1st Frederick County Survey of Businesses Now Underway – Participation Needed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 27, 2010 – The Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) released a comprehensive Business Survey today for all Frederick County businesses. In an effort to gauge wants, needs and perceptions of the business community, the survey was formed to establish a baseline understanding of the business community. Results from this survey will provide a direct link between the business community and local leaders.

After the initial 2010 survey, the Office of Economic Development plans to conduct the survey annually to track growth and changes. Research Coordinator for OED Sandy Wagerman said, “This survey covers many areas for which there is currently no cohesive method to gather, like general sales trends, workforce changes, and international business development.” Laurie Boyer, the Director of the Office of Economic Development stated, “We would like to use this as another tool to provide economic development resources to what our businesses need and to help fill any gaps that we find as a result of the survey.”

The deadline for survey responses is July 6th. Responses will remain confidential (results will be presented as aggregate data). To take the survey, please visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/2010BUSINESSSURVEY. Please call the Office of Economic Development at 301-600-1058 for any questions.

Future Link Conference

The 2010 Future Link conference at Frederick Community College is underway today. The event, sponsored by the Frederick County Business Roundtable for Education, will address local work-force needs and collaborative efforts to ensure an adequately trained labor force is established to meet growing demands in the community.

Groundbreaking - Banner Life

Natelli Communities is pleased to announce that construction on Banner Life Insurance Company’s new headquarters facility in Urbana, Maryland is underway. The two‐story, 115,000 square foot, class A office structure will be comprised of two buildings with a center courtyard, designed so that it can be expanded.

Tom Natelli, CEO of Natelli Communities and Developer of Villages of Urbana and Urbana Corporate Park, said Banner began looking for a new location two years ago. “Banner wanted to be sure that the building would be ready for them. They needed certainty and we could provide that.” The fabric of the community has become a reality over the last decade. “First you have the homes, then the retail and finally the office buildings. This is a great place to live and work,” said Natelli.

Banner Life will relocate 400 employees from its Rockville offices to the planned $33 million center in Urbana. Frank Gencarelli, Senior Vice President of Distribution & Marketing for Banner Life said more than half of his employees live closer to Urbana than Rockville. “We are not a household name, but are the largest writer of term life insurance. Our name is well known in the industry.” Gencarelli went on to say, “It will give us a better place for our customers as well. They can come here for education and to deepen the relationships that are so important to us in the insurance industry.”

Jan Gardner, President of the Frederick Board of County Commissioners spoke highly of Tom Natelli’s commitment to Urbana and Frederick County. Gardner stressed, “Tom has consistently shown a commitment to Frederick County. He works well not only with businesses, but with the community. All that is reflected in what has been done in Urbana.

Banner Life Headquarters in Urbana Corporate Center is designed by Davis, Carter, Scott. Construction Management efforts are at the direction of Akridge. The tenant, Banner Life, was represented by Jones Lang LaSalle and the landlord, Natelli, was represented by McShea & Company, Inc.

OED holds “Taste of Frederick” Commercial Realtor Bus Tour

Frederick, Maryland – May 20, 2010 - The Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) and the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development (DED) held a Commercial Realtor Bus Tour on May 12, 2010.

Approximately 42 commercial realtors and developers in the Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia region attended the event. This year’s theme was a “Taste of Frederick” where OED and DED served up information on available sites, quality of life, workforce and business community.

The bus tour commenced at Harry Grove Stadium. Richard Griffin and Heather Gramm from the City of Frederick’s Department of Economic Development were tour guides and highlighted opportunities that exist in the City. Laurie Boyer, Helen Riddle and Jodie Bollinger from the Frederick County Office of Economic Development were also tour guides for the day and highlighted Frederick County’s expanding business climate and the advantages of locating and expanding to the county.

The tour concluded at Alexander’s (Auction House) located in Buckeystown for a mini tradeshow and networking event with the bus tour sponsors. There was a brief presentation that included guest speaker, Father Leo Patalinghug from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. Father Leo Patalinghug competed with Bobby Flay on Food Network’s Throwdown and won for his award-winning fajitas. He spoke to the attendees about Frederick’s enviable quality of life and the importance quality of life factors have on businesses looking to locate or expand.

Frederick County sponsors displayed their materials regarding their projects in Frederick County. The participants were able to meet with the sponsors and talk to them about their sites as well as network with the group. Sponsors of the event included: St. John Properties, Heritage Properties, Inc., Matan Companies, NAI The Michael Companies, Inc., Corporate Office Properties Trust, First Potomac Realty Trust and Saul Centers, Inc.

For more information regarding this event, please contact the Frederick County Office of Economic Development at (301)600-1058 or visit our website at http://www.discoverfrederickmd.com/

13TH ANNUAL ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS

On June 22nd, Frederick area business leaders will gather at Dutch’s Daughter to honor 16 local businesses nominated for recognition by the Entrepreneur Council of Frederick County, along with its media partner, 270 Inc. magazine.

The dinner is one of the area’s premier business networking events. It is regularly attended by leaders of the business and business support communities, as well as public officials. The event will feature a networking social hour, dinner and an awards program that includes a keynote address and a short video profile of each nominee.

Nominees are listed in five categories. They are: Small Emerging: Aspire, BridgePath Scientific and Source Radio Network; Large Emerging: Café Nola, Default Resources and Widearea Systems; Small Established: Dublin Roasters, Imagination Center and Wood Street; Medium Established: East Coast Millwork, Imquest and Orases; Large Established: The Crowley Company, James Allen Jewelers and The Wormald Companies. Mary Jane Tabler, owner of Thomas Scott Salon, will be honored as this year’s Master Entrepreneur.

The ceremony’s keynote speaker will be George Wunderlich, Executive Director of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, who will provide historical lessons for today’s entrepreneurs in his presentation,“Adapt and Thrive…Just What the Doctor Ordered.”

For more information about the event, contact Chris Olson at 301-600-1967 or visit www.EntrepreneurCouncil.com. To purchase tickets, contact Mike Zimmerman at mzimmerman@fredericktowntax.com .

FEMA Applicant Briefing for February Snow Storms

Local municipalities, county divisions and private non-profits (PNP’s) located in Frederick County that sustained damages or incurred costs related to the February 2010 winter storms may be eligible to seek reimbursement through FEMA.

A briefing for Frederick County based agencies will be held on May 26, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. in the first floor hearing room, Winchester Hall, 12 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Eligible applicants will be able to meet one-on-one with FEMA project officers to discuss expenses related to the February 2010 winter storms and gather information on the reimbursement process.

PNP’s that are recognized by Internal Revenue Service designation Section 501(c), (d), or (e) or by state certification that the organization is a non-revenue producing nonprofit entity organized or doing business under state law, and provide one of the following activities may be eligible:

Educational
Medical
Community Centers
Custodial Care
Libraries
Emergency
Homeless Shelters
Utility
Rehabilitation Facilities
Community Arts Centers
Senior Citizen Centers
Museums
Shelter Workshops
Health and Safety Services of a Governmental Nature
Performing Arts Facilities
Zoos

To pre-register for the briefing or for further information, please contact the Frederick County Department of Emergency Preparedness at emergencymanagement@frederickcountymd.gov or 301-600-1746.

Frederick Named to List of Top Art Cities

American Style Magazine has named Frederick as one of the Top 25 Small Art Cities in the United States. Each year, American Style, a national publication that promotes the significance of handmade objects of art, has an annual competition to select the top 25 arts destinations in the United States, based on population.

American Style magazine showcases the eclectic lifestyles of artists, the elegant homes of craft collectors and "the art of creative living," making Frederick a perfect fit to be chosen as one of its arts destinations. Their 2010 Arts Destination poll marks the 13th year for such a list, which recognizes a total of 75 cities, the top 25 in each of three categories: big cities (populations of 500,000 or greater), mid-size cities (populations of 100,000 to 499,999), and small cities (populations of less than 100,000).

Frederick is in great company on the list of small cities, which includes the likes of Asheville, North Carolina and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Top large size cities include Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. This may result in increased tourism and recognition that Frederick is an arts destination.