New Street Lights for Patrick Street

The view downtown along Patrick Street is getting brighter thanks to the efforts of the City’s Department of Public Works and partnership efforts between Downtown Frederick Partnership and the City’s Department of Economic Development (DED).

Twenty-seven new light poles and lights have recently been installed using shorter 14 foot poles replacing previous poles that stood 25 feet tall. The lower lights give better illumination to the sidewalks and help with a more inviting atmosphere for shoppers. 

“The City has consistently invested in infrastructure throughout the community which helps create an opportunity for business to thrive and these lights are no exception.” shares Mayor Randy McClement.

Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development for the City stated, “By partnering with the Downtown Frederick Partnership and the State Department of Housing and Community Development, the City is able to leverage its investment and talent at DPW to deliver projects such as this one.”

A Community Legacy grant provided by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development provided 50% of the funding for the cost of the lights. The grant was applied for and administered by joint efforts of Downtown Frederick Partnership and DED. The City covered the other half of the cost for the lights and to install electrical outlets to the poles allowing for holiday lights.

DED is a full-service economic development department of the City of Frederick with the mission to create economic opportunity in the City through job creation, revitalization and reinvestment. To learn more visit www.businessinfrederick.com or call at 301-600-6360.

 

City Issues Carroll Creek Park Construction Bid

Frederick, MD – The City of Frederick is pleased to announce the issuance of the Carroll Creek Park Phase II-Shared Use Path Construction Bid. The Carroll Creek Park Shared Use Path – Phase II Project consists of the construction of park improvements and multi-purpose pathways which are part of the 1.3 mile Carroll Creek Park Shared Use Path System.

CCP Phase II includes construction of pathways, planters, lighting, landscaping, park furniture, drinking fountains, public art, water features and stationary fountains, structural and architectural walls, drainage, electrical supply, and irrigation within the park along the pathways along with traffic control devices at selected intersections where streets cross the park and Carroll Creek.

In addition, the Shared Use Path construction completes the Path improvements from Bentz Street to E. Patrick Street, providing pedestrian and bike access to major government and private facilities including the Downtown Frederick Multi-Modal Center, Frederick County Courthouse, Frederick County Library, and numerous mixed-use buildings with residential, retail, and office spaces.

“The Board of Aldermen and I have unanimously supported this major capital project to complete the urban section of Carroll Creek Park through historic downtown Frederick because of its potential to be a major catalyst for economic development, job creation, tax revenue generation, and for its recreation and transportation merits,” stated Mayor McClement.

Funding for this project is provide through the City of Frederick Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget, along with contributions from Frederick County, the State of Maryland, and adjacent property owners with major planned developments along the Park. A $3.0 million Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP) grant was awarded to the City for completion of the Shared Use Path portion of the project. Through the TEP grant, approvals from both the State Highway Administration and Federal Highway Administration were required prior to issuance of the construction bid. Those approvals were received in early January 2013.

According to Richard Griffin, director of economic development for the City, “A number of individuals and organizations deserve credit for their support and vision for this project including the Carroll Creek Task Force which oversaw the initial design concepts, the East Frederick Rising for their vision plan for the east side of downtown including this project, the Downtown Frederick Partnership for its continued involvement and leadership on this project and programming events along the park and the Ausherman Foundation for their grant and technical support during the design phase.”

The public investment in Carroll Creek Park Phase II will have a significant economic impact on Frederick. This project is the catalyst for more than $100 million in proposed new and renovated buildings, resulting in both new jobs and tax revenue for the City, County and State of Maryland. Development projects along this corridor include the Galleria, McCutcheon’s, Union Mills, McHenry’s, One Commerce Plaza and Monocacy Valley Canning.

Bidding documents may be downloaded from the Purchasing website at: http://www.cityoffrederick.com/cms/purch/vendorform.php. Any questions regarding the work or bid should be in writing and directed to Ms. Kandi Fullerton at kfullerton@cityoffrederick.com or fax number 301-600-3871.

DED is a full-service economic development department of the City of Frederick with the mission to create economic opportunity in the City through job creation, revitalization and reinvestment. To learn more visit www.businessinfrederick.com or call at 301-600-6360.

City’s Business Development Specialist Named to 2012 Maryland's Leading Women List

Frederick, MD – The City of Frederick’s own Business Development Specialist, Heather Gramm, was named to the Daily Record’s 2012 List of Maryland’s Leading Women. All the honorees were recognized at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor on Thursday, December 6, 2012.

A graduate of Hood College with a B.A. in Business Administration and Marketing, Heather has served the Frederick business community for over 10 years and is an accredited Economic Developer by the IEDC.

Heather serves on the board of the Maryland Economic Development Association and is the Chair of the MEDA Professional Development Committee. She also serves on the Downtown Frederick Partnership Business Development Committee and the Frederick County Chamber’s Public Policy Committee.

Top 100 Women honors women who are at the pinnacle of their career and making a sustained impact on their business, community and the state. Leading Women identifies women who are 40 years old or younger for the tremendous accomplishments they have made so far in their careers.

 

For more information and to see the list in its entirety, visit http://thedailyrecord.com/leading-women/current-winners/.

 

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.

SPOTLIGHT: Fort Detrick & Federal Procurement

Colby Ferguson (Frederick County) and
Heather Gramm (City DED) with
Congressman Bartlett at SmartPROC 2012

DED staff enjoyed the opportunity to make new connections – and reconnect with many Frederick businesses – at the SmartPROC 2012 Conference on October 26^th. This conference, co-hosted by SMART and Congressman Bartlett’s office, brings together the public and private sector from across the Mid-Atlantic region to help build and foster strong relationships, teaming opportunities and discuss upcoming procurement possibilities among industry, community, government and academia. If you missed the conference, you can access the speaker presentations online here.

There is no doubt that federal spending and government contracting is a major economic force in Frederick and throughout Maryland. Fort Detrick plays a significant role, as do the many other military installations in the region. While SmartPROC is a great one-day opportunity, there are resources here in Frederick County that assists businesses with federal procurement every day.

The Fort Detrick Business Development Office is dedicated to enhancing collaboration between Fort Detrick, the Mission Partners, and the business community. Located off post, at 201 Thomas Johnson Drive, the FDBDO provides the following services for those interested in federal procurement opportunities:

• Individual Guidance Session
• Training
• Learning Library
• Market Insight
• Customized Opportunities

Learn more about the FDBDO at www.fdbdo.com.

The Fort Detrick Alliance is another resource for the business community. The Alliance facilitates communication and understanding between Federal agencies at Fort Detrick and the community at large. To accomplish this mission, the Fort Detrick Alliance works on a daily basis to build relationships between Fort Detrick and its constituencies in the region: individuals; businesses; civic, social, and educational organizations; and local and State government entities. Learn more, or become a sponsor, at www.fortdetrickalliance.org.

 

As always, City DED staff is here to assist the Frederick business community with access to information, resources, and business support services. If we can be of assistance to you, call our office at 301-600-6360 or visit us at www.businessinfrederick.com. 

City Announces Improvements to Permitting Process

Frederick, MD – On Tuesday the City of Frederick announced an improvement to the building permit process that will positively impact new businesses opening in the City. Beginning September 18th, zoning certificates will be accepted at the City’s One-Stop-Shop It is anticipated that this change will significantly improve the review time on these important permits for new commercial uses.

Zoning certificates are most commonly needed when a new business moves into an existing building and no construction or tenant fit-out is required. By adding this permit to the list of permits processed through the One-Stop-Shop, the City can reduce the turnaround time from as much as 2 weeks to same-day service.

The City’s One-Stop-Shop is held every Tuesday morning from 8:00am-11:00am at the Municipal Annex office – 140 W Patrick Street in downtown Frederick. In addition to zoning certificates, other commercial permits accepted at One-Stop include tenant fit-out (<5,000 square feet , no change in use), sign, and demolition permits. Several residential permits are accepted as well. For a full list of accepted permits and additional details about the One-Stop-Shop process, visit www.cityoffrederick.com and select “Building/Permits” under the Departments listing.

DED is a full-service economic development department of the City of Frederick with the mission to create economic opportunity in the City through job creation, revitalization and reinvestment. To learn more visit www.businessinfrederick.com or call at 301-600-6360.

 

2012 Frederick County Best Places to Work Winners

Five Frederick County companies were given awards last evening during the 2012 Best Places to Work awards ceremony held at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center. The event, now in its 10th year, promotes recognizing top family-friendly companies as a way to showcase the best places to work in Frederick County and to increase the awareness of the quality of life opportunities for employees working in Frederick.

This year’s campaign’s criteria included the promotion of enhanced workplace culture, strong professional development, benefits and amenitites to provide work and life balance, ecouragement of community and socal responsibilities and providing tools for healthy living.

These 5 family-friendly criteria and a review of each company’s median annual salary and the organization’s rate of voluntary turnover last years were evaluated and assigned points with a weighting scoring system.

Four awards are given, based on company size:

• Small Employer (1-10 employees)
• Medium Employer (11-50 employees)
• Large Employer (51-200 employees)
• Major Employer (200+)

A new category was added this year:  an Employees’ Choice award for the company that got the most employee votes for a total of five awards.

The winners for 2012 are:

Small Category Winner:

Law Office of Scott A. Morrison

 

Medium Category Winner:

ImQuest BioScience

 

Large Category Winner:

Country Meadows

 

Major Employer Winner:

Morgan Keller Construction

 

Peoples Choice Award Winner:

The Plamondon Companies

 

This year's  winners join an elite group of businesses that have won in the previous nine years. Congratulations!