How Smart Incentives Shape BioHealth Growth: Ellen Harpel on Economic Development, Accountability, and Regional Competition

May 10, 2026

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Ellen D. Harpel, Ph.D., Founder of Smart Incentives, joins the conversation to explore a topic that has shaped the growth of the BioHealth Capital Region but has rarely been discussed directly on the podcast: economic development incentives. Ellen explains why state and local governments use incentives, how they influence business location and expansion decisions, and why effective programs need clear goals, active management, performance measures, and public accountability.

The discussion looks at how incentives support companies across the full business lifecycle, from startups and emerging firms to major employers making large-scale regional investments. Ellen and Rich also examine how recent biohealth activity in Maryland and Virginia reflects the importance of workforce development, site selection, public-private collaboration, and regional thinking. A win in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. strengthens the larger BioHealth Capital Region ecosystem.

Ellen also shares how organizations like BHI and Smart Incentives help companies, communities, and decision makers better understand the resources available to support growth, including financing programs, investor tax credits, grants, incubators, accelerators, and other support services. The episode closes with a practical look at transparency, evaluation, and why better data helps policymakers, economic developers, companies, and communities make stronger decisions about incentive programs.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant. https://thepodcastconsultant.com/

Ellen D. Harpel, Ph.D., is the Founder of Smart Incentives (https://smartincentives.org/), which helps communities make sound decisions throughout the economic development incentives process. Launched in 2013, Smart Incentives works with state, local, and national governments to design and implement incentive programs that are effective and responsible, with a focus on compliance monitoring, evaluation, transparency, and lasting community benefits. Ellen is also a Senior Research Fellow with the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness and an Affiliate Faculty member with the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.