Just as we celebrate new businesses opening their doors, we are equally excited to see existing businesses choose to reinvest in Frederick! This month, we are featuring five local businesses that have recently expanded or made significant renovations at their Frederick facilities. These projects demonstrate each company’s strong continued commitment to their workforce, customers, and our community.
Maryland Ensemble Theater
Renovation
Maryland Ensemble Theater (MET) wrapped up the work on its recent renovation project just in time for its 25th Anniversary celebration this past August.
The project was launched to create a more intentional and comfortable experience in the audience area of the mainstage theater. The movable risers were replaced with a permanent structure. The MET purchased brand new theatre seats (with cup holders!) and built out a custom theatre tech booth. “Instead of a small riser in the back with makeshift tables; [the new tech booth is] a full on ‘command center,’” says Producing Artistic Director Tad Janes.
The recent capital improvement project also features the creation of a visual feature within the back wall of the theater, a new sign for the space, a new light board, and a new sound delivery computer.
What motivates the MET to continue to invest in Frederick?
Are you kidding?!?! Frederick is the BEST! It's got such a strong, passionate, connected community...and we've been a part of it! It's amazing to think that when we started, in 1993, the Weinberg was only doing things "here and there"; not a full season. The downtown wasn't bustling, the Creek was odd and unfinished, many storefronts were closed.
Our theatre identified the old McRory's building and did the initial work to create a performance space and now [that space has become] New Spires; we moved into the basement of the FSK and created two performance spaces. Former company members and employees have built multiple organizations in the area. We've helped to make this an "arts town." Heck, now we have a Theater Row!
Our theatre has 35 restaurants within 3 blocks! And they are all locally-owned! That's amazing, Frederick is such a great community. We want to keep building the creative economy in Frederick!
Tad Janes, Producing Artistic Director
2. Straight Shot Training
Expansion
Less than a year after cutting the opening ribbon on its space at 8411 Broadband Drive Suite, Straight Shot Training is already tackling a major expansion —- taking on the 3,000 SF bay directly adjacent to their original space.
The expansion, which wraps up this month, doubles the size of the facility. The addition will offer additional bathrooms, a shower, and an office for fitness and nutritional consultations.
The project allows the growing fitness business to expand its semi-private (small groups of 2-5 people with a coach) offerings. The extra space will also open up more time slots for 1-1 coaching and increase attendance capacity at workshops & events.
The company will be hiring 1-2 more coaches this year to help oversee the increased training sessions.
What motivates Straight Shot Training to continue to invest in Frederick?
We’ve been coaches in the Frederick area for over a decade and we love both our community of clients here AND the Frederick fitness community as a whole. There are so many great gyms & studios here and each offer something different. With our approach, we’ve found a fulfilling niche here in Frederick with people looking to build strength and confidence in a private gym with the help of uplifting coaches.
We’re excited about being able to share our passion for fitness with even more people in our expanded studio!
Jonny Slick, Founder, Co-Owner, Head Coach
3. Precision for Medicine
Renovation and Expansion
In 2022, Precision for Medicine engaged in a 5,000 SF expansion, as well as the renovation/remodeling of the existing site at 8425 Precision Way in Frederick. The project featured the addition of offices, laboratory and biorepository space in support of current and future business activities.
Business growth prompted the need for the updated and expanded facilities. Precision for Medicine supports government and commercial clients in their efforts to accelerate therapeutic and diagnostic development with biomarker, clinical, regulatory, quality system, and market access solutions. The new space enhances the company’s ability to provide the highest quality services to its clients and, most importantly, enables the company to positively impact patients’ lives.
What motivates Precision for Medicine to continue to invest in Frederick?
Frederick has been a great partner. The locale has supplied wonderful local talent and has presented our organization with numerous opportunities for business networking as well as community involvement. The investments Frederick has, and continues to make, in local infrastructure make it ideal for logistics, hosting clients and continued expansion.
Precision for Medicine, as an organization, continues to grow and is exploring opportunities to expand their operations in Frederick. [The company] is actively engaged in discussion with local property managers to identify the optimal location.
Kurt Langenbach - Vice President, Frederick Site Head
4. Creekside Canine
RELOCATION AND Expansion
Creekside Canine Training got its start renting space from K9 Camp, a dog day-care facility along E Patrick Street. When the facility was sold in June 2022, Creekside needed to quickly relocate by October.
Joining with Hair N Dipity Pet Salon, another former tenant of the K9 Camp location, Creekside Canine was able to find a new retail space in the Festival of Frederick Shopping Center on Prospect Plaza. Following an in-depth renovation, the new (and expanded) 2880 sq ft facility was ready to open on October 13, 2022.
Creekside and Hair N Dipity are both independent, women-owned businesses. The expansion into a larger space with dedicated areas for training has allowed Creekside to add an additional employee (3 total) as well as expand the training services provided.
Though unable to offer its traditional board-and-train services in its new facility, Creekside has launched a new model to adapt to the updated space. The innovative program, Canine University, offers a variety of daytime training options for dogs of all ages. The new format is enjoying success and the business is looking forward to expanding its training services to add more private & group options.
What motivates Creekside Canine to continue to invest in Frederick?
I have lived in Frederick for my whole life. I have been a part of the downtown community as a MET company member, as an employee in multiple downtown small businesses, and as the owner of my own small business. Frederick has become so dog friendly over the years; I want to continue to support that growth in the downtown community. My business allows me to follow my passion for working with dogs and to help their owners be able to fully access the community.Sarah Shulman, Owner
5. Maryland Tech Council
Expansion
The Maryland Tech Council is the largest technology and life sciences trade association in the state. The organization supports more than 660 member companies who are saving lives, securing our nation and improving the quality of life through innovation. Its mission is to propel Maryland to become the number one innovation economy for life sciences and technology in the country. MTC does this by connecting, educating, and advocating on behalf of our tech and life sciences communities.
The Maryland Tech Council is expanding rapidly to meet the needs of its growing innovation ecosystem. Maryland ranked #1 in the nation for tech workforce growth last year, and #2 in the nation for life sciences research talent. As a result of the industry growth, the organization recently increased its headquarter space here in Frederick — taking on an additional suite at The Firehouse. The organization is also expanding its staff, services, and programming to meet the needs of these growing companies, and have opened regional chapters in Baltimore, Prince George’s County, and the Chesapeake region to serve members in those regions on the local level.
MTC recently launched BioHub Maryland, an initiative to accelerate the life sciences industry for companies and career seekers to expand the state’s global innovation advantage. BioHub Maryland helps companies grow by showcasing their career opportunities, training the next generation of life sciences talent, and providing strategic resources for raising capital.
MTC also recently announced a partnership with Frederick-based Platoon 22 to provide military veterans the skills they need to pursue rewarding life sciences careers. The organization is excited to help our community’s veterans find a new mission fighting diseases and saving lives and encourage them to learn more at biohubmaryland.com.
What motivates the Maryland Tech Council to continue to invest in Frederick?
Frederick offers a unique combination of assets: proximity to major life sciences and technology hubs along with competitive cost of living and outstanding quality of life. We can go from having a staff lunch at one of downtown’s many great restaurants to visiting globally renowned life sciences employers in less than 10 minutes.
The Maryland Tech Council invites Frederick businesses to become members in 2023. Our ability to connect, educate, and advocate on behalf of our tech and life sciences members is second to none in Maryland. We offer highly successful peer-to-peer mentoring programs at no cost to participants, and more than 80 networking events each year. Our cost savings program has enabled MTC members to save more than $12 million on equipment, supplies, and business services.
Pam Lubel, Vice President
Are you looking to grow your business in Frederick? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff at business@cityoffrederickmd.gov for local resources and help along the way!