COLUMBIA, MD — As an official gesture toward supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs in the county and South Korea, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Howard County Economic Development Authority and Born2Global Centre, a Korean accelerator. The MOU confirms the partnership between the two entities that will create a soft landing zone at the Howard County Innovation Center for qualified South Korean startups.

"Earlier this year, I signed an MOU to launch our innovation center to support growing small businesses and supporting emerging entrepreneurs. Now, we are taking another innovative step forward to make our County a global destination for bold, exciting startups," said Ball in a statement. "Howard County, with the highest percentage of Korean-American residents in Maryland and over 170 Korean-American-owned businesses, has a strong connection to our neighbors in South Korea. Now, as the 'Silicon Valley' of the East Coast of the United States, we will partner with the 'Silicon Valley of South Korea' to grow our local economy." Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan expressed her excitement for the newly formed partnership that "signifies a wonderful collaboration between our two regions."