Gap Financing Available for Businesses in One of County's Four Sustainable Communities

The State of Maryland developed a program in 2010 with the Sustainable Communities Act, where public and private investments and partnerships help develop healthy economies with growth practices that conserve resources and appreciate historical and cultural resources. Since that time, the State has designated four Sustainable Communities in Frederick County: City of Brunswick, Town of Emmitsburg, Town of Middletown and the Town of Thurmont.

The State of Maryland's Neighborhood BusinessWork's loan progr​am provi​des gap financing, i.e. subordinate financing, to new or expanding small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Sustainable Communities throughout the State.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS & USES OF FUNDS

• Mixed-use projects combining residential and ​commercial uses in the same ​building
• New construction or rehabilitation​​
• Machinery and equipment
• Certain other costs associated with opening or expanding a small business
• Real estate acquisition
• Manufacturing
• Service providers
• Retail

PROJECT CRITERIA

• Project must be located in a Sustainable Community
• Project viability and potential impact on the neighborhood
• First floor business or retail space use that generates street level activity in mixed use projects
• Improvements to a vacant or under-utilized building or site
• Readiness to proceed
• Cash flow and collateral

Priority is given to projects that strengthen neighborhood commercial districts and are part of a greater revitalization strategy. The following types of projects and activities will not be considered for financing:

• Residential or transient living facilities (other than mixed-use projects described in eligible projects section)
• Facilities such as community halls, fire stations, hospitals, colleges or universities
• Adult bookstores, adult video shops, other adult entertainment facilities, gambling facilities, gun shops, liquor stores, massage parlors, pawn shops, tanning salons, or tattoo parlors

LOAN TERMS

• Loan amounts up to $500,000 or 50% of the total project costs, whichever is less
• Interest rate is based on an underwriting analysis
• Target loan term is five to 15 years, depending on use and loan amount
• Minimum five percent applicant cash contribution is required (based on total new project cost)
• Personal guarantees and collateral are required
• No prepayment penalties

To apply, please visit http://dhcd.maryland.gov/Business/Pages/NBW.aspx

Business Appreciation Week: Day 4

Day 4 of Frederick County Business Appreciation Week takes us all over the County to Middletown, Walkersville, Woodsboro, New Market, and Mount Airy.

Be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for photos of the businesses we are visiting today and guess where we are. You can also follow #BAW2015. All correct guesses are entered in a drawing on Friday to win a Fitbit!

Thursday's Scheduled Visits:

• Rhosymerdre Design
• Catoctin Construction
• Mountain Spirit Yoga
• Gude Brothers Greenhouses
• Orchid Cellar Meadery + Winery
• JSB Woodworking
• Trout's Market
• Southern States - Woodsboro
• Barrick Garden Center
• Abloom, Ltd
• Walkersville Feed Company
• Clara L. Winch, CPA LLC
• Cruise Planners
• Express Marketing Design & Runkles Service
• Santa Fe Trading Company
• Happilo
• Fleshman's Antiques
• Polymer Clay Express at the ArtWay
• Twin Ridge Auto and Light Truck Services, Inc
• Building Energy Diagnostics & Retrofits
• Gaver Farm
• Loew Vineyards

#BAW2015 Fact

Small businesses significantly impact Frederick County's economy. Maryland defines a small business as one that does not employ more than 50 people. 98% of Frederick County's businesses meet the definition of a small business. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Frederick County is the busiest in the Western Maryland region, last year assisting in the direct start-up of 13 new businesses and 70 new jobs. 

Business Appreciation Week: Day 3

Day 3 of Frederick County Business Appreciation Week is our busiest day of the week. Our visits will take us to Downtown Frederick as well as businesses in the Frederick 21701 zip code. The majority of the County's business base is located right here, in the County Seat and Center of Commerce.

Be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for photos of the businesses we are visiting today and guess where we are. You can also follow #BAW2015. All correct guesses are entered in a drawing on Friday to win a Fitbit!

Wednesday's Scheduled Visits:

• United Way of Frederick County
• L.P. Calomeris Realty, LLC
• State Farm Agent, Darius Mark
• Custom Imprints
• Industrial Home
• Someone With Group, LLC
• Canapes Catering
• ALTEK Information Technology, Inc
• Talon Construction, Inc
• Tenth Ward Distilling Company
• The Little Pottery Shop
• A Girl's Best Friend
• Welcome Home Realty Group
• Digital Age Solution, LLC
• Elliott CPA, LLC
• Elliott Marketing Solutions, LLC
• Weinberg Center for the Arts
• Shala Wellness Center
• The Shala Yoga and Pilates Studio
• Mosaic Power
• Moore Wealth, Inc
• Regent Education
• Hunting Creek Outfitters
• Frederick County Bank
• Whidden Willow
• Time Bomb Tattoos & Curiosities
• VINI Culture wine bar and cafe
• Chic to Chic
• White Lion Social
• Sass Magazine
• The Knot House
• The Potter's Guild of Frederick
• Frederick Brick Works
• North Market Pop Shop
• The Piedmont Group
• Integrity Consulting
• McClintock Distilling
• Natural Artistry Photography
• Found Souls Studio

#BAW2015 Fact

Frederick’s historic 50-block Downtown offers thriving restaurants, independent shops, and a vibrant arts and entertainment scene with more than 150 one-of-a-kind specialty shops and more than 50 eateries. Over 3,000 employees work in the Main Street area at nearly 700 businesses or organizations. Downtown Frederick was recognized as one of the Top 10 Downtowns in America by Livability.com, Top 8 Small Town Comebacks by CNN and one of the Top 25 Small Cities for Art by American Style Magazine, and several more notable accolades. 

New Collaborative Brochure Promotes Frederick County’s Unique Downtown Shopping

The Shop Downtown Brochure project, an effort by the Frederick County Office of Economic Development and the Tourism Council of Frederick County with collaboration from all five Frederick County Main Street organizations, promotes the vibrancy, beauty and rich history of Frederick County’s municipal downtown shopping areas.

The City of Frederick, City of Brunswick, Town of Middletown,  Town of Thurmont and the Town of Mount Airy are designated Main Street Maryland communities and the brochure highlights Main Street shopping opportunities. Main Street Maryland is a comprehensive downtown revitalization program created in 1998 by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. The mission of the program is to accelerate the economic progress and revitalization of Maryland’s traditional main streets and neighborhoods. There are 28 designated Maryland Main Streets statewide.

 “This project gave our office the opportunity to work closely with our Main Street organizations to further strengthen our relationships with our towns,” said Helen Propheter, Director of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development. “We are fortunate to have many beautiful downtowns, each uniquely positioned with a culture that promotes their history but also offer economic opportunities to the surrounding areas.”

Executive Director for the Tourism Council of Frederick County John Fieseler said, “Visit Frederick (the Tourism Council) is excited to have this new brochure highlighting the unique shopping and dining experiences located in Frederick County’s historic municipalities.  It was a joy to partner with the Frederick County Office of Economic Development to produce this helpful guide for residents and visitors alike.”

The Shop Downtown Brochure is available at Frederick Tourism and Main Street offices throughout Frederick County. It will also be featured in the November issue of Frederick Magazine.

Thurmont's Festival of Trees and New Main Street Building Launch

The Thurmont Main Street Building has been renovated for use and ready to be launched to the public and the businesses in the main street district. What better time to do it than the lighting of the town for the holidays. The Thurmont Main Street organization would like to invite businesses, organizations and citizens to participate in the launching of the Main Street building with the Festival of Trees.

Each tree is available to be sponsored as follows:

Inside 6’ tree - $75
Inside Table top Tree - $50
Window 6’ Tree (only 4 available)- $100
Window Table Top Tree - $75

How to sponsor a tree?
Contact Vickie Grinder, Thurmont Main Street Manager, at VGrinder@thurmontstaff.com or
240-626-9980.
Come in and decorate your tree with a theme, to advertise your business/organization. The main street building will be open Monday and Thursday evenings at 5:30 pm in November to allow the sponsors in to decorate the trees. The trees will remain lighted through the month of December. The trees are not pre-lit so keep this in mind when planning your decorating scheme.

What's next? Join us on Saturday, November 29 at 6:00pm for the Festival of Trees lighting ceremony. Light refreshments will be provided by Thurmont Main Street. The building will be open on Saturday, December 6th during Christmas in Thurmont for the public to view all of the beautiful trees! 

Note: inappropriate or offensive themes will be removed at the discretion of Thurmont Main Street organization.

Emmitsburg Business Day

Blaine Young, President of the Board of County Commissioners and Frederick County Manager Dave Dunn met with two businesses in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The first visit took place at the Emmitsburg Glass Company located at 100 Creamery Court. Mr. Greg Reaver, Vice President and Mr. Allen Knott, Chief Financial Officer hosted the visit and provided valuable information regarding the company. Founded in 1988, Emmitsburg Glass Company, Inc. is a full service glass and glazing contractor serving the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Emmitsburg Glass Company employs 100 people at their 53,000 square foot headquarters and serve customers located primarily in Baltimore, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia. The Company’s services include engineering, fabrication, installation of architectural aluminum and glass systems, aluminum composite and steel panel systems, bullet and blast resistant glazing systems, and fixed and operable window systems for the exterior facades of commercial and multi-residential buildings. Emmitsburg Glass Company was ranked as the 20th top glazers in the country and the fourth largest in sales in Maryland. For more information about Emmitsburg Glass Company, visit their website at www.emmitsburgglass.com The second visit was to the Carriage House Inn located at 200 South Seaton Avenue. Mr. Bob Hance, owner, was the host for this visit. Mr. Hance opened the restaurant in 1980, after moving from Rockville, Maryland. The Carriage House Inn offers quality cuisine and gracious service in an elegant colonial atmosphere. The building was built in 1857 and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. The lunch menu features homemade soups, including their signature cream of crab soup and the dinner menu features tender, mouth-watering steaks and a selection of fresh seafood, veal, pork, and chicken entrees. The Carriage House Inn offers both on and off premises catering and is the perfect setting for weddings, banquets, rehearsal dinners and more. The Tack Room is one of the two private rooms that can accommodate up to 50 guests. The other private room is the Joann’s Ballroom which can accommodate up to 150 people. For catered events and menu options visit their website at www, carriagehouseinn.info

Middletown receives Main Street accolades

Just because a municipality receives Main Street accreditation doesn’t mean it always enjoys certification status. The designation must be earned annually.

Main Street Middletown recently received the honors for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center. Each year, the National Trust and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street programs that have built strong revitalization organizations and demonstrate their ability in using the Main Street methodology for strengthening the local economy and protecting historic buildings. "Middletown fits the bill", said Burgess John D. Miller, who congratulated Main Street Middletown manager Becky Reich for her work during a recent town meeting. “In addition, Becky has been named a certified tourism ambassador, which also brings some attention to Middletown and allows her to provide services to groups coming to Middletown,” Miller said. “All of these things are good for Middletown as we work to become a day destination.”
 — Ike Wilson The Frederick News Post Monday, May 21, 2012

Brunswick Business Day

Officials from Frederick County Government and the City of Brunswick met with three businesses in Brunswick on Business Visit Day. This day was chosen to recognize and show appreciation for Brunswick's vibrant business community. The first visit took place at the Brunswick Woodworking Company, owned and operated by Mr. Steve Harris. The company has been in operation for twenty years and has 15 employees. The 12,000 square foot facility provide top contractors with high quality architectural millwork and cabinetry. Their work has included projects such as the owners suite at FedEx Field, the Washington Hilton and the Sports Complex at Hood College. For further information you may visit their website www.BrunswickWoodworking.com The second stop was the Whistle Stop Java Shop which opened on Labor Day 2011. The 850 square foot facility is owned and operated by Rob Dibiano and Debbie Vias. The good location and friendly atmosphere led them to locate in Brunswick. They have made plans to purchase an expresso machine in the near future to add more items to their menu. The eatery provides catering, breakfast or lunch platters as well as box lunches for groups ranging from 4 to 400. Please visit their website for further information about their menu www.WhistleStopJavaShop.com The final stop was the Three Points Cycle shop which opened three weeks ago. The owner Keith Marks stated the 500 square foot facility is a full service cycle shop offering services from sales to repairs. He currently has 35 bikes in all different styles and models. His main priority is to cater to the local residents and have his business spread by word of mouth. Mr. Marks hopes that the spring and summer months will provide a significant boost to his business. Please call 301-834-7199 for seasonal hours. Check back next week as we preview Emmitsburg Business Day.