Friday, October 29, 2010

Frederick County's Citizens Care & Rehabilitation Center unveils Pink Glove Dance on YouTube

In 2009, Medline, America's largest privately-held national manufacturer and distributor of health care supplies and services, released a Pink Glove Dance video filmed at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. This year, they released The Sequel, comprised of 20 dances hosted at healthcare facilities across America. The response the original video and the Sequel received from the healthcare community, survivors and family members of survivors was overwhelming and heartwarming. Medline was flooded with calls, e-mails and letters about the joy the video was bringing.

In September 2010, Citizens Care and Rehabilitation Center's Director of Nursing, Benita Fisher, herself a 12 year breast cancer survivor, approached the marketing director about Citizens hosting our own Pink Glove Dance. So, with one hand-held video/still digital camera, a tape recorder playing the "official" pink glove dance song ("You Won't Dance Alone" by the band Best Day Ever) and the enthusiasm of our 200 employees, 150 residents, and their families and friends, we filmed our own video on October 13, 2010.

Our Pink Glove Day had an added element, though. In addition to raising awareness through the video, we were also able to raise $1,000 to donate to the Bettie Jane Fund at the Cancer Care Center of Frederick. The funds, raised will help Frederick County residents going through breast cancer diagnosis & treatment to cover the cost of medications which they can't otherwise afford.

Citizens is home to several breast cancer survivors among both our resident and employee population, and we hope that this Pink Glove Dance will show the greater Frederick Community how much we care. To view the video, visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiUgEqRVLWw. Key Word/Title: Citizens' Pink Glove Dance 2010

For more information or to cover our World Premiere video screening, contact Margie Weaver at (301) 600-3702 or mmweaver@frederickcountymd.gov.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

OED Attending Mid-Atlantic Biotech Conference Today


OED is at the Mid-Atlantic Biotech Conference today in Bethesda along with the City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development and several Frederick biotech firms. This conference, now in its 6th year, is one of the country's premier biotech conferences. Helen Riddle, OED's Deputy Director reports, "Our booth is busy and we're making good contacts." She sent this photo from the conference today in real time of representatives from ImQuest Biosciences and Meridian BioGroup.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Business Appreciation Month Business Profile: Everedy Square & Shab Row

As a courtesy for being a part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) 2010 Business Appreciation Month (BAM), we have offered all Frederick County BAM businesses the opportunity to use OED’s social media outlets to help market their business. Information is provided by each company and edited for content as needed by OED.

Celebrate the Magic of he Holidays at Everedy Square & Shab Row in historic, downtown Frederick

Holiday Open House - First Saturday
November 6th, 4pm - 9pm
The Holiday season begins at our festively decorated shops and eateries. Preview the newest holiday merchandise amid buildings ablaze with twinkling white lights!

Enjoy old fashioned hospitality and refreshments, entertainment by the Jefferson Street Strutters, and free trolley rides AND free horse-drawn carriage rides.


Santa's Arrival
Friday, November 26th, 7pm

Santa Claus arrives Friday evening at 7pm in a horse-drawn carriage to greet children among 50,000 twinkling white lights and brilliant sounds of the season. Welcome Santa as he disembarks at the Everedy Square Plaza where he’ll join the Fredericktowne Singers in leading the crowd with your favorite carols. Then, follow Santa to I Made This! for a kid-friendly party and personal visits with Santa. Light refreshments will be served. Parents – don’t forget to bring your camera for photos.

For more information, please visit www.everedysquare.com or call 301-662-4140.

Business Appreciation Month Business Profile: BioAssay Works

As a courtesy for being a part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) 2010 Business Appreciation Month (BAM), we have offered all Frederick County BAM businesses the opportunity to use OED’s social media outlets to help market their business. Information is provided by each company and edited for content as needed by OED.

BioAssay Works is producing concentrated gold sol, gold conjugates and custom conjugation for nanoparticle research. We also offer rapid-assay development services resulting in ultra-sensitive rapid assays with ELISA-like sensitivity. Gold sols are produced from 15 to 50 OD. The proprietary process avoids the routine boiling and centrifugation steps to remove free antibody producing uniform monomer particles optimized for rapid-assays. Also offered is our new, KIM-1 acute kidney marker rapid assay as well as ELISA format. For additional information, contact Stephen Mefferd at 301-874-8888.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Business Appreciation Month Business Profile: Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley

As a courtesy for being a part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) 2010 Business Appreciation Month (BAM), we have offered all Frederick County BAM businesses the opportunity to use OED’s social media outlets to help market their business. Information is provided by each company and edited for content as needed by OED.

FREE program on October 26, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at West Frederick Middle School on the topic(s) of “Bullying/Cyberbullying”. Registration can be done electronically on our website – www.gimv.org or by calling our GoodGuides™ youth mentoring initiative staff at (301) 662-0622, ext. 235.

Local Company Enters Into Financial Partnership

Global Trade & Development Consulting (GTDC) a client of The Frederick Innovative Technology Center and Cedar Street Capital, LLC of New York City have signed a financial partnership.
GTDC is a newly formed company established to seek out global investment opportunities and to bridge the gap between the demands for Foreign Direct Investment and to attract and garner private capital for development goals in the sub-Saharan countries in Africa. GTDC has identified clients in Ethopia, Mali, Uganda and Zambia.
Cedar Street Capital, LLC is a venture capital firm specializing in seed and early stage technology companies, The firm primarily invests in companies located witin a radius that extends from Boston to the Metro Washington market.

Business Appreciation Month Business Profile: Sunshine Management Coporation

As a courtesy for being a part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) 2010 Business Appreciation Month (BAM), we have offered all Frederick County BAM businesses the opportunity to use OED’s social media outlets to help market their business. Information is provided by each company and edited for content as needed by OED.

Sunshine Management Corporation is proud to present the following opportunities for those in need of commercial office and warehouse space. For more information about these properties and other available commercial and residential properties, please contact our office at 301-663-8383 or visit our website at http://www.sunshinemanagement.net/.


Conveniently located 6500+- sq ft warehouse/printing/manufacturing and offices on one floor
* Lots of parking and outside storage lot space * M1 zoning * $4062/month IG * 8'x8' roll up door at truck height dock * Gas Heat *Central a/c in office area and window units in warehouse * Cinderblock with Vinyl insulated siding * 11' ceiling height * Security Alarm *Exterior lights


TJ View Medical Professional Condominiums, 61 Thomas Johnson Dr. Frederick, Md. 21702
Prices include a very generous $30.00 per sq. foot Tenant Improvement allowance
* All site work and landscaping in accordance with plans * Masonry Exterior * Fiberglass Exterior doors, Low E windows * Framed and insulated demising and exterior walls * Aluminum pre-finished spouting * Sewer and water extended to unit * Electric conduit extended to unit * Natural Gas, Cable High Speed Internet available * Conceptual space plan * Condo Fees are estimated at $2.00 per square foot * All plans, specifications, features, dimensions, prices are subject to change without notice

Business Appreciation Month Business Profile: Serenity Treatment Center

As a courtesy for being a part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) 2010 Business Appreciation Month (BAM), we have offered all Frederick County BAM businesses the opportunity to use OED’s social media outlets to help market their business. Information is provided by each company and edited for content as needed by OED.


Serenity Treatment Center, Inc. has been described as a positive light shining in the Frederick community. This new and innovative center has taken treatment for addictions to a whole new level of sophistication. “We exist for the client,” is a statement the center builds its momentum on. The variety of services is geared to meet the needs of the working adult, adolescent in school, or those that have daytime availability.

Serenity Treatment Center, Inc. offers outpatient substance abuse to adults and adolescents who are suffering from the chronic illness of addiction. The clinicians you would encounter have a combined 30 years of service excellence in addictions and mental health. The environment is warm and welcoming as you enter. Each individual is treated with respect and integrity, and a treatment plan is developed in conjunction with the clinicians, to best fit the individual’s most acute issues. Clients are invited to join some of the highly focused groups offered such as the Adult day or evening group, Adolescent, Young Adult, Women’s only, Executives only, Adult Anger Management, Adolescent Anger Management, Adult and Adolescent Female Trauma group, and our DUI/DWI education groups. Both individual and group therapy can be recommended initially.

Anyone interested in receiving services at Serenity Treatment Center, Inc. is welcome to tour the facility, meet the owners and clinicians and ask any pertinent questions. Assessments are made within 24-48 hours of the initial call 6 days a week, and Serenity Treatment Center, Inc. accepts all major health insurances including Maryland Medicaid. It is our goal to help individuals and place the primary focus on sobriety and beginning the road to recovery. Contact Serenity Treatment Center, Inc. at 301.898.2627 or visit their website at www.serenitytreatmentcenter.com

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Business Appreciation Month Business Profile: Marie Crawford's Bridal

As a courtesy for being a part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) 2010 Business Appreciation Month (BAM), we have offered all Frederick County BAM businesses the opportunity to use OED’s social media outlets to help market their business. Information is provided by each company and edited for content as needed by OED.


Brides-to-be will work up a sweat at Frederick's first boot camp just for brides! Sponsored by Marie Crawford's Bridal, Buff Brides Boot Camp is a 8-week work out regimen held at Urbana Community Park, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7am, January 4 - February 24, 2011. The boot camp's 16 workout sessions with trainer Lauren Zegowitz will focus on both aerobic and resistance training so brides will tone muscle and lose inches. Participants will also receive an Under Armour t-shirt and several giveaways and discounts from local wedding vendors including discounts on honeymoon packages from Cruise One! Visit http://www.buffbridesbootcamp.wordpress.com/ for more information. To sign up, call (301) 253-BOOT or email buffbridesbootcamp@gmail.com

Business Appreciation Month Business Profile: Verbena Day Spa

As a courtesy for being a part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) 2010 Business Appreciation Month (BAM), we have offered all Frederick County BAM businesses the opportunity to use OED’s social media outlets to help market their business. Information is provided by each company and edited for content as needed by OED.


Verbena Day Spa is located on 14 West Patrick St. Conveniently close to offices, banks, restaurants, and the Weinberg Center for the Arts. A beautiful serene space that strives to provide you with luxurious pampering for both gentlemen and ladies.

Some of the services we offer: Dermalogica Facials and Products; Eyelash Extensions-which are meant to add color and depth and give the illusion of wearing mascara while still looking like natural lashes; Ear Candling-has been originally used in India, China, Tibet, Egypt and by Native Americans to relieve sinus pressure, ear aches and hearing loss. As an alternative therapy, Ear Candling used today helps to stimulate the body’s circulation to the ear and upper lymph system. It also helps alleviate pressure in the head, respiratory system and other parts of the body, as well as helping to prevent ear infection; and Holistic Hot Stone Massage-an all embracing treatment incorporating a face and scalp massage. A body massage that incorporates hot stones will surely relax you after bringing powerful de-stressing benefits to the mind and body. To see a full range of our spa services as well as our Spa Packages, visit our website: http://www.verbenadayspa.com/

We offer gift cards for any amount or service. A great gift for any occasion, our gift cards can be used towards retail as well, and may be purchased at the store or by phone. We also have Bridal and Spa Packages. Inquire with our fabulous front desk for more information. If you are looking for gifts other than spa products, We have a wide range of jewelry, handmade luxurious scarves, and GloMineral Makeup. Our lovely staff can even giftwrap for you! Stop by or call us today at 240-575-5333!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Business Appreciation Month Business Profile: Weinberg Center for the Arts

As a courtesy for being a part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) 2010 Business Appreciation Month (BAM), we have offered all Frederick County BAM businesses the opportunity to use OED’s social media outlets to help market their business. Information is provided by each company and edited for content as needed by OED.


Weinberg Center for the Arts, a municipal facility of the City of Frederick, is located at 20 West Patrick Street in downtown Frederick, Maryland. The historic theatre opened in 1926 as the Tivoli, and was donated to the City of Frederick in 1978. Today as one of the region’s premier presenting facilities, the 1,100 seat Weinberg Center offers professional LIVE! Series, including dance, music, theatre, family performances and films, weekday performances for students, and classic movies. Performance space and professional services are available to a variety of community arts groups, civic and business organizations, and other arts promoters.

The 2010/2011 season includes performances by Emmylou Harris, Maceo Parker, The Golden Dragon Acrobats, Esperanza Spalding, Jeff Daniels and many more. For more information about upcoming events at the Weinberg Center, please call the Box Office at 301-600-2828 or visit www.weinbergcenter.org.

Business Appreciation Month Business Profile: DanceWorks Ballroom

As a courtesy for being a part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) 2010 Business Appreciation Month (BAM), we have offered all Frederick County BAM businesses the opportunity to use OED’s social media outlets to help market their business. Information is provided by each company and edited for content as needed by OED.


Sweep her off her feet this and every Friday and Saturday night. Fifteen dollars per person includes dance lesson, two hours of dancing, and light refreshments, very often with chocolate fountain. 7:30pm-10:00pm Call 301-228-2591 to make your reservation. www.DanceWorksBallroom.com

No partner or previous dance experience required. Suede-soled ballroom shoes are required, but if you don't have yours yet you may borrow a pair of ours. This protects our floor as well as your knees and ankles. Give us your shoe size when you make your reservation and we'll set some aside for you.

DanceWorks, Ballroom and Latin, next to Rita's Italian Ice, offers Private and Group lessons in Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Quickstep, Rumba, ChaCha, Bolero, East Coast Swing, Samba, Mambo, Merengue, West Coast Swing, Jive, Paso Doble, Argentine Tango, Lindy Hop, NightClub 2-Step, Salsa, Carolina Shag and Hustle. We specialize in Wedding Dance Preparation. We're also gearing up for our New Year's Eve Bash, a black-tie event with lesson, dancing, and showcases.

Business Appreciation Month Business Profile: Want2Dish.com

As a courtesy for being a part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) 2010 Business Appreciation Month (BAM), we have offered all Frederick County BAM businesses the opportunity to use OED’s social media outlets to help market their business. Information is provided by each company and edited for content as needed by OED.

Community-driven online news source debuts in Frederick

Pull up a chair, Frederick County and get ready to Dish.

Want2Dish.com is Frederick's newest publication, a hyper-local online news magazine that offers comprehensive and trusted local coverage of community-specific information and happenings. Because Want2Dish.com is Main Street, not Wall Street, the community is encouraged to help generate, report and react to what is happening in their Frederick neighborhoods. By incorporating social media such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, Want2Dish.com serves up an interactive “plateful of news in small bytes.”

Everyone is invited to the table to share opinions, post comments, use the community calendar, and engage in spirited discussions – just as people do over a good dinner or a cup of coffee. Yet like any responsible news source, Want2Dish.com’s editorial policies reflect the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics which calls for truthful, independent reporting and accountability.

Created by Amy Benton, a former publisher for a Post-Newsweek publication, and local businessman Greg Light, Want2Dish.com is produced by professional publishers and journalists who live in Frederick County. The collective experience and insights of the publication’s Advisory Board, which is comprised of local business leaders representing a variety of industries, along with the input from the community and its cadre of citizen journalists will guide Want2Dish.com and sharpen its focus on the issues that matter most to Fredericktonians.

Want2Dish.com presents affordable advertising opportunities for businesses that want to capitalize on the power of inbound marketing and offers investment opportunities for those who would like to expand the Want2Dish.com brand to other communities. For more information on how to contribute content or to advertise in Want2Dish, as well as details on franchise opportunities for Want2Dish.com in other markets, please call Amy Benton at 240-446-4304.

Monday, October 18, 2010

FDK Breaks Ground on First Air Traffic Control Tower

The groundbreaking for Frederick Municipal Airport's $5.3 million first air traffic control tower was held today and OED was in attendance. U.S. Sentators Benjamin Cardin and Barbara Mikulski joined several local elected officials at the ceremony along with officials from the FAA.


Top photo: Senator Mikulski addresses the crowd.
Bottom photo: Senator Cardin speaks to today's gathering.

Construction of the tower is expected to be completed within 18 months and is funded by a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The airport has two runways and handles a diverse mix of aircraft, including presidential helicopter Marine One. In recent years, the largest growth segment for the airport has been in corporate jets. With two flight restriction areas within a few miles of the airport, it is expected that an air traffic control tower will serve a larger homeland security role by significantly decreasing the number of intrusions into restricted airspace.

Downtown Frederick Receives National Planning Recognition

Washington Business Journal, Jeff Clabaugh
Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010

The American Planning Association’s 2010 list of Great Neighborhoods, Streets and Public Spaces is short on Washington-area locations, with just two in the region making the list. Downtown Frederick made its list of Great Neighborhoods, while Middleburg’s Washington Street made the cut for this year’s list of Great Streets.

The nonprofit has been putting its list together since 2007 and says places are selected for the list for their true sense of place, noteworthy social, cultural or historical character, community involvement, resilience, and a vision for the future.

“Places of distinction and unique character are found not only in big cities or selected states, but everywhere,” said APA CEO W. Paul Farmer. “These American Planning Association Great Places demonstrate the benefits of good planning and planning implementation, often over generations.”

Local Company Awarded $50,000 Grant

Foxspire, formerly Research Automation Solutions, has been awarded a $50,000 grant from The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO). The company is located in the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. and has been a client of FITCI since June 2007.

The grant which is part of the Ft. Detrick Technology Transfer Iniatitive program sponsored by TEDCO is designed to facilitate the transfer of technology to the U. S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command of Ft. Detrick.

Foxspire designed and developed a system that tracks the institute's stock of infectious agents that enables the Army to remain compliant with Select Army Regulations. All U. S. laboratory institutions, public and private, must comply with these regulations.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Family Festival at the Farm


The Frederick County Office of Economic Development and the Agriculture Business Council’s Public Relations Committee would like to invite the general public to participate in the 2010 Family Festival @ the Farm. This free weekend event, scheduled for October 16th and 17th, will provide the general public in Frederick County and around the region an opportunity to learn about Frederick County’s diverse agriculture industry. Rain dates have been set for October 23rd and 24th.

The Family Festival@ the Farm will provide hands-on activities for families that would like to spend a day of fun on the farm. The public will have an opportunity to visit any of 16 participating farms. Find out more about the participating farms and download a printable map and directions to the farms by going to the Family Festival @ the Farm website at www.discoverfrederickmd.com/funfarm. The 2010 Farm Guide (a printed guide that includes a map and description of what participants will experience at each farm) is available as well.

There will be a host of activities that people of all ages will be able to experience during this fun filled weekend. People will have an opportunity to pick pumpkins out of the field, pet an alpaca, take hayrides around the farm, take beautiful photos of the fall landscape and vineyards and enjoy all the different amenities on the farm.

The 16 farms included in this weekend event are: Black Ankle Vineyards, Brookfield Pumpkins, Carrollton Manor Farm, Catoctin Mountain Orchard, Gaver Tree Farm, Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch, Lawyer’s Moonlight Maze, Lilypons Water Gardens, M & W Nursery, Mayne’s Tree Farm, Nick’s Organic Farm, Scenic View Orchards, South Mountain Creamery, Sycamore Spring Farm, Thanksgiving Farms and Whispering Meadows Alpaca.

For more information, contact the Frederick County Office of Economic Development at 301-600-1058, or visit the website at: www.discoverfrederickmd.com/funfarm

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Management Training On the Rise in Frederick

Through a partnership with Frederick County Workforce Services, FCC Customized Training educates thousands of employees in Frederick each year. In recent months, the partnership has experienced a significant increase in demand from local businesses for broad-scale management development training programs, according to FCWS Business Services Manager Michelle Day. In another seemingly similar pattern, classrooms have been overflowing for management-oriented courses provided by the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) and the Frederick County Society for Human Resource Management.

Popular courses provided by the FCWS/FCC partnership include The New Supervisor, Managing Customer Service, Essentials of Leadership, and the Manager’s Guide to Human Behavior, among others. Additional courses can be tailored to address any training and development needs that a business identifies.

For more information on customized employee training for businesses, contact Marc Scott at 301-600-3555.

County among State's Highest Graduation Rates, Lowest Dropout Rates

According to data released by the Maryland Dept. of Education yesterday, Frederick County's graduation rate for 2010 was 94.56% well above the state average and the national average of 69 percent. The County ranked second among the Counties in the State of Maryland for highest graduation rate.

Frederick County Public Schools also had the 2nd lowest dropout rate in the State for grades 9-12 (1.18%).

Earlier this year, Newsweek Magazine listed all 9 County high schools among the "Top High Schools in America" and in January, the Maryland Public School System received a #1 ranking in overall quality for the second year in a row by Education Week.

Click below to read the full story in today's edition of the Frederick News Post.
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=110862

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Economic Impact of Fort Detrick on Maryland

News from the City of Frederick...

A study released by the State of Maryland indicates that the organizations located at Fort Detrick create or support nearly 12,000 jobs providing an estimated $650 million in pay and benefits and generate a total of $1.7 billion in economic activity in Maryland.

According to Randy McClement, Mayor of The City of Frederick “The study confirms what we have long known about the importance of Fort Detrick in the local and state economy.” He added that “many Frederick residents have family members, neighbors, and friends who work at the Fort for organizations such as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and US Army Research Institute of Infectious Disease (USAMRIID).”

“Fort Detrick is the largest employment business park in The City of Frederick at over 1,200 acres, 40+ tenants, and 8,500+ daily employees,” stated Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development. The study shows that Fort Detrick has a direct employment of 4,350 with a payroll of $303 million and in-state purchases of $440 million. According to Grifffin “these numbers alone are very important to the Frederick region because of the impact made to local businesses in terms of retail and service sales coupled with follow-on spending.”

Fort Detrick is located in The City of Frederick and coordinates closely with the City and County on issues of transportation, utilities, security, workforce, and environmental health. It is the home of the National Cancer Institute, National Interagency Biodefense Campus (NIBC) and the National Interagency Confederation for Biological Research (NICBR). Fort Detrick - initially Camp Detrick - was founded in 1931.

The study which considers the economic impact of the 17 military facilities in Maryland was prepared by the Jacob France Institute of the Merrick School of Business at University of Baltimore for the Maryland Department of Economic Development (DBED) and Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation (DLLR). A copy of the study can be found at http://www.choosemaryland.org/aboutdbed/Pages/ProgramReports.aspx

For more information contact: Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development for the City of Frederick at 301-600-6360 or rgriffin@cityoffrederick.com

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

2010 BAM Summary

Intro note: 2010 was OED’s 10th anniversary for this business retention program, so we increased Business Appreciation WEEK to Business Appreciation MONTH.

Program numbers:
201 business were visited:
In nine municipalities: Frederick, Brunswick, Thurmont, Emmitsburg, Walkersville, New Market, Mount Airy, Middletown, Myersville. Plus: Urbana, Green Valley, Monrovia, Wolfsville, Sabillasville

77 Ambassadors:
Elected Officials
County Employees
Other Partners: BDAC, DBED, City of Frederick Dept. of Economic Development, Main Street (Brunswick, Thurmont, Middletown, Mt. Airy), Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Council of Frederick County

Number of employees represented in 201 visits:
8,500 (plus another 9,200 counting Ft. Detrick = 17,700)

FMH = 2,600
SAIC = 1,900
Life Technologies = 470
Stultz = 360

Industry Type:
Service sector = 87 companies employing 4,180 workers
Retail = 54 companies employing 835 workers
Tech/bio = 33 companies employing 2,700 workers
Other = 19 (non profits, education, mental health, etc.) – 445 workers
Agriculture = 12 companies employing 125 workers
Manufacturing = 6 companies employing 1,110 workers

*** Note: some employment numbers (above) are counted twice if a business serves two or more different industry sectors, such as a manufacturer or technology company that sells (retail) its products.

Future Expansions = 27
Follow-up = 24

Positive Comments
Quality of life = 51
Location (proximity to Washington/Balt.) = 46
Quality of Workforce = 28
Growth = 26
Educational system = 9
Transportation = 9
Parking = 8
Permitting = 5
Zoning = 2

Negative Comments
Permitting = 22
Traffic/transportation = 9
Zoning = 8
Quality of Workforce = 7
Growth = 4
Parking = 4
Water availability = 2

General Notes:

Oldest Businesses in County that we visited
Hemp’s Meats – 1849
Frederick News Post – 1880
H-C Summers – 1907
---------
Most businesses say they are doing well financially or at least can see the light at the end of the tunnel
Signage in Frederick City lacking for many businesses or regulations to burdensome
Parking in Brunswick (lack of) is hurting downtown business
Workforce #1 need – continues in the area of Project Management
Another Workforce item – many younger employees lack good work ethic
Permitting – fees too high, rules often unclear
Fort Detrick – would love to work with businesses on base
FCC – valuable resource (internships)
SBDC/Chris Olson – great asset
OED – Best Kept Secret in Frederick County!