Manufacturing in Caroline County
Specialty manufacturers belong in Caroline County.
Caroline County is home to a diverse community of manufacturers. From guitars to plastics; chemicals to structural steel… Caroline County is the place to be!
Top 3 Reasons
you belong here
Caroline County is investing in a manufacturing workforce for the future. Our rural character produces a workforce of problem-solvers with a great work ethic.
Our proximity to major ports and metro markets (a total of 6 within 200 miles) makes logistics a breeze. And despite our prime location, costs of land and labor are very favorable.
Both Caroline County and the State of Maryland offer strong incentives for the manufacturing industry. Manufacturing is a top priority… You belong here!
workforce & incentives
Manufacturing has always been a major employment sector in Caroline County. We continue to invest heavily in our manufacturing workforce. The Advanced Manufacturing Professionals (AMP) program is preparing high school students for manufacturing careers. We’ve also partnered with Maryland MEP to hold “manufacturing bootcamps” that train workers specifically for local manufacturers. Let’s chat about how we can help ramp up your manufacturing workforce!
We love manufacturers! The Caroline County Manufacturing Tax Credit and Federalsburg Manufacturing Tax Credit incentivize companies that invest in real property expansions and improvements. The More Jobs for Marylanders Tax Credit offers a 10-year incentive for manufacturers that create at least 5 new jobs. The state also offers tax credits and incentives through the Federalsburg Enterprise Zone and North County Enterprise Zone. If you’re a manufacturer, Caroline County is where you belong. Let’s chat about your plans!
Manufacturing Industry
ambassadors
Caroline County is a great home for manufacturers! But of course, we’re a little biased. We invite you to reach out to our industry ambassadors for a candid conversation. They’ll be happy to share their first-hand experiences with manufacturing in Caroline County.
Crystal Steel designs and fabricates structural steel systems for large-scale projects such as bridges, hospitals, educational institutions, and stadiums. Crystal Steel expanded to Federalsburg in 2016. At full capacity, the Federalsburg plant will employ approximately 125 people.
Trenton Pipe Nipple Co. fabricates and distributes pipes, valves, and fittings for the commercial and industrial plumbing market. They currently employ approximately 20 people at their Federalsburg plant.
Manufacturing
success stories
M&M Refrigeration designs, manufactures, and installs industrial refrigeration systems for companies all over the world. Their systems are used in cold storage, food production, manufacturing, ice rink, and mining applications. The company has grown through its outstanding reputation for innovative solutions and superior service.
M&M was founded by Caroline County native, Duffy McConnell. His savvy leadership has helped the business thrive, even during difficult economic times. Like most companies, M&M was affected by the Great Recession in the late 2000’s. While existing customers put the brakes on capital investments, Duffy seized the opportunity to focus on international growth. By building relationships and marketing M&M internationally, Duffy and his team were able to offset much of the domestic decline in business. Now that the economy has recovered, M&M’s business is thriving with a strong portfolio of both domestic and international customers.
M&M’s loyalty to its employees has also played a critical role in the company’s success. When work slowed during the downturn, many companies laid off a significant portion of their workforce. M&M took a different approach. They actually put their talented engineers, welders, and machinists to work expanding their Federalsburg production facility. M&M has some of the most skilled workers in the region, and they didn’t want to lose them. Duffy knew that they would need the extra space when the economy recovered, so he retained his workforce and prepared for the future.
This has proven to be a prescient decision. M&M has fully utilized the new space and is now considering another expansion. In 2016, Duffy was recognized for his industry leadership with an award from the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland. We are incredibly proud our “native son” and are grateful to have M&M Refrigeration in our community!
Crystal Steel Fabricators is an international company that designs and manufactures structural steel and ornamental metals. Robust growth left Crystal Steel looking for more production space for its structural steel division. They considered many locations throughout Delmarva for their expansion before choosing Federalsburg in Caroline County. Crystal Steel acquired a 100,000 sq. ft. facility with rail access in September 2016, along with an adjacent buildable lot.
There were several factors that influenced Crystal Steel’s decision to expand to Caroline County. From their first visit, Crystal Steel felt embraced by Federalsburg and Caroline County. A team of town, county, and state representatives helped the company understand permitting processes, incentives, and workforce resources.
Crystal Steel was able to leverage several incentive programs including the Caroline County Manufacturing Tax Credit, Federalsburg Manufacturing Tax Credit, Federalsburg Enterprise Zone Tax Credits, and other State incentives. Crystal Steel also worked with Maryland MEP to host a manufacturing bootcamp. The bootcamp provided training for 15 production employees, all of whom were hired by Crystal Steel after completing the program.
We are thrilled that Crystal Steel chose to grow their business in Caroline County. And we think Crystal Steel has seen that our enthusiasm and support do not end after the initial courtship. They are now part of our business community, and our first priority is always to take care of our existing businesses.
Want to know more? Crystal Steel Executive VP Emad Mohamed is one of our Industry Ambassadors. Email Emad to get his perspective on manufacturing in Caroline County.
Tanglewood Conservatories designs and manufactures stunning conservatories, greenhouses, and pool enclosures. The company requires a unique combination of skills. Every project is a one-of-a-kind architectural masterpiece that incorporates fine detail and craftsmanship. But every project is also a unique production challenge. Tanglewood’s workforce must master both craftsmanship and manufacturing best practices.
Under the leadership of its founders, Alan Stein and Nancy Virts, Tanglewood has taken a creative approach to developing its workforce. Tanglewood played a pivotal role in launching the Advanced Manufacturing Professionals (AMP) program for local high school students. The company has contributed countless hours to help the Board of Education develop the program’s curriculum. Alan also helped rally his fellow manufacturing executives to support AMP. The result is a robust program that will prepare students not only for careers with Tanglewood, but with specialty manufacturers throughout the region.
Tanglewood has continued to demonstrate their commitment to workforce development through the creation of their non-profit, Untangled Minds. Untangled Minds is an after-school program that helps students develop life skills such as work ethic, goal setting, and teamwork.
Tanglewood’s leadership reflects the character and culture of Caroline County’s business community. We find collaborative solutions that help everyone succeed. When your business comes to Caroline County, you’ll be joining a strong network of manufacturing peers. You belong here!