With its first full year complete, the Maryland Governor’s Office of Business Advancement (GOBA) has impacted nearly 7,000 workers across the state.

Established in late 2024 through Governor Moore’s Executive Order (Strengthening Maryland’s Business Climate to Bolster Economic Competitiveness), GOBA provides concierge-level support to Maryland businesses by guiding them through permitting, licensing, and other municipal processes. As a division of the Maryland Department of Commerce, the office resolves regulatory conflicts, identifies funding opportunities, and provides myriad customized solutions for businesses across every sector.

GOBA successfully helped resolve problems on behalf of 80 Maryland businesses – from major companies to sole proprietors. These businesses are located in 17 jurisdictions, with half being minority- or women-owned entities.

Manufacturing, food services, healthcare, biotechnology, and agriculture are just a few of the 23 different industries served in 2025. The most frequent concern was navigating regulatory issues, followed by finding the best connections and representatives for programs and resources.

“GOBA and the Maryland Department of Commerce are often the first place businesses go when something isn’t working. But favorable outcomes are not possible without the solid partnerships we’ve built with state and local agencies,” said GOBA Director Luis O. Cardona, who credits partnerships with four dozen state, county, and local offices for moving Maryland’s business community forward.

“If GOBA is fulfilling its mission to make it easier to do business in Maryland, it’s thanks to the dozens of government professionals across our state who kept their cool, did their jobs, and consistently supported this office with excellence in 2025,” he said.