Frederick County Workforce Services (FCWS) used the Maryland Business Works Program to partner with American Computer Development, Inc., a manufacturing and design services company, to assist them in meeting their goals to create more efficient and effective business processes. The training also helped the company to meet its mission to innovate for tomorrow. Six employees were trained in various job-related and industry skills, including lean manufacturing, project management, human resources certification, and equipment operations and maintenance. Four of the six training participants received wage increases and all received industry skills that will lead to career advancement.
Learn more about the Maryland Business Works Program and other opportunities to obtain grant funding for employee training purposes on the FCWS website.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
2009 Annual Report
The Office of Economic Development released their 2009 Annual Report today. Click here to download and view a PDF version.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Entrepreneur Council Awards
The Entrepreneur Council of Frederick County is soliciting nominees for its 2010 Entrepreneur Awards. The awards program is now in its 13th year and is one of the most prestigious in the area. The annual awards dinner, held at Dutch’s Daughter restaurant, is also one of the area’s premier business networking events.
This year’s awards program, scheduled for June, is the first to be co-sponsored with the Entrepreneur Council’s promotional partner, 270 Inc. magazine. Each nominee will be featured in the magazine’s June/July issue, and category winners will be featured in subsequent issues. The event also is regularly covered by the Frederick News-Post and the Frederick Gazette.
All locally-owned Frederick County businesses who have not won previously are eligible for nomination. Companies are also encouraged to nominate themselves. A nomination form is attached. The form also can be downloaded from the Entrepreneur Council’s website at www.entrepreneurcouncil.com. For additional information contact Chris Olson at CEOlson@mindspring.com or 301-600-1967.
Companies of all sizes are eligible, although we are particularly in need of nominations in the large company (10+ employees) category.
This year’s awards program, scheduled for June, is the first to be co-sponsored with the Entrepreneur Council’s promotional partner, 270 Inc. magazine. Each nominee will be featured in the magazine’s June/July issue, and category winners will be featured in subsequent issues. The event also is regularly covered by the Frederick News-Post and the Frederick Gazette.
All locally-owned Frederick County businesses who have not won previously are eligible for nomination. Companies are also encouraged to nominate themselves. A nomination form is attached. The form also can be downloaded from the Entrepreneur Council’s website at www.entrepreneurcouncil.com. For additional information contact Chris Olson at CEOlson@mindspring.com or 301-600-1967.
Companies of all sizes are eligible, although we are particularly in need of nominations in the large company (10+ employees) category.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Downtown Hotel in Frederick
Article from the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development's e-newsletter published on 2/17/10
How many times have you hosted a meeting, attended a conference, or invited out-of-town guests or clients and wished there was a hotel conference center in the Downtown Frederick? A public-private partnership spearheaded by Frederick's major employers, Chamber of Commerce, City & County Economic Development, Downtown Frederick Partnership, and Tourism Council, have initiated just such a project. The group recently completed a jointly funded feasibility study by Pinnacle/OPX which determined that the market is strong for a 200-room, full service flagship hotel and conference center capable of handling a 500-600 person event.
At a recent briefing by the hotel partnership team, Mayor Randy McClement and the City Board of Aldermen stated their support for the project which will take time and creative financing strategies. Mayor McClement has appointed local businessman Mark Gaver as the Community Chairman of the Project. A subsequent briefing by Gaver and team members to the Frederick County State Delegation in Annapolis was met with similar enthusiasm and support. Gaver stated that "this project fills a needed gap in the services for businesses and families in Frederick and particularly downtown. Together we can bring this ambitious project to fruition, create jobs and economic benefits for the city and region."
To see the feasibility report in its entirety, please visit http://www.businessinfrederick.com/userfiles/File/Pinnacle_OPX_Downtown_Hotel_Feasibility_Study.pdf
How many times have you hosted a meeting, attended a conference, or invited out-of-town guests or clients and wished there was a hotel conference center in the Downtown Frederick? A public-private partnership spearheaded by Frederick's major employers, Chamber of Commerce, City & County Economic Development, Downtown Frederick Partnership, and Tourism Council, have initiated just such a project. The group recently completed a jointly funded feasibility study by Pinnacle/OPX which determined that the market is strong for a 200-room, full service flagship hotel and conference center capable of handling a 500-600 person event.
At a recent briefing by the hotel partnership team, Mayor Randy McClement and the City Board of Aldermen stated their support for the project which will take time and creative financing strategies. Mayor McClement has appointed local businessman Mark Gaver as the Community Chairman of the Project. A subsequent briefing by Gaver and team members to the Frederick County State Delegation in Annapolis was met with similar enthusiasm and support. Gaver stated that "this project fills a needed gap in the services for businesses and families in Frederick and particularly downtown. Together we can bring this ambitious project to fruition, create jobs and economic benefits for the city and region."
To see the feasibility report in its entirety, please visit http://www.businessinfrederick.com/userfiles/File/Pinnacle_OPX_Downtown_Hotel_Feasibility_Study.pdf
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Free Advice for Local Businesses
The Frederick County Entrepreneur Support Network (ESN) is searching for accountants, attorneys, bankers, real estate agents, marketing consultants, insurance brokers and other private sector business support professionals for its next event, scheduled for June 2, 2010. Up to six volunteers per category are needed.
The event will enable business owners to receive 30 minutes of free business advice from a tableful of private and public sector business advisors. A formal announcement of the event and an invitation for business owners to register for the opportunity will be distributed in April.
The ESN is an assembly of non-profits and government agencies that provide support to small businesses in Frederick County. The organization has more than 20 members. The June event will be the first time that the ESN has collaborated with private sector support professionals. To learn more about the organization, visit FrederickESN.org.
To learn more about the event or to volunteer, contact ESN coordinator Chris Olson at CEOlson@mindspring.com or 301-600-1967, by February 28th.
The event will enable business owners to receive 30 minutes of free business advice from a tableful of private and public sector business advisors. A formal announcement of the event and an invitation for business owners to register for the opportunity will be distributed in April.
The ESN is an assembly of non-profits and government agencies that provide support to small businesses in Frederick County. The organization has more than 20 members. The June event will be the first time that the ESN has collaborated with private sector support professionals. To learn more about the organization, visit FrederickESN.org.
To learn more about the event or to volunteer, contact ESN coordinator Chris Olson at CEOlson@mindspring.com or 301-600-1967, by February 28th.
Monday, February 8, 2010
70 Million and Counting....
Generation Y is a force of as many as 70 million, and the first wave has only recently started to embark on their careers — taking their place in an increasingly multigenerational workplace.
Here's an excerpt from an article entitled, "The Flip Flop Generation: Tips for Hiring, Managing and Working with Generation Y" written by Michelle Day, Business Services Manager at Frederick County Workforce Services:
An employer interviewed a recent college graduate with no prior professional work experience for an entry-level position. Upon concluding the interview he asked this young candidate, “Now, what were you thinking in terms of your salary expectations?” The candidate confidently replied, “$80,000/year sounds good.” The expectation of the candidate did not exactly match what the employer had in mind. Similarly, a Human Resources Manager at a local call center here in Frederick shared that her younger employees were showing up to work in flip flops and pajama pants! She was appalled, as many of us would be. However, workplace demographics as well as expectations of the upcoming workforce are changing. Is your company aware of what factors shaped this generation and how you can best work with them?
For proven tips on effectively hiring, managing and working with Generation Y, read the full article on the Frederick County Workforce Services website.
Here's an excerpt from an article entitled, "The Flip Flop Generation: Tips for Hiring, Managing and Working with Generation Y" written by Michelle Day, Business Services Manager at Frederick County Workforce Services:
An employer interviewed a recent college graduate with no prior professional work experience for an entry-level position. Upon concluding the interview he asked this young candidate, “Now, what were you thinking in terms of your salary expectations?” The candidate confidently replied, “$80,000/year sounds good.” The expectation of the candidate did not exactly match what the employer had in mind. Similarly, a Human Resources Manager at a local call center here in Frederick shared that her younger employees were showing up to work in flip flops and pajama pants! She was appalled, as many of us would be. However, workplace demographics as well as expectations of the upcoming workforce are changing. Is your company aware of what factors shaped this generation and how you can best work with them?
For proven tips on effectively hiring, managing and working with Generation Y, read the full article on the Frederick County Workforce Services website.