Copyright Baltimore Sun
In Maryland, the professionalism, service and sacrifice of our military are woven into every pillar of our community. My experience at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, and later as a naval officer, showed me how seriously Maryland takes its responsibility to the military, its service members and their families. That knowledge made it especially easy to join Gov. Wes Moore’s administration as secretary for the Maryland Department of Commerce. Maryland is the home of the Naval Academy, one of the nation’s top public liberal arts colleges, according to U.S. News & World Report. This renowned leadership institution trains future service members in all facets of life, and after their military service, many of these young men and women return to Maryland to enter our workforce or build their own business. As a veteran, I’m proud to represent a state setting the bar for business, health care and opportunity for all veterans. Through numerous programs and initiatives, Maryland is creating a healthy environment for veterans seeking business headquarters and a place to call home. A federal and military hub Maryland ranks second among the 50 states as the best for military retirees. Specifically, we rank first in quality of life and ninth in health care. Maryland is home to approximately 360,000 veterans and another 100,000 active duty service members, reservists, National Guard and dependents. Approximately 7.6% of adults who live in Maryland are veterans. This includes more than 23,000 of the state’s federal workers, or roughly 16% of the state’s federal workforce, according to the most recent available data by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Service to our country is part of Maryland’s DNA, and we make every effort to build a state in which servicemembers and their families can not just live, but thrive for generations to come. Securing prosperity Economic security is essential to a thriving home, and we look to strengthen opportunities for our state’s veterans. From a business perspective, Maryland offers incentives to support the success of veteran-owned companies. For example: The Military Personnel and Veteran-owned Small Business Loan Program provides no-interest loans for businesses owned by military reservists, veterans and National Guard personnel, and for small businesses that employ them. To honor the work that they do and encourage the support of veteran-owned businesses, we incentivize employers to give preference to veterans when hiring. The Job Creation Tax Credit provides an income tax credit to small businesses that hire at least one qualified veteran employee to fill a net new full-time position. The Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) Program provides contracting opportunities on state-funded procurements for qualified veteran-owned small businesses. Designated agencies and departments are directed to spend at least 3% of the dollar value of their procurement contracts with certified VSBE firms. Our commitment to veterans is backed up by the policies and programs we enact, and I am deeply proud to continue that work on behalf of everyone who served this country. No one left behind We take seriously the need for comprehensive veterans’ support, including health care and quality of life. There’s a reason Maryland ranked seventh in the nation for our veteran care. The state has a large number of Veterans Benefits Administration facilities per capita, ensuring veterans receive dedicated care. A program that originated in Baltimore City, the Veterans Treatment Court, recently expanded to all of Central Maryland. The program offers veterans voluntary, court-supervised services such as treatment for drug and substance abuse, mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families also provides assistance to veterans, their dependents and survivors with several programs focused on leading military members through life’s transitions. Gov. Moore recently appointed retired U.S. Army Colonel Ed Rothstein, a strong and inspirational leader, as the agency’s new acting secretary after a 30-year military career. But caring for veterans is about more than the volume of services. The method and attentiveness in which we do so matter. We leave no stone unturned in our mission to expand access to veteran health care, and this includes the embrace of the latest innovative technologies. For example, the Queen Anne’s County Veteran and Military Support Alliance made history recently as the first veteran service organization in the nation to leverage artificial intelligence to strengthen VA disability claim submissions. Maryland aims to provide more efficient, dependable service for our veterans. Service is who we are The combination of job opportunities, robust health care and access to entrepreneurship makes Maryland an attractive home for veterans, and we will never waver in our commitment to them. Service is a core component of who we are, and central to my role at the Maryland Department of Commerce. I would not have taken on this responsibility without Maryland’s demonstrated support for veterans, and I am honored to serve alongside veteran leaders like Gov. Moore and Secretary Rothstein who embody this principle. If you are a veteran in the market for new opportunities, consider calling Maryland home. We are waiting to welcome you. Harry Coker Jr. is secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce.
