Networking for Small Business

Small businesses often depend on each other (b2b) networking and referrals for growth.   Frederick has a gem in RelyLocal, a locally owned Community Business Campaign which has the purpose to help strengthen small business owners and the local economy. Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development recently attended a Frederick RelyLocal networking event at the Cellar Door to connect with small Frederick based businesses.  Griffin offered that “Frederick has great resources for the small business owner – the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center as well as RelyLocal.”  Learn more about Frederick RelyLocal by checking out its website.

FORT DETRICK ALLIANCE TECH SHOWCASE EVENT AT FITCI A SUCCESS !

Technology was hot at last night’s Fort Detrick Alliance Annual Tech Showcase Event at the Frederick Innovative Technology Center Inc. (FITCI).  Nearly 100 attendees representing business, Fort Detrick, and community leadership were in attendance at the premier technology event of the year.  Attendees were treated to tours of FITCI and opportunities to hear from current FITCI clients companies and successful graduate businesses like WGS Systems, Akonni Biosystems, Biaera Technologies, Imagillin Technologies and the National Cancer Institute’s Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratories.

The Fort Detrick Alliance President Dr. Jim Romano officiated the event and provided insight into the importance of Fort Detrick in the nation, region, and community as well as the impact of technology transfer into and out of the federal laboratories at Detrick and the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research.  Also recognized were the event sponsors – FITCI (Mike Dailey), TEDCO (Ron Kaese), and FDBDO (Steve Lamberson).  These sponsors provided critical in-kind and/or financial support for the event and each spoke for a few minutes about services provided by their organizations.  Special thanks to them since this event would not have been possible without their support.

Additionally special thanks goes to Kelly Miletich of the Fort Detrick Alliance who handled event logistics, Sherry Murray and Renee Wilson of FITCI who handled tours, client presentations, and registration, and Donna Goff of the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development who handled podium and PA system logistics.

Community leaders in attendance included Mayor Randy McClement, Alderwomen Kelly Russell and Karen Young, Fort Detrick Deputy Garrison Commander Eileen Mitchell and Helen Riddle, Acting Director of the Frederick County Business Development and Retention Division (BDRD). and Richard Griffin, Director Economic Development for the City of Frederick.

City of Frederick Awarded Community Legacy FY12 Funding

The City of Frederick was recently awarded $150,000 in grants through the State of Maryland’s Community Legacy program. The grant, spearheaded by the Department of Economic Development, will fund two major projects in the City of Frederick. 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.
The Carroll Creek Park project received $100,000 in Community Legacy funds, to be used towards the section of the Park between Carroll and East Patrick Streets. The City will issue a Request for Proposals for construction of this remaining section of the Park this summer. Construction is slated to begin in early 2013.
The Downtown Frederick Façade Improvement Program, administered by the Downtown Frederick Partnership, received $50,000 in Community Legacy funds. The Façade Improvement Program helps businesses and property owners make improvements to their store fronts and building facades. To date, the program has provided $129,000 in matching funds to support façade improvements downtown Frederick. Painting, awnings, lighting and signage are some of the improvements that are reimbursable.
The Community Legacy program is administered through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The purpose of the program is to preserve existing communities as desirable places to live and conduct business and provide financial assistance to sponsors or designees for the development of Community Legacy projects.