City Approves Food Trucks at Breweries and Distilleries

The City of Frederick moved forward on an ordinance change to allow mobile food units to operate at craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries.

Carly Ogden with AttaBoy Brewery shared, "We're very happy with the change and the pace with which it passed. Food trucks are a great symbiotic partner for our business. We can worry about the beer and let the food be handled by local pros. It's also pretty cool to see many young entrepreneurs getting their foot in the door. It's a great way for them to join in and add something to this great culinary city."

Monica Pearce with X Ward Distilling offered this thought, "As a representative for the Frederick Distillery Association we are extremely grateful to everyone with the City of Frederick who worked to get the food truck ordinance passed. It will not only be incredibly beneficial to the local craft beverage industry but will also keep our customers safe while they are enjoying our products."

The legislation demonstrates Frederick's continued support for the rapidly expanding craft beverage industry. The changes promote increased tourism and spending in Frederick, as well as balancing the needs of existing restaurants and related businesses.

ADI Attendees Learn 3 Reasons to Open a Distillery in Frederick

Frederick was well represented at the 2017 American Distilling Institute Craft Spirits Conference & Expo. The annual conference and trade show welcomed attendees from all over the country and supports the craft distilling industry.  The Department of Economic Development partnered with the Tourism Council of Frederick County and the Frederick County Office of Economic Development to jointly exhibit at this year's show.  The exhibit provided the opportunity to educate attendees on the 3 Reasons to Open Your Distillery in Frederick, Maryland:

1. Supportive Local Laws & Friendly Business Climate
In 2013, The City of Frederick updated City zoning codes to allow small wineries, breweries, and distilleries in the Downtown Frederick area, paving the way for these growing industries to boom locally. This means a craft distillery can open right in the heart of Downtown Frederick, nearby all of the restaurants, shops, and more. Outside of the City, the county is updating laws to grow this industry as well.

2. Craft Wineries, Breweries & Distilleries Thrive in Frederick
Frederick County is home to over 25 wineries, breweries, and distilleries, making it a destination with a reputation for sipping and sampling. In just over a year, six new distilleries and craft breweries have opened in Frederick. A local group of craft beverage entrepreneurs meet regularly, helping to support each other and jointly market. Thanks to a collaborative spirit, local economic development organizations, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and tourism all work together to support and promote this industry.

3. Strong Tourism Destination
Located less than an hour from Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Frederick is the second largest city in Maryland. Visitors to Frederick County spend on average over $1 million a day. Additionally, more than 1.7 million people visit the county each year. The Tourism Council of Frederick County actively promotes and markets the craft beverage industry as a major visitor attraction, ensuring the right visitors for your business are making their way to the area.

Brewing Up Business: Frederick Changes Code to Allow Breweries to Host Food Trucks, Vendors, and Events

The craft brewing industry contributes $55.7 billion to the U.S. economy and Frederick is well-positioned to attract and support this rapidly expanding industry. On August 4, 2016, The City of Frederick amended City code to allow breweries, farm breweries, and wineries to hold special events, including the ability to host events with food trucks and vendors. This newest legislation proactively addresses the changing nature of breweries and wineries, and allows them to host complementary activities for visitors such as festivals, concerts, and special events.

The legislative changes have the potential to expand and diversify the City's economy by opening up additional opportunities for this industry. Frederick continues to receive national and international recognition for its thriving brewing industry, including an accolade from Matador naming Frederick among 17 of the Worlds' Best Cities for Craft Beer (#16) and inclusion in Livability.com's listing of the 99 Best Beers in 99 Best Beer Cities (#35).

Brewery patrons frequently visit the surrounding area, leading to increased spending at local restaurants, shops, and hotels. New breweries will further bolster Frederick County's 1.7 million annual visitors and related $380.5 million in visitor spending (2014 Tourism Council of Frederick County study).

The brewery/winery legislation is the latest example of the City's proactive approach to supporting manufacturing, and specifically, the craft beverage industry. In 2014, the City adopted legislation to allow craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries to locate in Downtown Frederick. Additionally, the City of Frederick enacted a 10-year phase-out of the business personal property tax, including a 100% tax credit for manufacturers.  

For more information on starting a business in Frederick, contact the City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development.

Tourism Council of Frederick County Executive Director John Fieseler Named Tourism Person of the Year by Maryland Tourism Coalition

Tourism Person of the Year John Fieseler and colleague Matt Neitzey, executive director of the Prince George’s County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Photo Credit: Maryland Tourism Coalition

Executive Director of the Tourism Council of Frederick County John Fieseler has been named Tourism Person of the Year by the Maryland Tourism Coalition (MTC). The award was presented to Fieseler last Thursday at the 35^th annual Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit, held at Turf Valley Resort in Howard County. It was announced during the MTC Awards presentation and banquet, part of the 3-day annual summit that brings together more than 250 tourism and hospitality professionals from throughout the state of Maryland.

  

Tourism Person of the Year is a prestigious professional award given to an industry leader whose exceptional commitment has significantly enhanced and perpetuated the tourism industry in Maryland.

One of the chief attractions is downtown Frederick’s dynamic 40-block historic district, with its nationally renowned architecture, variety of historic sites, 200 retailers and antique shops, and 40 restaurants along Restaurant Row. Nearly three-quarters of all visitors to Frederick County come to downtown Frederick during their journey – about 1.4 million tourists each year.

"Tourism has a tremendous economic impact on Frederick and it is one of our targeted industries," said Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development for The City of Frederick. "Thanks to John's leadership and partnership, tourism thrives in Frederick." 

One nomination statement for Fieseler outlined his positive impact on tourism. It referred to him as a “community and industry leader, and tourism advocate whose successes cannot be contained to any single year” as well as an individual who “embraces tourism as an economic engine for Frederick County and the state of Maryland.”

“John Fieseler has been a friend to the tourism industry throughout his career,” said Liz Fitzsimmons, executive director of the Maryland Office of Tourism. “He rarely says no to anyone asking for his help, advice and counsel. He is a problem solver and a consensus builder. John is truly an asset to Maryland’s tourism industry.” 

  

Fieseler has served as executive director of the Tourism Council of Frederick County since December 1997. He served on the board of directors for six years, including two as board president, prior to assuming the director position. As executive director he represents Frederick County in the Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, is a past chair of the organization, and currently chairs the Research Committee. Fieseler was appointed by Maryland’s governor to serve on the Maryland Tourism Development Board and also sits on the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. He is also a member of the board of directors for the 6-state Civil War Trails organization. He has been a presenter at national tourism conferences including the Destination Marketing Association International annual convention and U.S. Traveler’s annual Educational Seminars for Tourism Organizations.

Throughout his years with the Tourism Council, Fieseler has served on dozens of local committees and boards, including current positions on the boards of the Downtown Frederick Partnership, the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, the American Red Cross, and Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley. He’s a past president of the boards of Hospice of Frederick County and the Rotary Club of Frederick, and a former board member of the Frederick Arts Council.

Under Fieseler’s leadership, tourism continues to steadily grow in Frederick County. He led the organization to purchase, rehabilitate, and open the building at 151 S. East Street in Frederick as its visitor center and offices. When the State was forced by budget limitations to close the Mason-Dixon Welcome Center in northern Frederick County, Fieseler worked cooperatively with state and local partners to get funding to re-open it and install exhibits. He led the organization through many Civil War and War of 1812 commemorative events in recent years. Fieseler serves on the Downtown Frederick Hotel Advisory Committee and leads the way as tourism continues to grow in Frederick County, with increases in visitation and visitor spending.

“It is such a well-deserved and tremendous accomplishment for John to receive this prestigious award,” said Dave Ziedelis, President of the Tourism Council Board of Directors. “We are certainly blessed to have John here in Frederick at the helm of our Tourism Council.”

The Tourism Council of Frederick County (TCFC) is the recognized Destination Marketing Organization for Frederick City and Frederick County, Maryland. It operates the Frederick Visitor Center and related Visit Frederick programs that include Destination Marketing and Group Tour Marketing. For more information about membership and Visit Frederick events, go to www.visitfrederick.org. 

7 Farmers Markets in the City of Frederick

Everedy Square & Shab Row Farmers Market

Frederick is fortunate to be surrounded by bountiful farmland.  Farmers Markets in the area help those who live and work access locally grown and harvested items nearly every day of the week.  Some locations provide weekday convenience to those working in Downtown Frederick or at Fort Detrick.  

7 Farmers Markets Located in the City of Frederick, Maryland (2015)

Everedy Square & Shab Row Farmers Market
Church and East Streets

Through October 29

Thursdays, 3pm – 6pm

West Frederick Farmers Market

United HealthCare Parking Lot

800 Oak Street
Through November 21

Saturdays, 10am-1pm

Frederick City Market
331 N. Market Street

Through October 25

Sundays, 9am – 1pm

Grace Farmers Market

9380 Butterfly Lane

Through Mid November

Fridays, 3pm – 6pm

Great Frederick Fair Farmers Market
Frederick Fairgrounds – East Patrick Street

Open Year Round

Saturdays, 8:00am – 2:00pm 

Farmers Markets at NCI- Frederick

NCI-Frederick located on Fort Detrick - Open to Public

Outdoor Market space is located in the parking lot in front of the NCI Cafe/Scientific Library (Building 549) 

Through October

Tuesdays, 11am – 1:30pm

YMCA of Frederick Farmers Market
1000 N. Market Street

Through October 6

Tuesdays, 3:30pm – 6:30pm

Learn more about other Farmers Markets in Frederick County. 

Updated: August 4, 2015

This Week on Carroll Creek: February 4, 2015

Brick pavers for the Galleria walkways and stone work on the creek walls, continues near the Delaplaine and the "Galleria" Fountain. Where stone work is going on, water levels in the creek have to be lowered to allow workers access - called "dewatering".

As well, heated tents (see pic below) just before East Street are set up for workers to allow stone to be repaired during the cold winter months. The inside temperature must be above 40 degrees as well as all materials. The creek wall improvements to the East of the Delaplaine should be completed mid February, depending on weather.

Poole Landscaping will be starting sod and plantings in mid-to-late March and planned fountains should be finished by the first of April if weather cooperates.

Connect with Us for Updates

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the most recent news and updates on this project and others. 
 
About the Next Phase of Carroll Creek Park

This next phase of park improvements will include new and widened multi-use paths, landscape planters, lighting, water features and crosswalk improvements. The work will occur primarily between Bentz and S. Market Street and between the Delaplaine Arts Center and East Patrick Street. More than $100M in new and renovated private construction is planned along the new park/path sections which will eventually result in hundreds of new jobs and increased state and local tax revenue.

Downtown Hotel Update - January 30, 2015

Artist's conceptual illustration of the Downtown Frederick Hotel.
Courtesy of Plamondon Hospitality Partners, LLC. 

January 30, 2015

The Downtown Frederick Hotel and Conference Center project took a major step forward today in Annapolis with unanimous approval by the Frederick County State Delegation for a  letter of support to Governor Hogan and a recommendation of $7.5 million in FY16 for public infrastructure associated with the development of the project (parking and associated improvements and land).  

On hand to support the delegation request were Mayor Randy McClement, County Executive Jan Gardner, Chamber President Elizabeth Cromwell, Downtown Partnership Director Kara Norman, Frederick County Policy Director Roger Wilson, and Director of Economic Development Richard Griffin.   

“We are simply delighted to receive unanimous support for this critical project and look forward to working with the developer – Plamondon Hospitality Partners, LLC – to get the project designed, approved, and constructed,” stated Griffin.  He added that “the team will work hard over the next few weeks to secure a commitment from the Hogan administration for the requested investment.”  

The Downtown Hotel Advisory Committee had requested $15 million from the state in two installments of $7.5 million per year in FY16-FY17.  The full-service hotel and conference center is anticipated to be branded as a flagship Marriott hotel with 207 rooms and 24,000 square feet of meeting space.  The facility will be privately owned and operated with no ongoing subsidy from local or state government.

Industry Spotlight: Tourism

Credit: C. Kurt Holter/Visit Frederick

Frederick businesses know that visitors make an impact on the local economy. Over the past 15 years, there was a $1B cumulative gain in visitor spending, an impressive figure that set a milestone for the local tourism industry. The announcement came during the annual membership meeting of the Tourism Council of Frederick County, where the organization also announced that Frederick County climbed from 11th place to 8th place among Maryland Counties in spending by visitors. 

More than 1.7 visitors come to Frederick County each year, spending $361 million during their stay in the area, according to 2013 statistics released by the Tourism Council.  These impressive figures only account for visitors traveling from more than 50 miles or more away. Because it doesn't include visitors from places like Montgomery County or Washington, D.C., the actual impact from visitors is even greater. 

Tourism is a major industry sector for the City of Frederick. One of the chief attractions is Frederick’s dynamic 40-block historic district, with its nationally renowned architecture, historic sites, arts and entertainment, and a thriving shopping and dining scene.  Downtown Frederick is home to approximately 850 businesses, many of which rely on visitors.  

Within minutes of Downtown Frederick are wineries, Civil War battlefields and historic sites, recreational opportunities, and scenic landscapes, making the area attractive to a variety of travelers.

“Tourism is one of our major industry sectors in Frederick” says Richard Griffin, Economic Development Director for the City of Frederick. Top business leaders in the city agree. In a recent survey of the Economic Development Advisory Council, an ad-hoc committee appointed by the Mayor, members were asked to rate targeted industries on a rating scale in terms of their importance to the City of Frederick’s economy. 92% of the survey respondents ranked it as an “important” to “very important” industry sector.

Looking towards the future, new plans for a Downtown Frederick hotel will help grow the industry provide overnight accommodations for groups and travelers downtown, an amenity many travelers seek. 

For more information, visit the Tourism Council of Frederick County or read the recent feature story on tourism in Frederick County in the January 2015 issue of Frederick Magazine. 

Proposed Downtown Hotel & Conference Center

Do you wonder what the new proposed Downtown Frederick hotel might look like? These artist's renderings of the proposed Downtown Hotel & Conference Center were unveiled at the Tourism Council of Frederick County’s annual fall membership meeting. 


The images were provided by the chosen developer for the project, Plamondon Hospitality Partners. 

Artist's rendering of downtown shopping and restaurants near the proposed hotel

Are small distilleries the next big thing for Frederick?

New code changes could position Frederick to benefit from surge in growing craft spirit industry.

Craft spirits is a $10.2 billion market and growing at a rapid rate. On December 18, 2014, the City of Frederick, Maryland’s Board of Aldermen amended city code to allow small wineries, breweries and distilleries in the downtown area, paving the way for this growing industry to boom locally. This newest legislation expanded the area where these businesses could operate.  

According to the American Craft Spirits Association, there are at least 350 craft distilleries in the United States today – a figure projected to pass 500 in 2015. 

“We have all of the right ingredients for this industry to thrive,” said Economic Development Director for the city, Richard Griffin. “We have a thriving downtown, robust tourism industry, and the county has a concentration of wineries and breweries. More importantly, the codes are now in place to welcome this growing industry to Frederick,” Griffin added.

While many state and local governments across the country have restrictive legislation that limits this type of industry, the recent code change positions Frederick to be at the forefront of this industry’s growth. 

“Frederick is ready to embrace this industry,” said Griffin.  With a variety of available spaces, from flex to historic buildings, there are a number of locations that can accommodate the booming craft distillery, winery, and brewery business.

For information on opening a business in Frederick or for business assistance, contact the City of Frederick’s Department of  Economic Development. 

NEW: Small Commercial Tax Credit Program Available

The Sustainable Communities Tax Credit Program, which provides funding to support renovations of historic structures in Maryland, expanded in 2014 to include small commercial buildings. This great opportunity to upgrade a facade or make other necessary updates. 

Rehabilitation costs may receive a tax credit of up to $50,000 on projects up to $500,000. Buildings must be located in state-designated Sustainable Communities and be designated historic. 

The credit, which is capped at $50,000 over two years, is available through the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) starting January 1. MHT will accept applications starting September 1. 

Learn more about the tax credit program and find application materials at MHT’s tax credit program page. 

4 Offers and Ideas from Clustered Spires Golf Course

For some industries, golf and business go hand-in-hand.  An article in The Economist (Why golfers get ahead, November 21, 2011), emphasizes that, “As a form of corporate entertainment, golf's first virtue is that people of any age can play it.” It is the preferred sport for many looking to connect with clients and coworkers outside of the office. 

Clustered Spires Golf Club was established in 1991 as the first public golf course in Frederick County, and is owned and operated by the City of Frederick. The 185 acre course was formally a working dairy farm and the Monocacy River surrounds the golf course on 3 sides, creating a beautiful setting while providing a natural barrier from outside distractions. 

Looking towards 2015, here are some current offers and ideas from Clustered Spires Golf Club that may be right on par for your favorite golf-loving colleague, client, or for your own company: 

1. Book Your Outing or Event – Clustered Spires Golf Course successfully runs over 110 outings per year, and its PGA Professional staff has collectively over 51 years of management of charity golf events. Learn more about booking an event.
2. Annual Golf Membership – Find yourself on the links a lot? Play unlimited golf anytime for a year with an annual Golf Membership. Learn more about membership online or call for details: 301-600-1295. (Price: Adults - $1,200; Juniors - $300)
3. Dress for the New Year- Happening Now: 25% Off all in-stock men’s and women’s golf shirts.
4. Golf Lessons & Personal Club Fitting With a PGA Professional – Clustered Spires’ Don Frost was named Golf Digest Top Teacher of 2013. Frost was ranked as one of the best teachers in the state of MD and top 500 in the country. He is the Director of Golf and General Manager of Clustered Spires Golf Club. Learn more about lessons.

Learn more about the amenities and offerings at Clustered Spires Golf Club. 

3 Ways to Celebrate Small Business Saturday in Frederick

In 2010, American Express founded Small Business Saturday to encourage people to shop at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The single day has grown into a powerful movement, and more people are taking part than ever before. The big day is November 29, 2014, and Frederick is an ideal spot to show your shop local spirit. Frederick was recently named in Yelp's Top 20 Cities to Shop Local for the holidays.
  
Here are 3 ways you can show some local love and celebrate Small Business Saturday in Frederick:

1. Get Up Early to Get a Downtown Doorbuster Bag - Show up early in Downtown Frederick to be one of the first 200 people to receive a "Downtown Doorbuster Bag Giveaway." From 10-Noon, the first 200 attendees will receive a FREE custom-designed, reusable Downtown Frederick shopping bag with deals at 40+ shops and restaurants.  Learn more: http://bit.ly/1tf21o5  
2. Receive up to $30 back with your American Express Card - If you have an American Express card, visit http://amex.co/1AeJ1h4 to register your card and receive up to $30 back for shopping in registered small businesses. Visit the Shop Small Map to see locations city-wide. 
3. Share How You Shop Small - In addition to using #ShopSmall on November 29, use #ShopSmallFredco to share how you shop small in Frederick.  We are partnering with the Frederick County Department of Business Development and Retention to feature photos capturing the spirit of #ShopSmall and tagged with #ShopSmallFredco via Facebook and Twitter. The photo could be you dining at a restaurant, picking up bread at a local bakery, a favorite shop or business, or just getting a jump start on your shopping.  

In the City of Frederick, 95% of our businesses are small businesses, which means they have 50 or fewer employees. Based on recent InfoUSA data, 88% of City businesses have fewer than 25 employees. 

If you live in or around Frederick, you know shopping small is a source of pride for many, and the options are endless.

Director of Economic Development Richard Griffin
getting ready to shop small this season in Downtown Frederick.