Job Creation Tax Credit (JCTC)

The Job Creation Tax Credit, under the Maryland Department of Commerce, is a hiring incentive for businesses that add new full-time jobs in Maryland. It is an income tax credit rather than a grant, and it is designed to reward payroll growth tied to in-state expansion. The program is still active, with a statutory sunset on January 1, 2027. Credits range from $3,000 per new job to $6,000 in revitalization areas, with a special $4,000 to $6,000 rate for qualified veteran positions. The state caps the program at $4 million a year and awards benefits on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants must meet minimum job thresholds of 60 jobs statewide, 25 in Priority Funding Areas, or 10 in designated counties, and the positions must pay at least 150 percent of state minimum wage with health and retirement benefits. The best fit is a company that can commit to real headcount, not a speculative hiring plan. Applications are strongest when the new jobs are already tied to a site, a payroll model, and a clear compliance path for wages and benefits. Businesses that can document the expansion early tend to move through the process more smoothly than firms still assembling the project.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.