Partner Spotlight: Fort Detrick Alliance

1. What is the mission of The Fort Detrick Alliance?
The FDA is a Maryland 501 (c)3 Non-Profit organization with the mission to build strong relationships and understanding between Fort Detrick and the region. The Fort Detrick Alliance is a member of the Maryland Military Installation Council and our work is done in partnership with the Maryland Division of Military and Federal Affairs and Frederick City and County Economic Development organizations.  Our work is largely focused on advocating for the retention and expansion of the federal missions at Fort Detrick and the 12,000 military, federal, and contractor jobs.  Fort Detrick is very unique in that there are five cabinet level organizations located at Fort Detrick including:

•    Department of Defense (DOD)
•    Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
•    Department of Agriculture (USDA)
•    Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
•    Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

2. What are your top priorities?
Building strong relationships and understanding between Fort Detrick and the region requires education, networking, communication and advocacy.   We use innovative programs and events coupled with digital and print media to accomplish this work.   For instance, hundreds attend our regular networking breakfasts throughout the year which feature talented speakers from various federal labs and facilities to educate community and business leaders on critical work ongoing at the Fort and at the National Cancer Institute-Frederick and Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research. 

In addition to routine educational breakfasts, we also hold networking receptions and an annual Recognition Dinner and a Technology Showcase event with the Frederick Innovative Technology Center Inc, to highlight tech-transfer opportunities with the Federal Laboratories.  These events create opportunities for businesses and community leadership to connect and engage with each other.

Working with local, state, and federal elected officials, also focuses on advocating for key infrastructure, workforce and policies that support the health of Fort Detrick such as roads, airport, utilities, STEM education, and housing.   We advocate for the development and expansion of the work conducted at Fort Detrick in the areas of cancer research, biological research and vaccine development, medical protection of the nation’s Armed Forces, and global communications.  

FDA donated $10k to Hood College, Mount St. Mary's University Frederick Campus and Frederick Community College to support educational efforts for our Veterans.

3. How did the organization get started/tell us some history about your organization.

The Fort Detrick Alliance was founded in 2003 by the late Colonel Mark Hoke (formerly a Fort Detrick Garrison Commander and later Chairman of the Frederick County Commissioners) along with support from the Maryland Department of Commerce and Brigadier General (Ret) Mike Hayes – Director of the MarylandOffice of Military and Federal Affairs. The Fort Detrick Alliance is one of seven Military Alliances focused on supporting the missions, jobs, and economic impact in Maryland.  Maryland is focused on supporting the needs of making sure that national Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) activities result in job growth in Maryland.

2016 Board of Directors

A Board of Directors governs the organization and the day-to-day activities are carried out by the Executive Director. Nearly 100 businesses, individuals and organizations financially support our mission as members of the organization. 

4. Can you share any news or upcoming events related to FDA?
New Executive Director
Amanda Johnston, a marketing professional with more than 15 years in nonprofit management has recently been hired as the Alliance’s new executive director. Amanda is replacing executive director Eileen Mitchell who is retiring from the Alliance. Eileen was a former Deputy Garrison Commander of Fort Detrick for 30 years.  Amanda Johnston joins the Fort Detrick Alliance with communications, marketing, fundraising, event planning, public relations, and management experience. She is active in the Frederick business community and currently serves on the board of directors for Celebrate Frederick. Amanda can be reached at amanda.johnston@fortdetrickalliance.org or 301-788-9896.

Recent FDA networking Breakfast

Upcoming Events
•    FITCI Technology Showcase
September 6, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Innovative renewable energy, biotechnology, and information research is being done in our community at the Frederick Innovative Technology Center. Meet with FITCI entrepreneurial businesses and hear Dr. Kenneth Bertram, Principal Assistant for Acquisition, US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command at Fort Detrick speak about research advancements at our 9th Annual FITCI Technology Showcase on September 6. The event kicks-off with a networking reception at 4:30 p.m. followed by presentations by County Executive Jan Gardner and Frederick City Mayor Randy McClement. Register online today! https://www.fortdetrickalliance.org/events

•    Networking Breakfast at Hood College
Thursday, October 26, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Featured Speaker: COL Brian J. Gentile from U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) will discuss the mission and research being conducted at USAMRIID

•    Technical Innovation Center at Hagerstown Community College
Technology Showcase during STEM Week
Thursday, November 9, 4:30 to 7 p.m.
More details to come visit www.fortdetrickalliance.org

5. What type of companies are best positioned to take advantage of your services?
The Fort Detrick Alliance is seeking members which want to help support the critical work to advocate for and help sustain and grow the critical missions and jobs at Fort Detrick and the National Cancer Institute.  There are many opportunities to be involved in event planning and logistics, communication, networking, and much more.  Our members are varied with both large and small companies across many industry sectors including biotech, infotech, nanotech, healthcare, retail, government, and non-profit. 

The five cabinet level agencies at Fort Detrick employ many in various industries and backgrounds, including but not limited to biotech, technology, clinical and veterinary medicine, microbiology, biochemistry, pathology, molecular biology, immunology, virology, budget administration, regulatory affairs, security, personnel and administrative support, communications, logistics, maintenance, and resource management. There are opportunities for businesses across the region to network and grow through the work done at Fort Detrick.

Tech Showcase Features Emerging Technologies

The annual Tech Showcase offered networking on the patio and tours of FITCI. 

On June 14, 2016, the Fort Detrick Alliance hosted its annual Tech Showcase at the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) in Frederick, Maryland. The event featured FITCI's new Executive Director Kathie Brady; County Executive Jan Gardner; Frederick City Mayor Randy McClement; and Dr. George V. Ludwig, the Acting Principal Assistant for Research and Technology, USA Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick. 

“This annual event is an excellent opportunity to learn about new technologies and is an opportunity to connect with industry professionals,” said Richard Griffin, Director of The City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development.

Fort Detrick Alliance President Dr. Harry Modrow opened the event with a welcome to attendees, followed by remarks from other speakers.

The evening concluded with tours of FITCI, Frederick County’s only business incubator. Attendees had the opportunities to meet with the entrepreneurs currently operating out of FITCI and learn more about their research and technologies.  

From left to right: Fort Detrick Alliance President Dr. Harry Modrow; Executive Director Kathie Brady; County Executive Jan Gardner; Frederick City Mayor Randy McClement; and Dr. George V. Ludwig, the Acting Principal Assistant for Research and Technology, USA Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick. 

5 Reasons the Biosciences Thrive in Frederick, Maryland

Carroll Creek and Cycling Photo Credit: Visit Frederick

Located less than an hour from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Frederick plays a key role within Maryland's bioscience cluster and has much to offer new and expanding biotech businesses.

Below are some of the top reasons the biosciences thrive in Frederick, Maryland. 

5 Reasons the Biosciences Thrive in Frederick, Maryland

1. Location, Location, Location
Frederick is the northern anchor of the I-270 Technology Corridor in Maryland, which is one of the largest bioscience clusters in the U.S. Frederick is home to Fort Detrick, the Frederick National Laboratory, 9,000+ businesses, and 80 bioscience companies. Less than an hour from both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, it also offers close proximity to federal regulatory agencies.

2. Opportunity & Collaboration
Businesses enjoy strong biotechnology transfer opportunities from the federal labs at Fort Detrick and the National Cancer Institute. Start-ups can thrive in Frederick's local biotech incubator with state-of-the-art wet labs and offices available. The community is supported with partners offering local networking opportunities and workshops. 

3. Educated Workforce & Great Schools
Ranked among the 2nd smartest cities by Forbes.com, 36% of the workforce holds a bachelor's degree or higher and 13.3% have earned a Masters degree or Ph.D. Local public school achievement exceeds Maryland averages with scores that consistently surpass state and national averages on measures such as the College Board SAT.

4. Transportation
Two-thirds of the U.S. population is within a day’s drive of Frederick, and the location provides convenient access to all major markets on the eastern seaboard. It is within 50 miles of three international airports (BWI, Dulles and Reagan National). Two commuter rail stations serve Frederick, offering daily weekday service to Washington, D.C.

5. Award-Winning Place to Live
     Frederick was named one of the “Top 100 Best Places to Live” in the U.S. by Livability.com in 2015.  It was also named one of the "10 Best Places Near Washington, D.C. For Young Professionals" and Frederick County was named among the “Top 10 Counties in America.” Downtown Frederick is bustling with independently owned shops and restaurants, while close to area hiking, biking, wineries, and historic sites.  Frederick offers the ability for residents to “live, work, and play” and experience an excellent quality of life.

Frederick in the News: "Bio-tech hub in Frederick, Md. continues to expand"
Watch this 2015 news report on the expansion of the bioscience industry in Frederick and the importance of collaborations. 

"Bio-tech hub in Frederick, Md. continues to expand"

Want to learn more? Contact us and we can assist you with site selection assistance, how to start your business in Frederick, relocation assistance, and more information about the biosciences in our area.  

For more information on the biosciences in Frederick, visit our partner, Frederick County Office of Economic Development. 

AstraZeneca Announced Plans to Expand its Biologics Manufacturing Center in Frederick

2011 Grand Opening

On Friday, November 21, 2014, AstraZeneca announced plans to expand its biologics manufacturing center in Frederick, Md. The more than $200 million project will increase production capacity at the facility to support AstraZeneca’s maturing pipeline, and will help position the company to keep pace with a growing demand for the development and use of biologics, which currently represent nearly 50% of AstraZeneca’s overall pipeline. The expansion is also expected to bring a total of 300 new jobs to Frederick.

“We’re very pleased by AstraZeneca’s demonstrable commitment to our local workforce and to our growing biotech community,” said Frederick City Mayor Randy McClement. “This expansion will help bring even more high-caliber life science jobs and career opportunities to Frederick and the surrounding region.”

For more information, read the AstraZeneca press release. 

5 Benefits of Doing Bioscience Business in Frederick, MD

Dr. J.J. Lin of Imagilin Technology, LLC got his start at Frederick's biotech incubator, FITCI.

Located less than an hour from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Frederick is the second largest city in Maryland. It has much to offer growing, expanding businesses in bioscience.

Each year, the City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development (DED) attends the world’s largest biotechnology gathering, the BIO International Convention. Here, they network with high-level executives and influential decision makers who come to BIO to discover new players in the industry, form partnerships, and evaluate emerging technologies. 

At BIO, and at home, DED represents Frederick's role within Maryland's largest bioscience cluster, and lets businesses know why Frederick is ideal for this industry.  There are many reasons these companies are attracted to our area. Below are some of the top reasons the biosciences thrive in Frederick, Maryland. 

5 Reasons the Biosciences Thrive in Frederick, Maryland

Frederick City and County economic
development professionals at BIO 2014. 

1. Location-Frederick is the northern anchor of the I-270 Technology Corridor in Maryland, which is the third largest bioscience cluster in the U.S. It is home to Fort Detrick, the Frederick National Laboratory, 3,400+ businesses, and over 80 bioscience companies. Frederick also offers close proximity to federal regulatory agencies. 

2. Opportunity & Collaboration-Businesses enjoy strong biotechnology transfer opportunities from the federal labs at Fort Detrick and the National Cancer Institute; a local biotech incubator (FITCI); available state-of-the-art labs & offices, and local networking opportunities with partners.  

3. Educated Workforce-Ranked the 2nd Smartest City by Forbes.com, 36% of the workforce holds a bachelor's degree or higher.

4. Transportation-Major highways and mass transit connect Frederick with Washington, D.C., the I-95 corridor, and the Port of Baltimore. 

5. Quality of Life-Historic Downtown Frederick ranked #6 in Livability.com’s “Top 10 Best Downtowns 2014” list. 

Want to learn more? Contact us and we can assist you with more information, site selection assistance, and information about the biosciences in our area.  

FREDERICK TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS INCUBATOR SEEKS NEW DIRECTOR

The Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors is immediately seeking candidates for the position of Executive Director. This position replaces the current Executive Director, Michael Dailey, who recently announced his resignation effective December 31, 2012.  Mr. Dailey has been the Director and CEO of the non-profit technology business incubator since its inception in 2005.  Resumes will be accepted by the Frederick County Workforce Services Division at PMcDonald@FrederickCountyMD.gov until the position is filled.  A job description is posted on the organization’s website www.fitci.org.

“Mike Dailey has provided exceptional service to FITCI’s start-up business clients as evidenced by 16 successful business graduates which have created more than 230 direct jobs during his tenure,” stated Mr. Don Schilling (Corp OHS), President of the Board of Directors.  “Mike has skillfully managed the organization through the recession and reduced government investment to position FITCI for the next business cycle.”

A serial entrepreneur, Mr. Dailey was selected in 2005 by the FITCI Board to lead the build-out and development of the initial 10,000 SF of incubator space at Hood College.  The space quickly filled and FITCI expanded to its current location at 4539 Metropolitan Court in Frederick which is now home to a number of emerging biotechnology, information technology, and green technology companies.  Several FITCI client companies have received statewide and national attention including Akonni Biosystems, WGS Systems, Imagilin Technologies, and Widearea Systems.

According to Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development for the City of Frederick, “High-tech business incubation is a critical economic development and job creation strategy of Frederick City and County.  We applaud Mike’s efforts to oversee the launch of incubation in this community and though sad to see him move on, we are excited about FITCI’s next chapter.”

FITCI is a non‐profit organization created in 2005 by Frederick County, The City of Frederick, the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development (DBED), and the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) in conjunction with the local business community.  FITCI provides services for local entrepreneurs seeking quality entrepreneurial support services along with facilities such as offices, laboratories, shared equipment and conference space equipped with phone and web.  FITCI seeks to foster entrepreneurship in Frederick and accelerate the development of commercial viable high tech businesses and jobs.

Today, FITCI stands as a significant success story of how private-public partnerships can successfully work to meet public sector goals while operating efficiently and cost effectively in the private sector.  The 230 jobs created by FITCI clients have an annual payroll of $17 million and the 16 graduates generate $26 million in annual revenue and occupy commercial real estate in Frederick paying local real estate taxes of nearly a quarter million annually.

Brief Job Description
The FITCI Executive Director is a full-time, benefited position which requires normal weekday core hours and some participation at evening/weekend events.  The executive director serves as CEO of the organization, reports to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for all operational aspects of organization including facilities, staff, and day-to-day business and financial functions.  The position also requires providing entrepreneurial support and advice to FITCI clients.  The salary is negotiable.  For more information see the full job description on the FITCI website at www.fitci.org.