Blog | Frederick County Business Development and Retention Division

Weekly Business Visit to QIAGEN

2012-05-23T15:07:00.001-04:00

Lindsey Howard, Vice President of Quality Assurance of QIAGEN Inc., hosted Frederick County’s Business Development and Retention Division (BDRD) weekly business visit attended by Commissioner Paul Smith, County Manager David Dunn and Acting Director Helen Riddle of BDRD. QIAGEN, Inc. a Netherlands holding company is the leading global provider of Sample and Assay technologies that are used to transfer biological materials into molecular information. Sample technologies are used to isolate and process DNA, RNA, and proteins from biological samples such as blood or tissue. QIAGEN has developed and marketed more than 500 samples and assay products as well as automated solutions for such consumables. The company provides these products to molecular diagnostics laboratories, academic researchers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and applied testing customers for purposes such as forensics, animal or food testing and pharmaceutical process control. QIAGEN’s technologies include one of the broadest panels of molecular diagnostic tests available worldwide. The panel includes the digene HPV Test, which is regarded as the “gold standard” in testing for the primary cause of cervical cancer, as well as a broad suite of solutions for infectious disease testing and comparison diagnostics. QIAGEN employs approximately 3,900 people in over 35 locations worldwide. According to Mr. Howard, “QIAGEN’s mission is to make the world a better place to live, not only through scientific discovery and application but through sustainable stewardship. Located at 6951 Executive Way in Frederick, QIAGEN employs 100 people. The company has been in Frederick since 2008, and has been experiencing rapid growth. For more information about QIAGEN please visit their website at www.qiagen.com.

Emmitsburg Business Day

2012-05-23T15:03:00.000-04:00

Blaine Young, President of the Board of County Commissioners and Frederick County Manager Dave Dunn met with two businesses in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The first visit took place at the Emmitsburg Glass Company located at 100 Creamery Court. Mr. Greg Reaver, Vice President and Mr. Allen Knott, Chief Financial Officer hosted the visit and provided valuable information regarding the company. Founded in 1988, Emmitsburg Glass Company, Inc. is a full service glass and glazing contractor serving the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Emmitsburg Glass Company employs 100 people at their 53,000 square foot headquarters and serve customers located primarily in Baltimore, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia. The Company’s services include engineering, fabrication, installation of architectural aluminum and glass systems, aluminum composite and steel panel systems, bullet and blast resistant glazing systems, and fixed and operable window systems for the exterior facades of commercial and multi-residential buildings. Emmitsburg Glass Company was ranked as the 20th top glazers in the country and the fourth largest in sales in Maryland. For more information about Emmitsburg Glass Company, visit their website at www.emmitsburgglass.com The second visit was to the Carriage House Inn located at 200 South Seaton Avenue. Mr. Bob Hance, owner, was the host for this visit. Mr. Hance opened the restaurant in 1980, after moving from Rockville, Maryland. The Carriage House Inn offers quality cuisine and gracious service in an elegant colonial atmosphere. The building was built in 1857 and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. The lunch menu features homemade soups, including their signature cream of crab soup and the dinner menu features tender, mouth-watering steaks and a selection of fresh seafood, veal, pork, and chicken entrees. The Carriage House Inn offers both on and off premises catering and is the perfect setting for weddings, banquets, rehearsal dinners and more. The Tack Room is one of the two private rooms that can accommodate up to 50 guests. The other private room is the Joann’s Ballroom which can accommodate up to 150 people. For catered events and menu options visit their website at www, carriagehouseinn.info

Permitting Fees at Last Year's Rates to Encourage Business Friendly Climate

2012-05-22T10:19:00.004-04:00

FREDERICK, MD – Frederick County permitting fees were due to automatically increase as of July 1 by 3.2 percent to keep pace with inflation this year. But, with business-friendly goals of utmost concern to the Frederick Board of County Commissioners, the board recently chose to keep rates the same as last year.

The board also agreed to clarify fee schedule policies in the Community Development Division to provide clarity and consistency with other regulatory issues in the Department of Permits and Inspections. It establishes, eliminates and/or clarifies other fees for certain approvals that are a result of new or modified planning and development review approval processes and also incorporates comprehensive planning and zoning fees into the fee schedule to coincide with the division’s reorganization last year.

Key changes in the fee schedule include the clarification to the “agricultural buildings” definition to be consistent with the building code; establishing of a “minimum permit” fee instead of a “per square foot” charge, and elimination of the fire code revision fee charged for additional plan reviews. In addition, the board will exempt the county’s capital improvement program from payment of the fees in accordance with its strategic goal to “consider eliminating review fees for county capital projects.”

Board President Blaine Young commented, “We believe that holding the permitting fees at the same rate is good for business, and what is good for business is good for Frederick County. The decisions the board has made are part of our strategic goals to consider proposals to reduce, alter or eliminate rules and regulations to help improve county processes.

“We commend our employees for working diligently to help businesses more easily and efficiently navigate their way through the process. We welcome continued feedback from our citizens -- from the homeowner to the large business to the small business.”

At the beginning of their term in office, the Frederick Board of County Commissioners initiated a review of over 200 recommended changes to rules and regulations as part of their goal to improve the “business friendly” atmosphere in Frederick County, and have made good progress toward completion.

The items on the “business friendly action items” list were proposed after meetings with officials from the former Permitting and Development Review and Economic Development Divisions and members of the Frederick Chamber of Commerce, Frederick County Builders Association, commercial business representatives and many other stakeholders.

The changes coincide with the Board of County Commissioners’ proposed Strategic Plan goal of providing improved predictability for businesses. The goal states that “Frederick County needs to implement predictability in the business community in order to reduce inefficiencies, allow cost control, provide an effective process and increase understanding in daily business processes within Frederick County Government.”

For further information, visit www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/permits or contact Director Gary Hessong, Permits and Inspections Department, at 301-600-1172 or via e-mail at ghessong@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

Middletown receives Main Street accolades

2012-05-21T13:59:00.000-04:00

Just because a municipality receives Main Street accreditation doesn’t mean it always enjoys certification status. The designation must be earned annually. Main Street Middletown recently received the honors for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center. Each year, the National Trust and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street programs that have built strong revitalization organizations and demonstrate their ability in using the Main Street methodology for strengthening the local economy and protecting historic buildings. Middletown fits the bill, said Burgess John D. Miller, who congratulated Main Street Middletown manager Becky Reich for her work during a recent town meeting. “In addition, Becky has been named a certified tourism ambassador, which also brings some attention to Middletown and allows her to provide services to groups coming to Middletown,” Miller said. “All of these things are good for Middletown as we work to become a day destination.” — Ike Wilson The Frederick News Post Monday, May 21, 2012

2012 Frederick County Progress Report is Now Available

2012-05-21T11:51:00.000-04:00

Click here to check out the Frederick County Progress Report, published by The Daily Record. Thank you to our partners who made this publication a success! http://www.pageturnpro.com/The-Daily-Record/39640-2012-Frederick-County-Progress-Report/index.html#1

Mount St. Mary's University Roll Out Red Carpet For Business Visit

2012-05-11T12:19:00.000-04:00

MSM President Mr. Thomas H. Powell and Vice President for University Affairs Ms. Pauline A. Engelstatter rolled out the red carpet for a business visit for local County Officials. This visit was part of an ongoing program instituted by the Frederick County Board of County Commissioners to maintain open dialouge between the business community and County leadership. The President along with his Board members and Cabinet spoke of their 204th year history and how MSM is the largest seminary in the U.S. MSM is also the second oldest Catholic University in the U.S. President Powell expressed how happy he was to have a good relationship with the County. There have been many additions and improvements to the University that have been done by local businesses, many of whom are minority businesses. This is part of an ongoing effort to help support the local economy. The outlook for MSM looks bright with enrollment increasing every year. Often referred to as the "Cradle of Bishops" the Mount is home to the National Shrine Grottto of Lourdes. This tourist attraction brings over 100,000 visitors a year. MSM remains strongly commited to it's core values of: Faith, Discovery, Leadership and Community. For more information on Mount St. Mary's University, visit them at www.msu.edu

Brunswick Business Day

2012-05-09T08:20:00.000-04:00

Officials from Frederick County Government and the City of Brunswick met with three businesses in Brunswick on Business Visit Day. This day was chosen to recognize and show appreciation for Brunswick's vibrant business community. The first visit took place at the Brunswick Woodworking Company, owned and operated by Mr. Steve Harris. The company has been in operation for twenty years and has 15 employees. The 12,000 square foot facility provide top contractors with high quality architectural millwork and cabinetry. Their work has included projects such as the owners suite at FedEx Field, the Washington Hilton and the Sports Complex at Hood College. For further information you may visit their website www.BrunswickWoodworking.com The second stop was the Whistle Stop Java Shop which opened on Labor Day 2011. The 850 square foot facility is owned and operated by Rob Dibiano and Debbie Vias. The good location and friendly atmosphere led them to locate in Brunswick. They have made plans to purchase an expresso machine in the near future to add more items to their menu. The eatery provides catering, breakfast or lunch platters as well as box lunches for groups ranging from 4 to 400. Please visit their website for further information about their menu www.WhistleStopJavaShop.com The final stop was the Three Points Cycle shop which opened three weeks ago. The owner Keith Marks stated the 500 square foot facility is a full service cycle shop offering services from sales to repairs. He currently has 35 bikes in all different styles and models. His main priority is to cater to the local residents and have his business spread by word of mouth. Mr. Marks hopes that the spring and summer months will provide a significant boost to his business. Please call 301-834-7199 for seasonal hours. Check back next week as we preview Emmitsburg Business Day.

Cool Temperatures Can't Stop Weekly Business Visit

2012-04-23T14:05:00.001-04:00

Despite cool temperatures representatives from Frederick County Government and members from the Business Development Advisory Council were hosted by Catoctin Breeze Vineyard for a busines visit. Sherman Coleman and Colby Ferguson, both from the Business Development and Retention Division of Frederick County Government were also guests of Mr. Voytek Fizyta. The 24 acre vineyard has been in business for two years and was a dream of Mr. Fizyta when he arived in this country from Poland 31 years ago. Fizyta's grapes will be ready for harvesting later this year, but the Polish immigrant and electrical engineer has already made a variety of honey wines, traditionally known as Mead. The vineyard represents the ninth and newest Frederick County winery, and offers two table wines and three dessert wines. When Fizyta and his wife Alicja, looked to relocate from Potomac five years ago they immediately fell in love with the hilly terrain in Thurmont which provided the perfect spot for growing grapes because of the soil. Perched along hilly terrain, grapes get ample sunlight at Catoctin Breeze Winery. The constant breeze evaporates moisture which is a major problem for East Coast grape growers. The Fizytas outfitted their 1,200-square-foot basement to accommodate making wines. They expect their first significant harvest from the 2011 planting later this year. they are also planning to build a production facility on the premises in the near future. The business is licensed to sell wine directly to consumers and restaurants, using the company's website, www.catoctinbreeze.com

County Officials Visit Reliant Drywall

2012-04-16T13:01:00.005-04:00

Frederick County Commissioners Blaine Young and Paul Smith along with Business Development Specialist Sherman Coleman met with executives from Reliant Drywall. President William D. Cipolla and Vice President Rick Bedard conducted a tour of the 9,000 ft. facility. The company opened its doors in Frederick back in 2002 and employs 120 people, most residing in Frederick County.
With more than 45 years of combined experience in the industry, the owners of Reliant Drywall understand commercial contracting from start to finish. The decision to be based in Frederick County was affordable pricing and the central location was ideal to conduct business in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area.
Reliant Drywall was recognized as being a major contributor to the renovation of the White House West Wing and Press Room.

For more information on Reliant Drywall, please visit their website at: info@reliantdrywall.com

Frederick Favorite Doc Geiser's Hosts Business Visit

2012-04-11T09:19:00.004-04:00

A Frederick favorite, Doc Geiser's Carryout And Catering, hosted a business visit for County and City officials. The owner Jay "Doc" Geiser who has owned the eatery since 2006 attributed the restaurant's success to mindful spending, creating new ideas and good food.
The 2,000 square foot facility which was formerly Watson's employs 13 full time employees and is still considered a favorite of Old Frederick. Jay admits that their fried chicken is still the top selling item on the menu. His main competitors are Giant and Giant Eagle. "We are competitively priced and we provide corporate deliveries as well as cater to other events in the Frederick area" says Jay who also is main chef for the Frederick Keys this season.
Doc Geiser's just recently celebrated the sale of their 50,000Th White Star style hamburger this past February 27Th, and hopes to add soft ice cream to their summer menu.

County Commissioners visit state of the art facility

2012-04-03T10:38:00.003-04:00

On April 2, 2012 County Commissioners Blaine Young and Paul Smith along with Alderman Shelly Aloi and other representatives from the county and city were able to tour SriSai Biopharmaceutical Solutions, LLC in Frederick. The company specializes in providing Clinical and Commercial Supply Management services for the pharmaceutical and bio tech industries.
The company was founded in 2003 by Sri R. Konduru, PHD who stated that the open lines of communication with other local companies was a major factor in his decision to start his company in Frederick. The state of the art facility is 14,000 square feet and has 14 full time and part time employees. The company's major focus is vaccine and drug testing in the 1,2,3, and 4 clinical phases.
SBS provides a variety of pharmaceutical and bio tech services in support of preclinical research and clinical trails primarily through contractor or subcontracts responsible for clinical trail management including the U. S. Army, U.S. Navy, Center for Disease Control and NCI.
For more information visit the company's website at www.srsaibiopharma.com

Money Saving Incentives for Businesses - Energy Forum – April 18th, 2012

2012-03-29T09:42:00.000-04:00

The Frederick County Business Development and Retention Division and the Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources would like to invite Frederick businesses to participate in the 1st of a series of Money Saving Incentives for Business fast pace mini conferences. The 1st event will focus on Energy Savings. The event will be held on April 18th, 2012 at Mount Saint Mary’s Frederick Campus, located at 5350 Spectrum Drive Suite A, Frederick MD, 21703 from 8:30am – 10:30am. This event will provide valuable information to Frederick businesses about the benefits of using sustainable energy, as well as the upside of “green” installation projects.

This event will allow Frederick business owners to meet with local leaders of the energy industry, by rotating through several stations to learn about sustainable energy options. Topics include:

• Saving money on your electricity bills by joining an electricity coop: Joe Tabeling, CQI Associates
• Low-cost and no-cost ways to finance solar power installations: R. Brent Eskay, SolarCity
• New electricity rebates from Potomac Edison: Lucas I. Cade, FirstEnergy
• Finding a verified contractor for green projects: Michelle Liefke, Leafkey.com and Lisa Orr, Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources.

The Forum is free to attend. Frederick businesses that would like to participate need to register by Friday, April 13th. You can register by clicking on this link: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7huirfdab&oeidk=a07e5qh09q053302348

FMH Open Doors For Business Visit

2012-03-26T13:41:00.003-04:00

Tom Kleinhanzl, President and CEO of Frederick Memorial Hospital and Ken Coffey, Vice President and (Cheif Development Officer (CDO) were hosts for the weekly business visit held at FMH.
Mr. Kleinhanzl shared their recent improvements, which included the completion of the new "Wing C", and future plans for the hospital.
The hospital's core mission is acute care and there has been a 9% increase in patient enrollment over the past three years. There are approximately 1,700 re admissions a year. Mr. Kleinhanzl touched on how 40 millions dollars were spent on things such as new beds, the new parking garage, major physical renovations within the hospital and other routine expenditures.
The hospital is rated a level six out of seven on the IT scale involving electronic medical records, which ranks the hospital in the upper tier of new technology for hospitals.
According to Mr. Kleinhanzl community involvement is the key and giving back to the community is one of the ways the hospital accomplishes this goal. The hospital provides free blood work and radiology to the Mission of Mercy. Benefits given to the local community are in excess of 21 million dollars.
The hospital currently operates independently and does not see a need to merge with any other hospital in the future. Both Mr. Kleinhanzl and Mr. Coffey feel the future outlook for the hospital is bright.

Frederick County Bank Host Weekly Business Visit

2012-03-19T13:07:00.006-04:00

Frederick County Commissioners Blaine Young, David Gray and Kirby Delauter along with Frederick City Aldermen Kelly Russell, Karen Young and other County and City officials met with executives from Frederick County Bank for a business visit. The meeting was to discuss the open lines of communication between the bank and the County and City.
Frederick County Bank has five branches in the Frederick area and just celebrated ten years of doing business in Frederick this past October. Mr. William R. Talley Jr., Executive Vice President attributed the bank's success to "making and building relationships and treating people the right way". Mr. Clark Briggs, Assistant Vice President also added he feels that Frederick County Bank is an example of a "true corporate citizen" by consistently giving back to the community. One of the ways the bank give back to the community is through the volunteer efforts of its employees. There are 72 full time employees working for the bank and together they compiled over 400 community volunteer hours.

County officials visit historic Bjorlee Museum

2012-03-13T11:11:00.006-04:00

Frederick County Comissioner Paul Smith and County Manager Dave Dunn met with Maryland School For The Deaf Superintendent James Tucker at the historic Bjorlee Museum at the Frederick campus. This visit is part of the new weekly business visits initiative that the BOCC started last month. Also present at the meeting was Acting Director Helen Riddle of the Frederick County Business and Retention Division and Heather Gramm Business Development Specialist for the City of Frederick.
The school was established in 1868 and the museum was opened in 2008. The school is comprised of two campuses. One is located in Columbia while and the other in Frederick, with total enrollment of 492 students. The Columbia campus opened it's doors in 1972. The school uses a public school curriculum and offers a high school diploma.
Approximately 2/3 of the students live outside of Frederick County. Student enrollment is typically 450-500 students and Superintendent Tucker feels that is a goood number so there are no immediate plans for expansion.
The school consists of 65 acres and has 275 employees. It is also the 16th largest employer in Frederick County.
Superintendent Tucker was awarded the Lifetime Educator Award in March of 2011 at the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce 8th Annual Live Here-Work here awards ceremony at the Weinberg center.

County and City Officials visit Interfaith Housing Alliance

2012-03-05T15:21:00.006-05:00

Frederick County Commissioners President Blaine Young, Paul Smith along with Alderman Karen Young were accompanied by Helen Riddle of the Business Development and Retention Division of Frederick County and Heather Gramm of The Frederick City Department of Economic Development, on a business visit to the Interfaith Housing Alliance. The contingent was hosted by President Patricia Motter and VP of Business Development Travis Hardmon. This meeting was set up as part of the BOCC's weekly business visits conducted by Business Development Specialist Sherman Coleman.
IHA has been headquartered in Frederick for the past 21 years. They are responsible for 1100 housing units. Their focus is on rehab and smaller development. They directly address workforce housing for teachers, firefighters, policemen, first responders and seniors.
The Alliance has been at it's current location for 12 years and operate with a staff of 12 full-time employees and two part-time and most recently two interns from Hood College.
Finacial assistance is acquired through corporate funding, government support and donations.
For more information about the IHA visit their website www.interfaithhousing .org

Weekly Business Visits Off To a Soaring Start

2012-03-02T15:36:00.002-05:00

The BOCC’s new initiative for conducting business appreciation visits weekly kicked off in February with two exciting business visits. These visits are to continue throughout the year and are organized by Sherman Coleman, Business Development Specialist for the Business Development and Retention Division of Frederick County.

The first visit was conducted at the Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch in Frederick County. President of the Board of County Commissioners Blaine Young along with Commissioner C. Paul Smith,, joined Business Development Advisory Vice-Chairman Drex Ryberg and Acting Director Helen Riddle and Business Development Specialist Sherman Coleman for a tour of the facility and adjoining property. They met with Executive Director Mark Grover who has held that position for the last five years. Mr. Grover explained how the ranch that was purchased back in 1974 and sits on 204 acres of land. The site is licensed to house 18 young men, but currently has 11. The youth ranch is geared toward helping troubled youth become productive members of society. The focus is on preparation for the residents to be able to become more educated and distance themselves from a checkered past.

There has been tremendous success and with an average GPA of current residents at 3.24 Mr. Grover takes great pride in what his facility has been able to contribute to the Frederick community and the help that the Frederick Community has provided to the facility.

The second visit was held at the Frederick Athletic Club and the participants were BOCC President Blaine Young, County Manager Dave Dunn, BDAC Vice-Chairman Drex Ryberg and Business Development Specialist Sherman Coleman.

The visit and tour was hosted by Herman King. Mr King was just recently named Camp Director of the facility. The facility was built in 1999 and was opened in 2000. It is owned and operated by Mr. Jeff Neuman. The facility is 24,000 square feet which includes a full size basketball court. The facility has nine employees which includes a personal trainer. A child care center is on the premises and is managed by four individuals. Membership is just above 2,500 and the facility will host its annual Stu Vetter basketball camp which runs April 22nd through July 29th.

For more information about the Frederick Athletic Club or the Stu Vetter Basketball Camp, contact Jeff Neuman or Herman King at 301-668-1919.

The $0 Excise Tax Explained

2012-02-27T15:56:00.002-05:00

In November 2011, the Frederick County Board of County Comissioners made it a bit easier to build in Frederick County. But what does this mean exactly?

According to Sharon Goetz, Manager of Permitting Sercice for Frederick County Department of Permits and Inspections, homebuilders can now save about $500-$1000 per single family dwelling permit, and commercial developers can now save thousands of dollars related to building permits for commercial new construction due to the reduction of the Excise Tax to a $0 amount.

Background: The Excise Tax, prior to being reduced to a $0 amount, was charged on (1) all new dwelling units based on the square footage of the dwelling and (2) all new nonresidential floor area (new buildings, new additions, accessory structures, but not permits for existing floor area, like tenant fit outs). The rate for Nonresidential Excise Tax was $0.75 per square foot of floor area (per floor), so you can see how that added up quickly. Sometimes the Excise Tax for a new Nonresidential permit was tens of thousands of dollars! There were only a few exemption categories:
A. Farm construction
B. Government construction
C. Residential addition construction
D. Residential accessory structures

To read the complete ordinance change, please contact the Business Development and Retention Division at 301-600-1058.

County Representatives Visit Frederick Athletic Club

2012-02-27T11:43:00.004-05:00

BOCC President Blaine Young, County Manager Dave Dunn, Business Development Advisory Council Vice-Chairman Drex Ryberg along with Business Development Specialist Sherman Coleman, conducted a business vist at the Frederick Athletic Club today here in Frederick County. The visit and tour was hosted by Herman King. Mr King was just recently named as the Camp Director of the facility. The facility was built in 1999 and opened in 2000. It is owned and managed by Mr. Jeff Neuman.

The facility is 24,000 square feet which includes a full size basketball court. The facility has nine employees which include a personal trainer. A child care center is on the premises and managed by four individuals. Membership is just above 2,500 and the faclity will host it's annual Stu Vetter basketball camp which runs April 22nd through July 29th.

For more information about the Frederick Athletic Club of the Stu Vetter Basketball Camp, contact Jeff Neuman or Herman King at 301-668-1919.

County Representatives Vist Maryland Sheriffs' Youth Ranch

2012-02-21T16:56:00.002-05:00

President of the Board of County Commissioners Blaine Young along with Commissioner C. Paul Smith joined Business Development Advisory Council member Drex Rybyrd, Director of the Business Development and Retention Division Helen Riddle and Business Development Specialist Sherman Coleman in visiting the Maryland Sheriffs' Youth Ranch in Frederick. They met with Executive Director Mark Grover who has held that position for the last five years. Mr. Grover explained how the ranch that was purchased back in 1974 and sits on 204 acres of land. The site is licensed to house 18 young men, but currently has 11. The youth ranched is geared toward helping troubled youth become productive members of society. The focus is on preparation for the residents to be able to become more educated and distance themselves from a checkered past.
There has been tremendous success and with an average GPA of current residents at 3.24. Mr Grover takes great pride in what his facility has been able to contribute to the Frederick community and the help that the Frederick comunity has provided to the facility.

EXPORT THIS! Event Held in Frederick County, MD

2012-02-21T15:17:00.001-05:00

Frederick County, MD – February 16, 2012 - With a continued emphasis on business retention and outreach, the Frederick County Business Development and Retention Division (BDRD) partnered with Maryland/Washington, D.C. District Export Council to educate Frederick County companies on exporting.

EXPORT THIS, a program designed to show companies how they can increase their revenue and create jobs, was held in February with over 35 people in attendance. Executives from Maryland businesses and trade experts shared their knowledge on tapping into the global market and navigating the risks and the regulations and reaping the rewards of exporting.

Topics included: developing markets, financing, dealing with export controls, export assistance resources, regulatory hurdles facing exporting companies, logistic, customs and tariff challenges. The session included perspectives and case studies from experienced manufacturers, trade experts, regulatory, logistics and finance.

The Maryland/Washington, D.C. District Export Council, Inc. is one of more than 50 District Export Councils (DECs) throughout the U.S. The mission of the DEC is to promote US Exports from the Maryland/Washington, D.C. region. More information about the DEC may be found at www.mddcdec.com.

A video of the event is located at http://frederick.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=3165.

COUNTY STEPS UP OUTREACH TO BUSINESSES & EXPANDS RECOGNITION PROGRAM

2012-02-10T13:45:00.002-05:00

FREDERICK, MD – The Frederick Board of County Commissioners announced today that the Business Development & Retention Division will now hold weekly meetings with businesses to improve interaction with local government and address concerns raised. The commissioners will also expand the county’s recognition program and publicly acknowledge accomplishments and job creation initiatives.

The Business Development & Retention Division, formerly known as the Economic Development Office, will start each week listening to the business community. Ambassador teams from the division, along with commissioners, members of the Business Development Advisory Council and county officials, will schedule Monday morning meetings with local businesses to offer assistance in navigating through county government regulatory and policy processes, receive feedback on what the county can do to better serve their needs and provide assistance in resolving issues that are hindering business operations.

Board President Blaine Young commented, “The increased frequency of these meetings which were formerly scheduled once a month is a step in the right direction for our newly reorganized division and it reflects a priority for the Board of County Commissioners. We are ‘open for business’ and here to help county businesses succeed and create more jobs. The meetings will focus on resolving problems and building relationships with both large and smaller businesses. We’re rolling out the red carpet, not more red tape.

“We also want to recognize business achievements. Each time they create a new job, we’ll acknowledge the impact they are making on the economy and quality of life in Frederick County. We have a great team in the Business Development & Retention Division and they are here to make a difference.”

In addition to expanding outreach efforts to local businesses, the county commissioners will more frequently recognize the owners, managers and employees of small, medium and large companies during public meetings which are broadcast live on FCG TV, cable channel 19, and webcast on the Internet at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/video.

Companies will be invited to share their success stories, community involvement through volunteerism, donations to local charities, jobs that are created and unique efforts to improve their operations. This new focus goes hand-in-hand with an initiative designed to boost the local economy from Frederick County Workforce Services and the Frederick County Workforce Development Board.

The county has partnered with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, City of Frederick Economic Development Department and Business Development & Retention Division to launch Frederick WORKS! One Job at a Time to encourage businesses to be part of the unemployment solution by filling at least one new job in 2012.
To participate in the business outreach meetings or recognition program, contact Acting Division Director Helen Riddle at 301-600-1058 or via e-mail at hriddle@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

Visit the division’s website at www.discoverfrederickmd.com.

The State offers Financial Help to Businesses

2012-01-19T11:46:00.001-05:00

The state is working to help buisnesses that may not qualify for traditional bank financing.
The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development is encouraging businesses to look at four available programs, which will receive a total of $23 million in federal funds through the Small Business Jobs Act.
The four programs are:
 The Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority, which provides credit guarantees to small firms that may not meet established credit criteria.
 Maryland Industrial Development Financing Authority, which provides loan guarantees.
 Maryland Venture Fund, which invests in early stage businesses to help with the cost of bringing new products to the market.
 Neighborhood Business Works, which provides gap financing to new or expanding small businesses and nonprofits in sustainable communities.

Information on all programs is available at ChooseMaryland.org.

Frederick Works! One Job at a Time

2012-01-13T10:58:00.005-05:00

The Frederick Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) yesterday announced a new initiative to boost the local economy from Frederick County Workforce Services and the Frederick County Workforce Development Board.

The county will partner with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, City of Frederick Economic Development Department and Frederick County Economic Development Office to launch Frederick WORKS! One Job at a Time, an initiative that encourages businesses to be part of the unemployment solution by filling at least one new job in 2012.

Championed by the Board of County Commissioners, Mayor Randy McClement of The City of Frederick and local municipality leaders, Frederick WORKS! One Job at a Time is modeled after similar programs in communities throughout the United States that have been successful in generating new job opportunities and getting the unemployed back to work. According to economists, each new employee added to the workforce increases the gross domestic product on average by $100,000. Impact at the local level has the potential to be substantial and lasting.

Board President Blaine Young commented, “If each business in Frederick County were to hire just one person this year, the economic impact would be enormous. Even if only a small portion of our businesses hired just one person this year, there would still be a significant and measurable impact on our local economy. We commend Workforce Services and our partners for launching this initiative and furthering this board’s ‘business-friendly’ strategic goals.”

By publicly recognizing employers that have hired or plan to hire in 2012, Frederick WORKS! One Job at a Time partners hope to bring attention to the fact that businesses are hiring in Frederick. “This can serve to boost the local economy in yet another way through a shift in perception – a positive momentum – that can begin to increase overall consumer and investor confidence,” Director Laurie Holden of Workforce Services explained.

Workforce Development Board President Terry O’Malley, vice president of Human Resources at Frederick Memorial Hospital, is eager to recognize companies that want to make an impact on the local workforce and economy. “There are approximately 8,500 businesses in Frederick County. The goal of this campaign is to have at least 1,000 of those businesses participate – about 12 percent of all Frederick County businesses,” stated Mr. O’Malley.

Businesses that would like to join the One Job at a Time initiative and become a part of the solution can complete and submit a simple form through the Frederick County Workforce Services website at www.FrederickWORKS.com/onejob.

The general public is also welcome to visit www.FrederickWORKS.com/onejob to learn more about this effort, including program updates and a list of participating employers. All are invited to follow the initiative on Twitter: @FredWORKSOneJob and on Facebook by searching for the “Frederick WORKS! One Job at a Time” Community Page.

Maryland is #1 again!

2012-01-13T10:55:00.000-05:00

This week, we received the great news that Maryland's public schools were named #1 in the country for the fourth year in a row by Education Week Magazine. Thank you to our Frederick County Public Schools students, parents and educators for being a part of this extraordinary effort!..