My Bank First United Bank & Trust Makes Donation to the Golden Mile Alliance

Frederick, MD – The Golden Mile Alliance received its first donation from the local business community this month. My Bank First United Bank & Trust, located on Baughman’s Lane along the Golden Mile, became the first private investor in the Golden Mile Alliance with a $500 check presented at the Alliance Board meeting.

“My Bank is delighted to support the community-minded volunteers that have come together to form the Golden Mile Alliance,” stated Dave Esworthy, Market President for My Bank First United Bank & Trust. “We hope this seed money will spur involvement by others to help this corridor become a more vibrant and attractive center for business as well as social interests like the arts, education, and healthy living.”

Mr. Esworthy attended the January Board meeting and presented the check to Diana Halleman, President of the Alliance Board, Alderman Carol Krimm, Aldermanic Liaison to the Alliance Board, and Denise Phelps, Community Office Manager at My Bank and an Alliance Board member.

“When My Bank First United came to Baughmans Lane, we wanted to be part of the exciting and diverse group of residents and businesses around the Golden Mile,” said Ms. Phelps. “Our financial and human investment in the Golden Mile Alliance will contribute to the continued development of this vibrant community, returning the Golden Mile to a top destination in Frederick County.”

In addition to the donation from My Bank, Mayor McClement committed up to $5,000 in seed funding from the City of Frederick. This money will be used for start-up costs such as incorporation and 501(c)3 application fees, creation of a website for the Alliance, and other administrative costs. NAC 8 also donated envelopes and postage in support of the Alliance.

“The Golden Mile Alliance is a great example of a public-private partnership,” said Mayor McClement. “Great things can be accomplished when neighborhoods partner with local government and take ownership in creating the change they want to see in their communities.”

The Golden Mile Alliance meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 7:00-8:30pm at the Hillcrest Community Center, and meetings are open to the public. For more information on the Alliance, contact the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development at 301-600-6360.

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.

Golden Mile Alliance Elects Officers, Seeks Members for Committees

Frederick, MD – The Golden Mile Alliance elected officers for the organization at the monthly committee meeting on January 17^th. Elected as the first slate of officers for the Alliance were:

President - Diana Halleman, Resident

Vice President – Maribeth Visco, Kline Scott Visco

Treasurer – Denise Phelps, My Bank 1^st United Bank

Secretary – Justin Kiska, Way off Broadway Dinner Theater

"To be the first elected president of the Golden Mile Alliance and to have the opportunity to be part of helping to revitalize the area is truly a dream come true for me, “stated Mrs. Halleman. “Even better is that I am supported by an amazing team of committed and determined individuals who have the same vision and goals.  I believe that we can make a difference for our community and that we can have a positive impact on the city as a whole.”

The Alliance, which is being incorporated in the State of Maryland and applying for 501(c)3 designation, has formed four committees to support the goals and priorities of the organization. The committees are Business Development, Design, Organization and Promotions. Service on these committees is open to the community, and the Alliance encourages interested residents, businesses and property owners to get involved by volunteering to serve on a committee.

The Golden Mile Alliance meets on the 3^rd Tuesday of every month from 7:00-8:30pm at the Hillcrest Community Center, and meetings are open to the public. For more information on the Alliance, contact the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development at 301-600-6360.

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.

Blighted & Vacant Property Ad Hoc Committee Members Announced

Frederick, MD -- Mayor Randy McClement recently named 16 members to the newly formed Blighted and Vacant Property Ad Hoc Committee.  The purpose of the committee is to recommend regulatory, incentive and / or disincentive programs to assist The City of Frederick handle   habitually blighted and vacant properties. 

Mayor Randy McClement said, “The overwhelming public response was very exciting. The City received over 25 applications for the 16 positions on the Blighted and Vacant Property Ad Hoc Committee. My vision for this Committee is to focus the first one hundred (100) days studying commercial blighted and vacant property issues once the Committee has its initial organizational meeting.  After the first 100 days, the Committee will submit a draft report to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.”

The Blighted and Vacant Property Ad Hoc Committee members are:

Nine (9) Voting Members

• Tamar Osterman & Kathryn MacKenzie - representatives from a residential

   property brokerage

• Steve Cranford & David Kaye - representatives from a commercial property brokerages

• Joe Fitzgibbons & Mike Bowersox - representatives from commercial property owners 

• Robert Murray & Matthew Donahue - at-large community representatives -

• Kara Norman - representative from a community not-for-profit organization 

Four (4) Ex-Officio Members

• Truby LaGarde- alternate non-voting member

• Alderman Michael O’Connor- Aldermanic liaison

• Richard Griffin - Director of Economic Development

• Josh Russin - Executive Assistant to the Mayor

Three (3) City departments will provide staff support to the Ad Hoc Committee throughout the deliberation process:

• Rachel Depo - City Legal Department

• Brandon Mark - Planning Department

• Roy Singer - Code Enforcement

“I am looking toward the community for recommendations regarding existing City practices, studying and recommending best practices from other communities and any other new approaches that may be deemed appropriate to tackle these issues,” said Mayor McClement.

Following the initial one hundred day milestone the Ad Hoc Committee will spend approximately the following one hundred and forty (140) days reviewing residential blighted and vacant property concerns. A second report will to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen will follow with their findings.  All totaled, the Blighted and Vacant Property Ad Hoc Committee will spend a total of two hundred and forty (240) days reviewing both commercial and residential property issues.  The Ad Hoc Committee will inform the Mayor McClement if additional time is needed to study the issues.

MBE/DBE/ACDBE Application Assistance Workshop

Attention minority and women business owners!
Interested in increasing your exposure to State, Local and Federal government contracting? This is your opportunity to learn more about Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification.

Get a comprehensive overview of the certification process. Meet with a certification expert and ask questions about the application as it relates to your business.

Who should attend?

• Firms interested in learning about the benefits of MBE/DBE certification
• Firms seeking to fulfill minority participation goals on government contracts
• Firms with questions about the application process
• Firms seeking one-on-one review of an application prior to submission

Friday, March 23, 2012
Check-in 10:30am
Workshop begins at 11:00am
5340A Spectrum Drive
Frederick, MD 21703

This is a FREE event. To register, call the Small Business Development Center at 301-600-1967 or email bsmith@frostburg.edu.

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS PARTNER TO FORM BREAKFAST CLUB FOR ENTREPRENEURS

(January 10, 2012 – Frederick, MD) – The Entrepreneur Council of Frederick County, in partnership with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, will launch the Emerging Entrepreneur Breakfast Club in February. The new forum will allow local business owners to share ideas, solve common problems, and improve their operations.

The new Breakfast Club will meet on the third Tuesday of each month, from 7:30 to 9 a.m., beginning in February. Meetings will be held at the Frederick Chamber’s office at 8420-B Gas House Pike, Frederick. Space is limited to 15 participants. Interested business owners must apply by January 25, 2012, and will be notified of acceptance by the end of January.

During the program’s first year, participants must attend at least 10 of 12 monthly meetings, and must agree to keep information discussed at each meeting confidential. By encouraging open dialogue with a small group of professionals, the Entrepreneur Council hopes to develop strong bonds that will contribute to each participant’s business success.

Each meeting will be facilitated by Jim Merkel, Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch. In addition to nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, including financial planning for small business owners, Jim is active within the local nonprofit community.

Participant applications are available online at entrepreneurcouncil.com and frederickchamber.org. For more information, contact Ric Adams, Chamber President and CEO, at 301.662.7851.

Frederick County Chamber of Commerce members include more than 950 organizations, representing over 35,000 local jobs in a wide variety of industries: Retail, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Skilled Trades, Service and Hospitality, Technology, Government, Nonprofit, and Education. Over 80% of members are small businesses with 20 or fewer employees. The Frederick Chamber is the first Chartered Chamber in the United States, and will celebrate its 100^th Anniversary on May 21, 2012. To learn more about the Chamber, call 301.662.4164 or visit frederickchamber.org.