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.

Seeking Marketing and Communications Intern - Spring 2015

The City of Frederick’s Department of Economic Development is seeking a communications and marketing intern.  Primary responsibilities will include writing and developing content for digital outlets (newsletters, blog posts, website, social media, etc.) and print collateral; photography; and updating website or blog posts to support business development activities of the department.  Candidate will also support business recruitment and retention efforts such as attending business visits, events, workshops, and supporting economic development projects. 

Ideal candidate will be have a positive attitude, experience writing digital content, experience with social media for an organization/business/non-profit, and be able to work independently in an office environment. Strong writers of all majors are encouraged to apply. We are seeking a college student that is looking to complete an internship for credit via their college. This is an unpaid internship opportunity. 

As a part of the internship, the student will:

• Develop a series of blog posts and other content for his/her end of semester portfolio
• Gain an understanding of local government by attending both staff level and public meetings
• Work with Frederick’s business community and directly interface with business owners
• Gain practical experience in marketing and communications
• Attend business and community networking events and professional development opportunities as schedules permit

Apply: Please email resume and writing samples (links to samples are fine) to Michelle Kershner – mkershner@cityoffrederick.com. Writing samples can include articles, blog posts, websites, promotional materials, or classroom projects. 

Deadline: January 30, 2015. 

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

2014 Snapshot

2014 Snapshot

Thank you to our businesses, state and local partners, and community organizations for all of your efforts in 2014 that make Frederick a great place to live, work, and play. 

Changes in Policy to Enter Fort Detrick Starting January 2015

Please note the following changes will be implemented in January 2015 to enter into Fort Detrick or the Forest glen Annex. 

$100,000 Awarded to Continue and Expand Façade Improvement Programs

City Receives Community Legacy Grant 
$100,000 Awarded to Continue and Expand Façade Improvement Programs 

Example of a façade improvement through the Downtown Frederick Partnership's program. 

Frederick, MD - December 24, 2014: The City of Frederick Department of Economic Development is pleased to announce that on December 17, 2014, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced that The City of Frederick was awarded $100,000 in Community Legacy Grant funds. The award will be used to continue and expand a façade improvement grant program. DHCD awarded $5.7 million in Community Legacy program grants to 67 projects in 20 counties and Baltimore City. Those grants support total project costs of more than $45.4 million. 

Frederick’s program funds will support the continuation and expansion of a Façade Improvement Matching Grant Program within the Patrick Street Corridor Community. The Frederick Façade Improvement Project will be administered jointly by the City of Frederick’s Department of Economic Development and its partners - the Downtown Frederick Partnership, the Golden Mile Alliance, and the East Frederick Rising. 

Since 2004, the Downtown Frederick Partnership’s Façade improvement program has resulted in more than 80 building improvement projects valued in excess of $520,000 and has induced additional neighborhood investment. 

“Façade rehabilitation serves as a catalyst for area-wide capital investment as we have experienced in Downtown Frederick. Expanding the Façade Program to include the Patrick Street Corridor through East Frederick and the Golden Mile will improve the attractiveness of the gateways and will help spur area-wide revitalization,” said City of Frederick Mayor Randy McClement. 

The program will expand to include areas east and
west of Downtown, including East Frederick and the
Golden Mile neighborhoods.

The Frederick Façade Improvement Program is intended to expand the current Downtown Frederick Façade Improvement Program to include the areas east and west of downtown along the Patrick Street Corridor, including East Frederick and Golden Mile neighborhoods. Of the $100,000 grant award, $53,000 will be allocated to Downtown Frederick, $23,500 to East Frederick, and $23,500 to the Golden Mile. 

The Community Legacy program provides local governments and community development organizations with essential funding and gap financing for important projects that will strengthen local communities, supporting housing and homeownership goals and attracting and retaining businesses. 

The City of Frederick Department of Economic Development strives to increase economic opportunity for Frederick residents through job creation, revitalization and reinvestment. 

Program specific details and how to apply:

• Downtown Frederick - http://www.downtownfrederick.org/about-us/facadeimprovement 
• Golden Mile - http://www.goldenmilealliance.org/facade-improvement-grant-program/ 
• East Frederick Rising - Call the City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development at 301-600-6361

For additional information, contact Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development for the City of Frederick 301-600-6361 or rgriffin@cityoffrederick.com.