has been operating: 30 years
Description of Business:
AAEDC is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Annapolis, Maryland. AAEDC’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for business growth in Anne Arundel County, thereby increasing job opportunities, expanding the tax base, and improving citizens’ quality of life. To do so, it provides the public with a host of services including financing, site selection assistance, permitting and zoning guidance, workforce development support, community revitalization, market research, and small business counseling and resources. On a larger scale, AAEDC plays a
vital role in enhancing commercial districts, improving infrastructure, and both growing and promoting business sectors such technology, agriculture, and maritime within the county.
What’s Your Why?
As a resident of Anne Arundel County, my why is getting to play a very small part in helping to sustain and celebrate our incredibly diverse regional economy. I take great pride in collecting, curating, and sharing information about programs and resources that are (hopefully) helpful to businesses of all shapes and sizes and
sectors, as well as directly connecting many business owners to AAEDC’s business development and finance teams. Getting to use my writing background to craft content is the icing on the cake!
What sets your business apart from others?
I think what truly sets us apart from many governmental organizations is our staff-wide focus on customer service. Though they are cliches, we really do operate as a team and we really are here to help. We share
information and refer business owners and businesses to each other’s departments on a daily basis, and we respond to all inquiries as quickly as possible – whether that means providing an answer ourselves or, if we
don’t have it, putting you in contact with someone who does. Put simply, we’re unique because we’re really able to do whatever we can to help all Anne Arundel County business owners’ businesses start, grow, and
thrive.
What are some of the personal rewards that come from your business?
Broadly, it’s rewarding every single time I find out that someone learned about a program or a resource that helped them from content that I communicated on behalf of AAEDC – whether through an email, social media,
or word of mouth. I also love seeing our audiences grow, since reaching more eyeballs means helping more business owners. Last but not least, it’s always awesome to hear that someone enjoyed listening to or watching
an episode of the My ArundelBiz Podcast, which I have the privilege of co-hosting with Grayson Orphe.
How long have you been a chamber member?
While AAEDC has been a chamber member for decades, I first became a member when I joined AAEDC, in July 2021, and was proud to become a board member in January 2023.
What benefits have you experienced with your chamber membership?
As a non-business owner in the unique position of managing AAAEDC’s sponsorship of and membership in all six chambers of commerce that operate in Anne Arundel County, I’d say the greatest benefits of our GCCC
membership are having countless opportunities to let GCCC members know about our programs and services (through presentations, at ribbon cuttings and networking events, etc.) and having a steadfast ally that very
regularly shares our content with GCCC members.
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