This Week on Carroll Creek - September 14, 2015

Work and improvements continue on both ends of Carroll Creek Park, with the Grand Opening of the East West Fountain (Spring House) across from LaPaz scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2015. Join City officials at the Creek's edge and see a collage of construction progress photos. 

Attendees will receive a free entry ticket to the Random Act of Country on the Creek special event featuring Brothers Osborne with Wesley Spangler as the opening act. The concert kicks off at 5 p.m. at the Carroll Creek Amphitheater. 

On the east end of the park, work continues on the Mill Pond Fountain. As seen in the photo below, water fills the new shape and boundaries of this water feature. The fountain is actually three-in-one, and it has special lighting effects that will enhance its presence along the Creek. The Mill Pond Fountain will use water from Carroll Creek and not from the public utility lines. 

 

Made in Frederick: Monocacy Brewing Company Offers Creative Takes on Craft Beer

The Monocacy Brewing Company opened in 2012 as an expansion to Brewer's Alley in Downtown Frederick, and has been brewing a variety of local craft beers for three years in its current location. The company was created when Brewer's Alley reached capacity and needed to brew more beer.

Jim Bauckman, the sales marketing director for Monocacy Brewing Company, said that the goal of the company is to create a great local beer made for a diverse group of people.

           

“We strive to represent really creative takes on the growing varieties of craft beer,” said Bauckman.

The brewery is located just outside of Downtown Frederick, and customers can buy and sample beer in their tasting room and tour the facility. Thanks to a recent change in the laws, customers can also buy beer by the pint on site.

Bauckman says that Monocacy's beer is made from locally grown and malted grain. “We are uncompromising when it comes to the quality of our products, from the tap to your refrigerator,” he added.

           

According to Bauckman, Frederick is a great location for Monocacy because of how many people in the surrounding area know about the city.

           

“Everyone knows where Frederick is and the city is becoming a great attraction,” said Bauckman. “Frederick has a lot to offer any business.”      

Monocacy Brewing plans to expand its market base while still having a positive impact on the local community.  Bauckman said that Monocacy has hosted events for Frederick nonprofit organizations.         

“We do our best to give back to the community,” said Bauckman. 

If You Go
Monocacy Brewing Company's tasting room is open to the public for sampling, full pours of draft beer, and growler fills. Tours are offered on weekends as well. For more information and hours, visit Monocacy Brewing Company's website. 

Jim Bauckman, Sales & Marketing Director, and Tom Flores, Brewmaster. 

This post was written by Hood College intern, Nick Masucci. 

5 Benefits of Frederick's New Manufacturing Tax Credit

A Program Overview

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen established a new tax credit program targeted at Frederick manufacturers looking to make a substantial investment in their facility and workforce.  The ordinance was approved on August 20, 2015 and created a 10-year tax credit against the increased assessed taxable value of a manufacturing facility.  Frederick County approved a similar program on September 1, 2015.

"The tax credit will increase Frederick's competitiveness and is intended to attract new capital investment and job creation," said Richard Griffin, The City of Frederick's Director of Economic Development. Specifically, the credit assists the City in its ability to attract and retain advanced technology and manufacturing businesses, a targeted industry for the City of Frederick.

Manufacturing is especially important to Frederick's economic vitality.  Unlike many professional services businesses where workers can be located almost anywhere, manufacturers make significant capital investments in their site and rely on the local workforce to operate the facility. In addition to hiring from the community, manufacturers often create indirect jobs through related supply chain opportunities and partnerships.

In order to qualify for the credit, a manufacturer must 

1. Increase the value of their facility by at least $100,000 (as a result of the expansion project), and 
2. Add at least 3 net new jobs at the facility.  

Depending on the value of the new investment and the number of new jobs created with the project, the 10-year tax credit increases on a sliding scale from 20% to 100% (outlined below).  

While businesses will receive tax relief on the portion of their tax bill related to the expansion project, businesses will continue to pay property taxes on the the portion of the site not related to the expansion.

How it Works

• A manufacturer plans to either acquire a new site or expand its current site with a new building or an addition to a current building.
• The business constructs the updated facility and hires new employees.
• Following completion of the project, the State Tax Assessor reassess the property and determines the dollar figure of the new assessment that can be attributed directly to the expansion project.
• The business will now apply for the tax credit and will receive the credit on the number that was determined by the State. The business continues to pay its normal property taxes on the value of the property not related to the expansion.

5 Benefits of the Manufacturing Tax Credit

1. It increases jobs. The tax credit encourages job creation as the program requires a business to not only make a capital investment in their facility, but to add net new jobs at a minimum of 150% of the federal minimum wage.  Manufacturing jobs provide family supporting wages and are vital to Frederick's economy.
2. It encourages investment and reinvestment. Businesses will not be penalized with a higher property tax bill for investing in their facility and hiring new workers.  The tax credit gradually phases the increased taxable value of the building over a 10-year period.
3. It gives Frederick a regional competitive advantage. In conjunction with a 100% tax credit for manufacturers acquiring new personal property, the tax credit program is another tool the City can utilize to market its business cost advantage to manufacturers considering a location in the region.
4. It attracts new business. When a businesses is looking to open or relocate a business, every expense matters. This can tilt the scale between Frederick and another jurisdiction. 
5. It helps small businesses. 95% of all businesses in Frederick are small businesses. The tax credit program doesn't just assist large corporations. It also assists small and locally owned manufacturers looking to expand or locate within the City of Frederick.

To find out more about the Manufacturing Tax Credit, contact The City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development. 

Video Debut: "Work Where There's Room to Play" - Frederick, Maryland

The City of Frederick's new three minute film, "Work Where There's Room to Play," showcases the benefits of working in Frederick, Maryland. From thriving Downtown Frederick to outdoor activities, the film highlights the opportunities of life outside of work.The three minute film debuted on Friday, August 21, 2015 at Downtown Frederick Partnership's "Movie Night on the Creek" event. 

The project was developed after Tech Frederick, a Frederick area non-profit that advocates for the local IT industry, indicated recruiting top talent to Frederick was a priority. While the film was developed with IT professionals in mind, any Frederick area business can use it in coordination with their recruitment efforts. 

"There are many advantages to working in Frederick," said Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development for The City of Frederick. "This three-minute video features Frederick's great downtown, the arts, amenities, and quality of life we all know and love. It shows that Frederick offers a great place to play when people get off of work." 

Local talent featured in the film included narrator, Ashley Miles, local musician and Frederick resident; Jeanne and Eric Rhodes, Frederick residents; Steve Ellis, recruiter for local software development company Regent; and Justin Saltzman, insurance agent and community volunteer. They volunteered their time to appear in the film.

Local company Digital Bard produced the film with additional film footage courtesy of Visit Frederick, Downtown Frederick Partnership, and drone footage by Mike Purks. 

3 Ways Businesses Can Use This Video
Businesses can use this video in three ways to support their recruitment efforts: 

1. Share it. The easiest way to use this video immediately is to share it on your website's employment or recruitment page. Use this to link to the video: https://youtu.be/aXaanozKY_Q. You can also share the video via Facebook. 
2. Make it Yours. Customize the existing video with your company's message or branding at the beginning and end of the video. Contact the production company, Digital Bard, to discuss this option.
3. Be Inspired. Use this as inspiration to develop your own recruitment video to meet your individual hiring needs. 

Inspiring Offices: Wood Street

In The City of Frederick, business spaces go beyond basics. Here, unique offices allow businesses to cultivate creativity, express their company's culture, and create a work environment that inspires.  From industrial to classic, artsy to funky, historic to high tech, spaces abound to meet a variety of needs. 

Inspiring Offices is a feature that highlights some of the creative and unique office spaces in Frederick.

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek inside this month's inspiring office in Frederick - Wood Street. Wood Street partner Jamie Stup answered a few questions about what they love about their office space. 

August 2015 Inspiring Office - Wood Street
Founded in 2002, Wood Street has built a reputation of consistently dedicating itself to outstanding web design and development, as well as quality customer service. They are located at 303 East Patrick Street in Frederick.
 
Through these core principles, we have been able to acquire top-notch design, development and marketing talent as well as ally ourselves with some of the area’s leading experts in the industry.

Wood Street is managed by the partnership of James Stup, Jon-Mikel Bailey, Jason Giuliano, and Derek Jubach. Their partner team has over 35 years of combined web design and development experience. Smart growth has been, and continues to be, a top priority for the company. Through this philosophy, they are able to provide cost-effective solutions to existing and potential clients.

Why did you choose your current office location and how long has Wood Street been located here? 

We choose our office based on several factors, including its proximity to Downtown Frederick, that we have plenty of parking, and the office layout is very open. We've been here since 2011.

Was it “move in” ready or did you have to design/fit it out? 
The office space was technically move in ready, but it really needed some updates to modernize it - wood flooring in the conference room, new floors in the kitchen and bathroom, and a new coat of paint as well as some wiring. The "southwest" themed wall paper needed to come down as well as the teal carpeting in the conference room.

What inspirations did you use to decorate/design the space?

We're still working on decorating. Obviously, we hung several pieces of our work as well as our awards and accolades, but for the most part we like having an empty canvas. We work daily in so many different mediums, its nice to have an office that grounds us.

What are the most unique aspects about your office space?

The openness, interior brick surface and the conference room overlooking the offices are by far the best qualities. The theme of our space is really one of collaboration and teamwork.

What do your employees like best about the office space?
The open-office design allows all employees to converse with each other as well as supervisors. Also, the high ceilings come in handy during our indoor corn-hole tournaments.

Find Your Own Inspiring Office

If you are looking to open or expand a business in Frederick, we can help.  Contact us, and let us help you find your own inspiring office space so you can build your dream. 

If YOU know of any interesting office spaces, let us know and we will put them on our list to feature!

This Week on Carroll Creek - August 10, 2015

A grand opening was held last month to celebrate the first section of the final phase of Carroll Creek Park being completed. In case you haven't seen the new fountain, take a walk just past the Delaplaine and before East Street. 

On the west side of the Creek, things are moving quickly on the next set of fountains to come online - The Spring House Fountains across from LaPaz. Check out the beautiful stone work and progress. Look for updates on Facebook as details are announced regarding the opening of this section.

 Some additional photos of the east side of the park:

How to Market Your Retail or Office Space to Potential Tenants

An Introduction to Online Business Location Search

Whether a start-up or a business simply looking for new space, online property search tools are vital to finding a new business location.  Commercial brokers assist their clients and utilize online database services to locate potential business locations. 

For individual property owners interested in leasing space directly, it is important to also include your property listing in online commercial property databases.  Both CoStar and LoopNet are popular services and enable both commercial brokers and individuals to search for available business locations.  As a property owner, you may include your listing in both services at no charge for a basic listing.  Property listings can include details including a space description, square footage, photographs, and pricing.  Follow the instructions below to ensure your listing is viewable to your potential tenants and always feel free to contact the Department of Economic Development for additional resources.

How to add your listing to LoopNet

1. Add a Listing / Create an Account - Begin your listing by accessing LoopNet's website.  Next, select "Add a lease listing".  You will also be prompted to open an account and provide your name, an email address, and to create a password.

2. Add Your Property - This is your opportunity to include the important information prospective tenants are looking for, including the space size, price, pictures, and a complete property description.

3. Select Your Listing Type - Continue with a complimentary standard listing or select a premium listing. 

4. Track Your Listings - Once your property listing is live, you can monitor the listing and make any changes/updates in real-time.

How to add your listing to Costar

Once you have created a listing in LoopNet, you have the information necessary for inclusion in CoStar.  Unlike LoopNet, a representative must enter your listing into the system.  This service is also available at no charge by completing the following steps:

1. Contact CoStar at 1-800-613-1303 or support@costar.com.  Please be sure to include the listing description and photographs for your property listing.   

2. Review the proof of your listing.  Once CoStar has received your listing and entered the information into the system, you will receive a proof of the listing for your final approval.  Once the listing is approved, the property will become searchable in the CoStar database.