15th Annual Frederick County Business Appreciation Week Begins Next Week

County Executive Jan Gardner held a Public Information Briefing this morning, proclaiming next week as Business Appreciation Week in Frederick County. The event, now in it's the 15th year, is coordinated by the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) and includes over 60 ambassadors consisting of State, County and Local officials as well as the Chamber of Commerce who will visit 112 companies in Frederick County during the week of October 19-23, 2015.  Business Appreciation Week (BAW) gives ambassador teams the opportunity to thank businesses for what they do and also identify any concerns or potential issues they may have.

Left to Right: Frederick County Workforce Services Director Michelle Day, County Executive Jan Gardner, OED Director Helen Propheter, OED Research Specialist Sandy Wagerman, OED Business Development Specialist Jodie Bollinger, OED Administrative Specialist Sharon Hipkins, OED Business Development Specialist Katie Albaugh, OED Business Development Specialist Sherman Coleman

“We need to keep the lines of communication open with business owners.  They know what works and what doesn’t.  These one-on-one meetings will help us to support our business community.  I want them to know that I mean business in terms of creating jobs, drawing new enterprises to Frederick County and supporting our vibrant local economy,” stated Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner.

The Frederick County Office of Economic Development worked with Frederick County’s municipalities and five main street managers to feature a day in their area celebrating businesses with their local elected officials.

County Executive Jan Gardner with Sandy Wagerman
and Helen Propheter displaying the map of companies being
visited during #BAW2015

Frederick County Office of Economic Director Helen Propheter said, “Business Appreciation Week gives us a chance to visit all different types of businesses. In just one day, we might visit a farm, a bioscience company, a retailer, a home-based business and a major employer. It may be a business that we’ve never met or one that just expanded or added a new product line. The variety of businesses we are able to touch in just a week is what makes this event so successful.”

The 2015 Business Appreciation Week will include an online social media Scavenger Hunt where pictures will be posted on OED’s Twitter and Facebook pages inviting people to guess which businesses they are visiting that day. All of those who guess correctly will be entered into a drawing to win a Fitbit on Friday, October 23rd. Follow @FredCoOED on Twitter and www.facebook.com/discoverfrederickmd.com on Facebook  or #BAW 2015 for more details.

Maryland and Frederick County are Leading the Way in a STEM workforce

Maryland is leading the nation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and Frederick County Public School's advancements in STEM training are preparing a workforce of the future.

Dr. Daraius Irani, Executive Director of the Regional Economic Studies Institute, spoke about the importance of STEM training and jobs during the annual Economic Outlook Conference at Towson University yesterday.  He stated that Maryland ranks first in the nation in STEM job concentration, 42 percent of bachelor’s degrees awarded in Maryland from 2012-2013 were in STEM fields, and 47 percent of job openings in the State require STEM skills.

Dr. Irani attributed the State’s achievements in STEM to an increase in quality educational programs. ”There has been a real purposeful effort by State schools to introduce students to STEM. That makes a difference,” he said. There are seven STEM Standards of Practice set by the state: 1) Learn and Apply Rigorous Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Content, 2) Integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Content, 3) Interpret and Communicate STEM Information, 4) Engage in Inquiry, 5) Engage in Logical Reasoning, 6) Collaborate as a STEM Team, and 7) Apply Technology Strategically.

The Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) vision is that students will graduate STEM proficient and be prepared for post-secondary study and the 21st Century workforce. As a result, the STEM office of FCPS has programs designed for the elementary, middle and high school levels. During the school day, students engage in the seven STEM Practices as part of their ongoing classroom instruction. 

Outside of FCPS, the C.Burr Artz Library is home to the STEM Lab to meet the needs of area students and to support the goals of local and statewide education initiatives and the library hosts a series of monthly STEM educational classes for all ages.

FCPS reported that 99% of nearly 900 employers surveyed in 2014 indicated that FCPS students met or exceeded job requirements at their place of business, indicating that FCPS are preparing a strong workforce of the future.

Frederick's e-End Receives Award and Certification

Frederick, MD - The week of March 28th was very rewarding for e-End, a Certified Woman-Owned Small Business, located in Frederick, MD. In that week, the secure data destruction and electronics recycling company received an award from the Tech Council of Maryland as the "Service Provider of the Year." In addition to that prestigious award and following an extensive audit of e-End's company security along with their policy and procedures, they were awarded the National Association of Information Destruction (NAID) AAA Certification for data sanitization. "We are so proud to have our team recognized for their level of excellence. Our goal has always been to over-deliver when we work with clients," said e-End's CEO Arleen Chafitz. "e-End has always been dedicated to performing the highest level of secure data destruction and electronics recycling for our clients." Their clients include a broad range of government agencies, plus companies of all sizes and individuals. Serving the Mid-Atlantic region, e-End's Frederick facility has a broad range of highly specialized equipment to enable electronic data to be sanitized meeting NIST and NSA guidelines. In addition to plant-based equipment, they developed proprietary mobile equipment permitting secure data sanitization at client facilities. Equipment received at e-End is recycled meeting state and federal guidelines and the company adheres to a Zero-Landfill Policy for all equipment they process. For further info: www.eendusa.com 240-529-1010

BridgePath Scientific Selected into the Maryland Green Registry

BridgePath Scientific has been selected into the Maryland Green Registry. The Maryland Green Registry recognizes organizations working towards a sustainable Maryland. The Maryland Green Registry is a voluntary program offering resources to help organizations set and meet their own goals on the path to sustainability. BridgePath Scientific is the first and only company in Maryland that refurbishes laboratory equipment to be added to the Registry.
“I applaud the State of Maryland for recognizing organizations that take sustainability seriously,” said Patrick Haley, President and CEO of BridgePath Scientific. “We are honored to be worthy of addition to the Registry. The list of Green Registry Members consists of some of the finest organizations in the State,” continued Haley.

e-End Hosts Economic Development Business Visit

A group of elected officials and economic development representatives visited e-End today as part of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development’s monthly business visit and business retention program. Attendees learned about e-End’s mission and company history, and received a tour of the secure facility located in Frederick, MD. Monthly business visits give elected officials and economic development representatives a chance to hear about a business’s achievements, concerns and opportunities to assist with doing business in Frederick County.

e-End is a woman-owned, small business offering comprehensive, environmentally sound programs to recycle and adaptively reuse outdated computer, IT, and electronic equipment/components in compliance with federal, state and local security regulations. Founded in 2006, e-End’s expertise extends to total data sanitization of media-containing devices using a suite of cutting-edge tools and technologies to ensure a total security solution. Their clients include: federal, state and local governments; fortune 500 companies, healthcare providers, law firms, financial institutions, foreign embassies and educational institutions.

The company’s philosophy to protect the environment extends past just their mission statement as they have developed a zero landfill policy and strive to exceed U.S. EPA standards for solid waste recycling.

To learn more about e-End, please visit their website at www.eendusa.com.

2010 Frederick County Waste Reduction Award

Recycling has long been recognized as a method of achieving positive environmental and economic impacts for businesses, but wise waste management involves more than recycling, it incorporates waste reduction as well. A yearly awards program acknowledges the efforts that many local entitites are enacting to create less waste: The Frederick County Waste Reduction Award.

The Dept. of Solid Waste Management, in conjunction with the Frederick County Office of Economic Development, Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, City of Frederick Economic Development and the Downtown Frederick Partnership, will select businesses and organizations located throughout the County that have implemented for expanded innovative and successful waste reduction programs.

Any Frederick County business or organization can apply to receive the award. Applications must be received by Friday, March 26, 2010 to be considered. The forms can be downloaded from the Frederick County Office of Recycling's website at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/recycle, or obtained by calling Dave Helmecki at 301-600-7404. Completed award applications may be faxed to 301-600-3044, or emailed to DHelmecki@FrederickCountyMD.gov. Printed applications may also be mailed to: Frederick County Office of Recycling, 9031 Reichs Ford Rd, Frederick, MD 21704.