City of Frederick Economic Development News Blog

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Farm-to-Fork Frederick Celebrates Locally Sourced Dining Options

From August 22 through September 1, 2014, Frederick restaurants, farms, and wineries will team up to offer locally grown dishes to diners. In its second year, Farm-to-Fork Frederick is a dynamic 11-day culinary celebration of locally sourced foods. During the 2014 promotion, eleven participating restaurants will offer a special menu featuring 70% Frederick County grown and raised farm goods.

New this year, "Farm Fresh Overnight Stay" hotel packages are available. Participants can extend their stay at a special rate and have the opportunity to explore and sample at a nearby farm through the package.

Agriculture has always been a significant part of the economy and social network of Frederick and the surrounding community. Founded in 1745, Frederick-Town sat near the center of a remarkably fertile and gently rolling landscape ripe for the production of grains, fruits, and livestock. By the middle of the 19th century, the town of Frederick was well established as a county seat and marketing center for Frederick County. This year, The City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development is a sponsor of Farm-to-Fork Frederick.

Frederick is a dining destination for residents and visitors alike. It is home to shops, restaurants, and businesses that provide the quality of life so many enjoy.

The Farm-to-Fork Frederick event brings attention to the locally-sourced dining movement, and raises awareness that many Frederick restaurants source locally all year long.

2014 Participating Restaurants/Culinary Spots

A Better Choice Bakery (Brunswick)
Barley and Hops (Frederick - County)
Beans in the Belfry (Brunswick)
The Buzz (Monrovia)
Firestone's Culinary Tavern (Downtown Frederick)
Shamrock (Thurmont)
JoJo's Restaurant and Tap House (Downtown Frederick)
La Paz Mexican Restaurant (Downtown Frederick)
The Lodge (Frederick - County)
Mistero (Downtown Frederick)
Sumittra (Downtown Frederick)
The Wine Kitchen (Downtown Frederick)
The Kitchen Studio Cooking School (Frederick - County)

For more information, visit www.farmtoforkfrederick.com.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week: August 10-16

Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot visits April Reardon, owner of Velvet Lounge, in Downtown Frederick on Monday, August 11, 2014 during Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week.

The Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week for 2014 runs Sunday, August 10 through Saturday, August 16. That means qualifying apparel and footwear, $100 or less per item, are exempt from state sales tax. Accessory items are not included.

Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week coincides with back to school shopping, but it's not just for students. The week is a great time for anyone to take advantage of the savings and shop locally for clothing and other qualifying purchases.

For more information, visit "Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week."

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

12th Annual Frederick County Best Places to Work Awards

Congratulations to all of the 2014 Frederick County Best Places to Work Awards recipients. Those recognized, shown left to right: Karen Smith, St. John Regional Catholic School; Vaughn Thurman, Swift Systems; Nick Damoulakis, Orases; Pat Fitch, Batelle National Biodefense Institute; Maj. Gen. Joseph Caravalho Jr., Fort Detrick; Michael Shollenberg, Regent Education; Jean Peterson, Jean Peterson Design; Lisa Shuster, iHire.com; Shawn Pierce, Experient; and Adrienne Weikert, Canapes.

On August 5, 2014, the 12th annual Frederick County Best Places to Work Awards event recognized local businesses for their workforce and family friendly practices. The event was held at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center and honors the top companies in the area while also bringing attention to the quality of life opportunities employees have in Frederick.

For each nominee, five family-friendly criterion were evaluated, along with a review of each company’s median annual salary, turnover rate, and diversity practices.

Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists and winners. View photos from the event.

2014 Category Finalists and Winners

Small Employer: Swift Systems

Honorable Mention: Jean Peterson Design

Medium Employer: Orases

Honorable Mention: Canapes Catering

Large Employer: Batelle National Biodefense Institute

Honorable Mention: Regent Education

Major Employer: Experient & Fort Detrick

This year, there was a tie in the Major Employer category. Congratulations to both outstanding winners.

People’s Choice: St. John Regional Catholic School

The People’s Choice Award was based on the company that has the most desired unique benefits.

Most Creative Work Environment: iHire

A new category, “Most Creative Work Environment,” was added this year.

The event is a joint partnership between Frederick County Workforce Services, The City of Frederick Department of Economic Development, Frederick County Business Development and Retention, and the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce.

Thank You

Thank you to this year’s sponsors, all of whom are previous award winners. Without their generosity, the 2014 event could not have happened:

Country Meadows Retirement Communities
Canam Steel
ClinicalRM
En-Net Services
Morgan-Keller Construction
Hood College
ImQuest BioSciences
Dr. Harvey Levy & Associates
The Law Offices of Scott Alan Morrison
Plamondon Hospitality Partners

Friday, August 1, 2014

This Week On Carroll Creek: August 1

Phase two work along Carroll Creek has started between the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center and S. East Street.

The current construction shown in these photographs is the development of initial infrastructure including retaining walls and grading needed to extend park amenities and the shared use path between the Delaplaine and S. East Street. Other ongoing efforts include new park amenities, widened paths and improved lighting between Baker Park and Market Street.

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.

Monday, July 21, 2014

This Week On Carroll Creek Park - July 21, 2014

If you are down on South Market or Bentz Street, you'll see construction and improvements continue along Carroll Creek, bringing new, widened terra cotta shared-use paths for pedestrians, joggers and bikers.

Just beyond the Delaplaine on S. Carroll Street, block is being laid to raise the creek walls to allow for flower beds and retaining walls, as part of landscaping improvements.

Between Market Street and Court Street, excavation of top soil is underway for for the installation of new fountains.

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.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Better Know A Business: Exotic Lumber

95% of business in Frederick, Maryland are small businesses with 50 or fewer employees.

The diversity and variety of businesses speak to the strong spirit of entrepreneurship in this community. Staff from the City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development recently visited one of these small businesses, Exotic Lumber.

Get to know Exotic Lumber better by reading a Q & A with owner, Neil Gager.

Better Know a Business: Exotic Lumber

Department of Economic Development representatives,
Bobby Baumler and Richard Griffin, with Neil Gager,
owner of Exotic Lumber.

When did you open in Frederick?

Exotic Lumber relocated to Frederick in October last year (2013). I opened my business when we arrived here from South Africa in January of 2002.

Why did you choose Frederick for your business location?

We were renting a warehouse in the Airpark in Gaithersburg since we opened, and last year, we purchased our current warehouse. Living in New Market the last seven or so years, we have gotten to know Frederick well, and really enjoy what the city offers.

Who are your clients and what do they make with your products?

Our clients range from commercial businesses, like small and medium cabinet makers, furniture makers, remodelers, contractors, deck builders, mill work shops, flooring companies, luthiers, boat builders, as well as wood turners and all kinds of hobbyist woodworkers. We also supply wood for historic renovation jobs.

What makes your business unique/different?

What makes us unique is our range of domestic and imported woods (over 120 species) and the fact that our customers can hand select their own lumber and, for a fee, have it planed and cut on-site for them. We also keep unusual things like burls and live-edged wood slabs.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about your business?

We have a showroom and customers are welcome to come in and look at what the different species are like once they have been sanded and finished.

We also sell certain species of paper–backed veneers and edge banding, as well as veneer core plywood, as well as wood for outdoor uses – (furniture - teak, Spanish cedar, mahogany, western red cedar ), decks (Ipe wood decking from Brazil), and Western Red cedar for raised garden beds.

Additional Information

Exotic Lumber Inc

329 E. 2nd Street

Frederick, MD 21701

301-695-1271

www.exoticlumberinc.com

Hours