Community Invited To Weigh In On 184 Designs For New Official County Flag

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The community has been invited to attend a hybrid public hearing Sept. 30 to offer input about the 184 designs being considered by county officials for the new official Howard County flag.

The meeting will start at 6 p.m. at the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City.

"The design of a county flag is a once-in-a-generation process and the response to our call for designs was nothing short of inspiring. As we continue forward in our process of choosing an updated and modernized county flag design, one that is more in align with our present values, I encourage our community members to share their feedback on what flag they think best encompasses Howard County past, present and future," said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.

The 184 designs can be viewed online before the meeting. The hearing will be livestreamed via the County Council Website. In order to testify in-person or virtually, each individual must register via the Commission’s website no later than 1 p.m. Sept. 30. Sign-ups for in-person testimony will be available outside the hearing room from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday. Written testimony will be accepted via flag@howardcountymd.gov through Oct. 2.

“We’re excited to hear from the community about these incredible designs,” said Coleen West, executive director of the Howard County Arts Council and chair of the Flag Commission. “The Commission’s process is intended to be conducted with anonymity for the designer. We ask that everyone refrain from identifying their personal association with any designs.”

Following the public hearing, the Commission will review the designs and select up to 10 for a public vote this fall. By the winter of 2025, the Commission will select three finalists and publish its recommendations. The county executive then will evaluate the Commission’s recommendations and choose a design to present to the County Council for legislative approval. The three design finalists will each receive an honorarium of $1,000 for their work.