(7/2021) Summer is in full swing. We are beginning to see the return of some longstanding traditions, thanks to the widespread availability of vaccines. So far 70% of adults in Frederick County are fully vaccinated, which is great news! We are able to safely celebrate the Fourth of July with family and friends this year. July also marks the start of Frederick County’s carnival season. Walkersville kicks off the schedule when it opens July 5th, and the Thurmont Firemen’s Carnival begins the next night, July 6th.

Speaking of our firefighters, I was pleased to honor our many volunteer firefighters and auxiliary members recently at the 28th annual awards ceremony. Their dedication to serving our community, especially over the past year, is truly commendable.

Preserving Our Rural Areas

We value our rich history in Frederick County. When we protect our historic and cultural resources, future generations can understand what makes our rural communities distinct and special. That is why preserving the rural parts of Frederick County has been a top priority of my administration. This year, we launched two new programs designed to protect our historic sites and keep our agriculture industry profitable.

Frederick County’s farmers are creating value-added products to carry their industry into the future. To support that effort, we started the Agriculture Innovation Grant Program. County Council President M.C. Keegan-Ayer and Vice President Michael Blue joined me this spring to announce $306,000 in competitive grants to 14 farming operations. The goal of the grants program is to help ag businesses to expand or diversify their operations.

Recipients included Catoctin Mountain Orchard to establish an apple dessert trailer; Chestnut Hill Farm and Market for a well and irrigation system; Frey Farm for equipment to set up a farm stand; Inskeep Family Farm to construct a hog nursery barn; Heritage Hills Hops to purchase a hops pelletizer; the Kombucha Lady in Rocky Ridge to buy processing equipment; Libertas Estates for the purchase of ducks for egg and meat production and to control pests; Moo Cow Creamery at Walnut Ridge, for a walk-in freezer and refrigerated van; Moon Valley Farm in Woodsboro, for a well and irrigation system; Needwood Farms for a walk-in freezer and shed; Rights of Man Farm to add a cut-your-own Christmas tree operation; Stillpoint Farm for farm stand equipment; Valley Homemade and Homegrown for a pavilion to teach flower arranging; and Willow Oaks/Country Pleasures Farm for mead production fixtures. These projects are expected to create 11 full-time and 17 part-time positions.

Agriculture Innovation Grants will be awarded twice a year. Applications for the second round of funding are being accepted throughout the month of July. Information on the program can be found online at www.DiscoverFrederickMD.com/ag_innovation_grant. Those who prefer paper applications can contact Katie Stevens, Associate Director of Agriculture Business Development in the County’s Office of Economic Development. She can be reached at 240-285-2795 or at KStevens1@FrederickCountyMd.gov.

Our second new program is the Rural Historic Preservation Grant Program. This program allows us to preserve what makes our rural districts distinct and special. Eight historically significant structures were awarded funds in June to restore and protect the buildings. This competitive grant program will be offered once a year.

Both the Agriculture Innovation and the Rural Historic Preservation grant programs help to implement the goals of our award-winning Livable Frederick Master Plan. Applications are reviewed by review committees and scored based on established metrics. Funding comes from the county’s recordation fee, which is a one-time fee charged on certain real estate transactions.

Rural Broadband

Last year, the County conducted a comprehensive Rural Broadband Study, which found that thousands of residents have no access to broadband service, and many more are underserved with slow or spotty connectivity. The past year has shown us how vital broadband access is, especially for residents who have been connecting to work or school from their homes. We need to ensure more residents have access to fast and reliable internet service.

I am excited to announce a pilot program that will bring high-speed broadband internet to a portion of the Rocky Ridge community. Frederick County was awarded a $202,000 grant from the State to establish the pilot program. The grant supports broadband expansion into rural areas as part of a private-public partnership. Comcast already maintains an extensive network in more densely populated areas of the county. The company agreed to partner with Frederick County on the project. Details, including the exact route of the network, are being worked out now. Individual property owners along the route will choose whether to connect their properties to Comcast’s infrastructure.

Bringing broadband to our rural areas supports our economy and allows work and education to happen anywhere, anytime. The pilot program in Rocky Ridge is a small step. We know it will take a combination of approaches over several years to close the digital divide in our community.

Happy 4th of July! May God bless America!