MEDIA ADVISORY

Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 04, 2004

Happenings In Economic Development

With the holidays passed and Spring in the air, DED is keeping busy with exciting projects - both new and ongoing! Here's a look at the world of economic development in the City of Frederick.

Carroll Creek - The Carroll Creek Park Development Design Standards are undergoing codification through Mark White of Frielich, Leitner & Carlisle. An initial draft, the Carroll Creek Overlay District Zoning Regulations, has been submitted to DED and the Carroll Creek Task Force. The Planning Commission and Historic District Commission will hold a joint public workshop on Thursday March 11th at 4PM in the City Hall Board Room to review and comment on this document. Additionally, Phase II of the Carroll Creek Park design project is well underway. Public art consultant Jack Becker of FORECAST Public Artwork, has been added to the design team and will facilitate a community meeting on Tuesday March 9th from 7-9:00pm at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center to provide the public and various stakeholders an opportunity to provide input on the Carroll Creek Park Public Art Master Plan. For more information call Richard Griffin in DED.

Golden Mile - With over $18 million in private investment during 2003, the Golden Mile is going strong. Wolf Furniture opened it's doors in the former Hechinger's Building in January, and Home Depot has fully-approved site plans for the former Montgomery Wards building. There have been several other additions to the Golden Mile, including Hard Time Cafe, Quizno's Subs and Earthworks. DED is working with several other potential businesses which are in the location decision-making process. DED is a member of the newly formed Golden Mile Business Alliance to promote the Golden Mile as a shopping destination. For more information call Susan Jessee in DED.

Frederick County Business Incubator at Hood College - DED is working, in partnership with many organizations including DBED, Frederick County OED, Hood College, Ft. Detrick, Maryland HiTech Council and TEDCO, on Frederick County's first business incubator. This incubator will focus on IT and biotech startup companies and is proposed to be located on the campus of Hood College. Though the project is still in the feasibility study phase, the project team hopes to have office space available in Rosenstock Hall in late 2004, with additional office space and wet lab space to be built by 2006. For more information call Richard Griffin or Laurie Boyer in the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (301-600-1058).

Ft. Detrick Alliance - The mission of the Fort Detrick Alliance is to facilitate the communications and understanding between the federal agencies at Fort Detrick, Maryland and the community at large, with an emphasis on jobs and economic development. The Maryland Military Installation Strategic Planning Council, in partnership with the Alliance, recently hosted a community forum at FCC to provide an update on what is happening at the Fort and the opportunities that the Alliance presents to Frederick County and the State of Maryland. DED director Richard Griffin is a member of the Board of Directors for the newly-formed Ft. Detrick Alliance. For more information call Richard Griffin or Mark Hoke, FDA Board President, at 301-695-7427.

Business Retention & Recruitment - Over the past 2 months, DED has had contact with over 12 businesses looking to open or expand in the City of Frederick. From big box retail to small downtown gift shops to startup biotechnology companies, people are excited about the business opportunities in Frederick! DED plans to begin monthly business retention visits, starting in March, in an effort to better understand the needs of the City's existing companies. For more information call Susan Jessee.

Marketing Initiatives - Look for a new ad in the Business Gazette's MD Bioscience Update 2004, coming in May 2004! DED is looking to move toward industry-targeted advertising, focusing on the City's top priority sectors - Bioscience, Information Technology, Manufacturing and Tourism. In 2003, DED participated in a joint advertising campaign in the Washington Post - a monthly Downtown Frederick Calendar of Events. The campaign had a huge response rate in attracting regional daytrippers to Downtown Frederick. DED is exploring ways to join with our many economic development partners, including Frederick County Office of Economic Development, the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Council of Frederick County and Downtown Frederick Partnership, to pool our advertising dollars in a joint marketing campaign and branding effort for Frederick. For more information call Heather Galbraith in DED.

First Saturday Gallery Walk - Through Downtown Frederick Partnership, First Saturday Gallery Walks continue in Downtown Frederick. This event attracts thousands of people downtown the first Saturday of every month for special gallery exhibits, entertainment and a quality shopping experience. Join the more than 60 merchants, restaurants and art galleries on March 6th from 5-9PM for a unique experience in Downtown Frederick! For more information call Kara Norman, Executive Director of Downtown Frederick Partnership, at 301-698-8118.

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