(2/2024) Frederick County Business Sentiment Survey Results

Frederick County businesses shared their optimism, concerns, and needs on their economic outlook in a recent survey conducted for the Frederick County Office of Economic Development by Salisbury University’s Business Economic and Community Outreach Network (BEACON). The November 2023 results showed an overall positive sentiment that Frederick County is a good place to operate a business. Respondents rated proximity to customers and a strong local economy as the most significant advantages of locating in the County.

"These positive results attest to the thriving culture we’ve created here in Frederick County," said County Executive Jessica Fitzwater. "I am proud that businesses not only feel a sense of belonging, but also see a future in our community as they set goals and consider expansion of operations. Thank you to the over 380 respondents—we are committed to using their feedback as we continue to innovate in economic and workforce development."

The survey asked business leaders, including chief executive officers, owners and senior executives, to weigh in on a range of topics, from the advantages the county has for businesses to challenges they have, additional assistance needed, and the outlook on their economic future.

Results include:

• Almost 60% of respondents agreed that it was easy to find resources and support for their business and agreed that the County is an inclusive place to start or run a business.
• The county scored a 10 on a Net promoter score, indicating a favorable likelihood of recommending the location as a business destination.
• When asked about their feelings about the economic climate in the next year, 47% of respondents were somewhat or strongly optimistic regarding the County, however 46% were strongly or somewhat pessimistic about the national economic climate in the next year. Some of that sentiment may be connected with the fact that businesses have generally performed well in the past two years, with 84% seeing level or improving sales, with just 16% seeing a sales decline in the past two years.
• Almost 80% of the businesses believe they will still be operating in the county in five years, with just under 8% believing they will not; the balance was unsure. The outlook for expansion showed 45% saying they were considering expanding operations in the next two years.
• The largest drivers of positive impacts on growth in the short term were demand for their product or service, mentioned by 67%, and technological advancements mentioned by 59%. The factors having the largest negative impact were inflation mentioned by 76% and economic conditions cited by 53%.
• The highest request for assistance was financial incentives for expansion (53%) and marketing and promotional support (35%). Mirroring national trends, 68% mentioned encountering challenges related to workforce availability, retention, or recruitment.
• Other areas that businesses expressed challenges with included permitting and regulatory issues. This is reflected in the top two types of support they would request which were workforce training and development, and assistance with permitting and regulations.

"Success in economic development is not just about financial gains, but also about fostering a positive and supportive environment," said Lara Fritts, Director of the Division of Economic Opportunity. "The positive results of our business sentiment survey reflect a thriving culture in Frederick County where businesses feel valued, motivated, and empowered to contribute to the region. The survey results are a testament to the collective belief in growth, collaboration, and the pursuit of excellence. I embrace the positivity shared by our businesses and will use respondents’ suggestions to continue to fuel our County’s economic success."

To contact the Frederick County Office of Economic Development, visit their website at www.discoverfrederickmd.com.

FCPS Superintendent Shares Recommended Operating Budget

FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson shared her recommended Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget Monday with a focus on meeting the demands of students and staff in a growing school system.

"One of the ways in which we achieve our goals is through strategic resource allocation," Dr. Dyson said in her video budget announcement. "This means, we must design a budget that is fiscally sound, meets our expanding needs and provides the resources that are required to sustain our success."

Her recommended budget totals $991,580,587 and is focused on the following priorities:

• Recruiting and Retaining Talented Employees
• Responding to Significant Growth
• Providing Additional Supports for Students for Special Education students and English Learners
• Addressing Inflationary Pressures
• Advancing Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Initiatives

County Announces Agriculture Innovation Grant Recipients

Local farmers are pioneering creative ways to diversify their operations, thanks in part to Frederick County’s Agriculture Innovation Grants. Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater awarded $123,166 in grants for the Fall 2023 grant cycle. Seven agriculture-related businesses will receive funding through the competitive grant program, which is designed to encourage diversification and innovation in farm operations.

"Supporting our farms and our farmers is a priority for my administration," County Executive Fitzwater said. "I am proud that the County’s grant programs help our agricultural businesses innovate, diversify and generally expand their operations."

The projects selected for funding are expected to create eight full-time and 27 part-time positions. Grant recipients include:

• Black Ankle Vineyards, LLC, Mount Airy- to implement a keg system for storing and serving high-quality wines.
• Fox Haven Organic Farm and Learning Center, Jefferson- to purchase and construct drying equipment for their organic herb operation.
• Heritage Hills Hops, LLC, Frederick- to purchase hop harvesting equipment to increase efficiency for the expansion of their hopyard.
• Hilltop Blooms & Beef, Ijamsville- to install an irrigation system and service to an existing well for the expansion of their cut flower operation.
• Kemptown Honey, Monrovia- to purchase equipment expanding apiary bottling and efficiency furthering the creation of value-added products from their honey.
• Loew Vineyards, Mount Airy- to purchase a crusher/de-stemmer for harvesting grapes.
• McClintock Distilling, Frederick- to expand cooling and storage capacity, increasing the production capacity and further supporting local farmers.

In this sixth cycle of Agriculture Innovation Grants, 19 operations applied for funding, with requests totaling over $630,000. Twice a year, grants are awarded in the amount of $5,000 or more to help agriculture businesses expand or diversify their operations. Information on the program is available by contacting Becca Tucker, Senior Business Development Manager of Agriculture, at 240-739-2013.

Rogers Appointed as First Housing Division Director

Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announces the appointment of Vincent Rogers as the County’s first Director for the Division of Housing. Mr. Rogers brings both professional experience and community connections to this new role. The appointment will take effect February 10.

"Mr. Rogers is a strategic thinker, which is essential as we stand up our newest division," County Executive Fitzwater said. "His experience managing housing programs and supporting housing policy initiatives will allow him to hit the ground running. I’m particularly excited to see how Vincent’s work with the HUD’s Moving to Work designation can help Frederick County adapt federal programs into more localized solutions. "

Mr. Rogers brings an extensive background in housing policy, having previously served as Director of Policy and Compliance at the Fairfax County, Va., Department of Housing and Community Development and the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority. In these roles, Mr. Rogers directed all affordable housing strategic planning for the department. He also oversaw resident services and federal compliance through the PROGRESS Center, the Moving to Work initiative, and the implementation of other federal programs.

Mr. Rogers earned his master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and his bachelor’s degree in public policy from Syracuse. He lives in Frederick County with his wife and three sons.