2024 Fort Detrick Alliance & FITCI Technology Showcase - 15 Years of Partnerships

Celebrating 15 years of collaboration, the Fort Detrick Alliance and Frederick Innovative Technology Center recently hosted a Technology Showcase in Frederick.  The Technology Showcase brought together representatives from Fort Detrick, educational institutions, the business community, elected officials, and technology incubator founders to highlight technology transfer opportunities. The Showcase featured numerous start-up companies in various stages of development at FITCI’s EDGE. Additionally, attendees could learn about partnership development and technology transfer opportunities at Fort Detrick. The showcase included representatives from Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, Mount St. Mary’s University, Frederick Community College, and the Bovine Intervention Robotics Team 686.

With over 140 in attendance, this annual event featured many opportunities for networking and establishing community connections. Jen Staiger, Alliance President and Associate Provost of Mount St. Mary's Division of Continuing Studies, shared at the event, “We are here tonight to gather and explore groundbreaking ideas, foster new connections, and celebrate the success of Frederick’s strong culture of partnership and collaboration, highlighting the value of Fort Detrick as an enduring local resource. "

At the event, Kathie Callahan Brady, FITCI's CEO unveiled an exciting new initiative, announcing a forthcoming magazine, Innovate Frederick, created in partnership with Frederick Magazine. Brady shared, “Slated for release next year, the publication will spotlight short stories of FITCI companies, offering a deeper look into the entrepreneurs driving innovation in the region.”

Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development for the City of Frederick, delivered a compelling history of the event’s evolution over the last 15 years. His reflections highlighted the event's growing significance in showcasing the vibrancy of Frederick's entrepreneurial ecosystem. “With valued major employers such as the Frederick National Laboratory and Fort Detrick, we are thrilled to have this level of commercialization and tech transfer opportunities right here in Frederick.”

Reach out to the City of Frederick’s economic development team to learn about opportunities to partner in Frederick. Stay in touch with FITCI and Fort Detrick Alliance to learn about future networking opportunities and events.

Leadership Frederick County Enjoys Economic Development Day

Leadership Frederick County Class of 2024-25 spent a full day learning about Economic Development that included site tours, presentations and panel discussions. LFC is a nine-month leadership program that introduces participants to Frederick County’s history, agriculture, economic development, public safety, education, government, and health and human services. The program also includes graduate-level leadership master classes taught by experts from Hood College.

LFC Economic Development Day Agenda:

LFC Class of 2025 began the day at Hood College with a case study presented that illustrated the collaborative nature of economic development and how the community benefits from these joint initiatives. Mary Ford-Naill, Manager of Economic Development for the City of Frederick and Jodie Bollinger, Director, Frederick County Office of Economic Development provided an overview of the city and county including insight about key industry sectors in Frederick. They highlighted how the local economic development teams work together to provide site selection assistance, start-up business services, resources and incentive programs, workforce training programs and community connections.

Economic Development is a deliberate set of programs, policies or activities intended to improve the economic well-being and quality of life by creating and/or retaining jobs that facilitate growth and provide a stable tax base over time. In Maryland, for every dollar invested in Economic Development, the return on investment is $9.17 (Source: Maryland Economic Development Association.) Economic developers seek to create/retain permanent high wage jobs, stimulate, private sector investment, grow the non-residential tax base and help governments plan for the future. This occurs through business attraction, business retention & expansion, small business development & entrepreneurial support, neighborhood development and workforce development.

The packed agenda included discussions about two key hotel projects in Frederick – both of which will have significant economic impact in the community. The class was treated to a site tour of Visitation Hotel Frederick – an amazing example of adaptive reuse converting a former all girls school and convent into a hip and historic hotel, restaurant and ballroom. Developer James O’Hare, CEO, O2 Holdings, shared insights about the project, including how the hotel overcame a fire that caused significant project delays. The hotel is slated to open for its first guests in December and several weddings are already booked for next year. Celebrity Chef Bryan Voltaggio will soon open Wye Tavern Restaurant in the repurposed former chapel which will be open to guests and the public. Peter Plamondon Jr., co-President, Plamondon Hospitality Partners, provided an overview of the Downtown Hotel and Conference Center that will be coming soon to Carroll Creek. The hotel will include approximately 200 rooms, a 21,000 square foot conference center, rooftop bar and three restaurants. Groundbreaking will be happening soon! Stay tuned!

Next stop, LFC learned about Kroger’s Fulfillment Center and how economic development partners and government were able to work collaboratively to win the project for Frederick. Kroger partnered with the Ocado Group, the world’s largest online grocery retailer using high tech, digital and robotic equipment taking home delivery to a new level for grocers such as Harris Teeter & Kroger. With 700,000 square feet and 400 employees, this Kroger facility is one of the largest warehouse distribution facilities in the county.

Speaking of economic drivers, the class stopped at Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK) to learn about this important asset for the region from Airport Manager Andrew Moore. This full-service general aviation airport will see the expansion of additional hangar space coming soon. Don’t forget to check out family, fun events at the airport such as Santa’s visit on December 8th and the Festival of Flight next September.

The class then toured Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc.’s new incubator/accelerator program with presentations by CEO Kathie Callahan Brady and two current FITCI clients, CarrTech and NanoBioFAB. FITCI provides entrepreneurs, particularly in life sciences and technology, with the tools necessary to create a solid business foundation. FITCI provides advisory members to provide mentorship and guidance as well as insight about raising capital for ventures. Many FITCI program graduates have been able to effectively scale their organizations and its product offerings for a national/international market.

Steinhardt Brewing, a craft beverage company was the final stop of the day. The LFC class learned about the collaborative and supportive nature of the craft beverage industry in Frederick. While on-site, LFC class participants were treated to an informative panel discussion highlighting key initiatives in workforce development from both a corporate and non-profit vantage. The panel included participants from Frederick County Workforce Services, Justice Jobs, Canam Steel and Phoenix Mecano.

Leadership training and development is important for organizations and for an individual’s career development. Learn more about Leadership Frederick County here.

Need economic development resources for your company? Reach out to our economic development team by calling 301.600.6360 or scheduling a meeting today.

First-ever Junior Entrepreneur Pitch Competition hosted by city

On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, The City of Frederick hosted its first-ever Junior Entrepreneur Pitch Competition. This competition aimed to foster creativity and entrepreneurial spirit among youth, providing them with a platform to showcase their ideas, practice public speaking, and receive valuable feedback from experienced judges.

 The pitch competition, open to Frederick County students grades K-12, had 9 Businesses present their innovative ideas for a chance to win a share of a $5000 prize pool to help grow or start their businesses. The entrepreneurs were divided into two categories: Idea Stage and Start-Up Stage.

There were five judges represented from organizations such as The City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development, The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, The City of Frederick's Board of Alderman, The Maryland Women's Business Center, and the Acton Children's Business Fair.

Four Juniors walked away with cash prizes for their business:

Idea Stage:

Runner Up - $500
Business: Underwater Safari
Taotao Yang
Banner School
Remotely operated underwater drones, called "Waterbots," that efficiently collect trash while engaging users with live underwater footage.

Ideal Stage Runner-up - Taotao Yang, Underwater Safari

First Place - $1,000
Business: Rebound
Anushka Tyagi
Yashita Thalla
Druthee Vangapalli
Urbana High School
Accessible and user-friendly rehabilitative technology for individuals with post-stroke impairments.

Ideal Stage First Place - Anushka Tyagi, Yashita Thalla, Druthee Vangapalli - Rebound

Start-Up Stage

Runner Up - $1,500
Business: 3Dimension Prints
Jayden Jackson
Adonai Tzuri Home School Academy 
3D-printed products such as promotional items and business QR codes, allowing you to show that your business is keeping up with times.

Start -Up Stage Runner-Up Jayden Jackson -3Dimension Prints

First Place - $2,000
Business: Black Bolt AI
Aarman Jamiluddin
Urbana High School
A platform that allows teachers to create AI Tutors/Chatbots for their students to enhance their learning.

Start-Up Stage First Place - Aarman Jamiluddin - Black Bolt AI

For more information about the Junior Entrepreneur Pitch Competition, visit Junior Entrepreneur Pitch Competition | The City of Frederick, MD - Official Website.

New Professional Development Series for Artists & Arts Nonprofits

The creative economy significantly enhances the quality of life in Frederick and supports its vibrant business community. This fall, the Weinberg Center for the Arts launched a series of Professional Development Workshops for artists and arts nonprofits. These workshops provide essential tools, resources, and networking opportunities. The series was developed in partnership with several organizations, including the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development, the Frederick Arts Council, the Frederick County Art Association, and Give Rise Studio. Local and regional experts also contributed their insights on starting and growing creative businesses.

Workshop Topics

The Professional Development Series covered various important topics, including:

• Grant writing and fundraising essentials

• Best practices for nonprofit and for-profit organizations

• Advertising, marketing, and social media strategies

• Disaster preparedness and insurance

• Partnerships, collaborations, and networking

Stephanie Chaiken, Executive Theater Manager at the Weinberg Center, explained the motivation behind the series: “We wanted to provide visual, performing, and literary artists and organizations with opportunities to improve their business skills and connect for future collaborations. Many artists were unaware of local and national resources, so we created a program to give them a taste of various topics.”

The series was shaped by feedback from a summer town hall meeting, where artists shared their needs in the creative economy.

Participants learned from organizations like the Maryland State Arts Council and LAA Community Engagement & Equity in Research at Americans for the Arts. Local experts also offered best practices to enhance business plans and marketing efforts.

“We’re excited to support collaborative efforts that strengthen Frederick’s creative economy.”

— Mary Ford-Naill, Manager of Economic Development for The City of Frederick

The City of Frederick oversees both the Weinberg Center for the Arts and New Spire Arts. Earlier this year, the city hired Laila Jadallah as the Manager of Arts and Culture to lead cultural activities. As part of this series, the city launched a Cultural Asset Mapping Survey to better understand the creative businesses in the area. This survey will remain open through 2024.

To participate in the survey visit: Cultural Asset Mapping.

If you need help with your creative business, contact the Department of Economic Development at 301.600.6360 or email business@cityoffrederickmd.gov for resources and support.

FCC Food Entrepreneurship Program Wraps Up Another Successful Year

The latest cohort of Frederick Community College's Food Business Entrepreneurship program recently finished up and class participants were provided an opportunity to pitch to judges about their future food business ventures! The City of Frederick: Department of Economic Development and Frederick County Office of Agriculture co-sponsored the Food Business Entrepreneurship program again this year. Our team meets with food entrepreneurs, participated in a panel discussion with class members and have even assisted with the pitch competitions.

The Food Business Entrepreneurship Program allows class participants to hone their skills and experience while increasing credentials in partnership with the Hospitality, Culinary and Tourism Institute. Delivering foundation-level concepts and knowledge in entrepreneurship and food service management, topics included financial management, front & back of house operations, marketing & sales, regulatory requirements, kitchen skills, and more. Expert-led instruction also develops skills to plan for, start, and operate a food service business.

Culminating in an exciting pitch competition, participants showcased their new business concepts to local industry and financial community partners with opportunities to win monetary awards and/or customized mentorships with working professionals in the field.

Congratulations to the following winners:

🥇 1st Place – Fat Sassy's Take and Bake, Nicole Scott: Awarded a six-month subscription to Maryland Bakes!

🥈 2nd Place – Punk 'n Peasant Pierogi, Brandy Gurbal: Awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Frederick Community College Foundation Culinary Competition Scholarship Fund!

🥉 3rd Place – Aunt Jean's Cuisine, Jamie Brown: Awarded a $500 cash prize, sponsored by FoodPro!

🏅 4th Place – Bol Apetit, Onella St. Hilaire: Awarded a $500 cash prize, sponsored by Wegmans!

To learn more about FCC's Food Business Entrepreneurship Program, visit: Food Business Entrepreneurship - Frederick Community College

If you are interested in starting or growing your food related business, reach out to our team at the City of Frederick’s Department of Economic Development to schedule a meeting, call 301.600.6360 or email business@cityoffrederickmd.gov .