Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced that Blink Charging Co., a leading global provider of electric vehicle charging equipment, is establishing its global headquarters at a 15,000 square-foot facility at 17301 Melford Boulevard in Prince George’s County. Complementing this pivotal move, Blink is also expanding its manufacturing capacity through the construction of a new LEED Gold-certified 30,000 square-foot production facility in Bowie.
"We are thrilled to welcome Blink’s headquarters to the Great State of Maryland. This decision doesn't just affirm our commitment to climate action – it also supports our work to create new jobs and make Maryland more competitive," said Gov. Moore. "Together, we will meet our goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2035, and we will ensure that climate justice drives economic justice."
The company’s headquarters, as well as its new production facility at 5081 Howerton Way, are contained within Melford Town Center, a mixed-use business community developed by St. John Properties, Inc. The production facility is expected to produce more than 50,000 charging units annually to cater to the rising demand for electric vehicles. With the relocation and planned manufacturing expansion, Blink hopes to increase environmentally-friendly employment opportunities in the county by creating more than 60 new positions within the first year.
In June 2022, Blink acquired EV infrastructure company SemaConnect and its Maryland manufacturing facilities. Blink stated that it would benefit from SemaConnect’s in-house research and development, hardware design, and manufacturing capabilities while capitalizing on its newfound Washington, D.C. presence.
“America is charging because Blink is charging," said Congressman Steny Hoyer. “When I launched my Make It In America agenda in 2010, I did so because I understood that for our economy to remain the strongest and most competitive in the world, we needed to ensure that manufacturing and energy production were happening here at home. I'm pleased that Blink Charging will help carry out that crucial work, while creating jobs that help fight the climate crisis, right here in Bowie. As Chair of the Regional Leadership Council, I look forward to continuing to work with the innovators at Blink, Governor Wes Moore, and our other partners in the public and private sectors across the country to create new opportunities for everyone to make it in Maryland and Make It In America."
"Blink Charging is proud and excited to be establishing our global headquarters and production facility in Maryland, marking a pivotal moment in our journey toward a greener future,” said Blink President and Chief Executive Officer Brendan Jones. “We are committed to implementing innovative technology and manufacturing processes to enhance efficiency, capability, and output speed while maintaining quality standards and are excited to be doing it here. We thank the state of Maryland for welcoming us.”
The Maryland expansion will also support Blink's growth by adding another production line, streamlining operations, and meeting the increasing demand for electric vehicles. This manufacturing facility will continue to adhere to U.S. “Buy American” requirements, helping the company increase domestic manufacturing and production of its products.
To help with project costs, the Maryland Department of Commerce has approved a $1 million conditional loan through the Advantage Maryland program. Prince George’s County also plans to provide a $120,000 conditional loan through its Economic Development Incentive Fund. The company is eligible for various other incentives, including the More Jobs for Marylanders program and the state's Job Creation Tax Credit.
“We couldn’t be happier that Blink has chosen Prince George’s County for its new headquarters,” said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson. “Being in close proximity to federal agencies, climate change advocates, and several metropolitan areas incorporating additional electric vehicles will benefit both the company’s bottom line and the environment throughout the Mid Atlantic.”
Blink's primary products and services include the Blink EV charging network, which uses proprietary, cloud-based software to operate, maintain, and track the EV charging stations connected to the network and the associated charging data. The final assembly of Series 6, Series 7, and Series 8 of L2 chargers occurs in Bowie, MD.
“We are grateful for Blink’s confidence in the Prince George’s County business climate, in our quality workforce, and in their ability to capitalize on the many advantages that their Bowie site brings,” said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “Blink’s decision to locate its corporate headquarters and expanded production of environmentally-friendly electric vehicle charging stations here sends a strong message about their confidence in the economic growth throughout the county.”