Set to open in Owings Mills and launch online this fall, “The Collective” is a new brick-and-mortar and virtual platform for Maryland’s small businesses to show themselves and the state's thriving entrepreneurial landscape off a little. With support from the Community College of Baltimore County's (CCBC) Center for Business Innovation, as well as funding from CCBC and the Ratcliffe Foundation, The Collective has seemingly emerged to help those who have embarked on the journey of entrepreneurship.

The Collective invites Maryland's small businesses to come together along two distinct avenues for participation: For those behind product-based businesses, it features an exclusive brick-and-mortar home at Metro Centre over in Owings Mills. Organizers say it's a carefully curated space that is poised to captivate shoppers seeking the finest locally crafted goods. It’s said that it is more than a marketplace; it is also a showcase that weaves the narrative of each maker into the shopping experience. Sounds a lot like what Made In Baltimore (MIB) has been doing since around 2016, but the more, the merrier when it comes to small business support.

What is different from MIB is a spotlight on service-based businesses in The Collective's online showcase. Seems like it'll be a virtual realm for those seeking a diverse array of services, from website designers to event planners to indulgent pet spas to precision-driven car detailing experts. 

And yes, organizers are looking for entrepreneurs to join. For best consideration, The Collective recommends completing its applications by September 5, 2023. Learn more here.