(12/2023) Exciting developments are underway for Frederick County! As the year comes to a close, we are gearing up to better serve our residents through community connections that bridge gaps and invest in the rich history of our county!

Hosting the governor and lieutenant governor, honing in on family and child care needs, creating a mobility network and transportation program low-income households, and taking a deeper dive into the historic narrative of Frederick County are just a few of the exciting developments happening in our community. We look forward to ending the year more informed and entering 2024 stronger and equipped with new resources to make change.

Child Care Market Study Results

The Frederick County Office for Children and Families, community members and families attended a Community Information and Input session on November 15th to learn more about the Child Care Market Study and to provide input about their experiences and ideas for potential solutions. The study unveiled that Frederick County families pay for child care in time, money, and stress. Statistically, thirty-eight percent of families in Frederick County say that child care adds 30 minutes or more to their daily commute, forty-six percent spend $300 or more on child care every week, and fifty-two percent report the cost of child care being very or extremely stressful—with 82% receiving no financial assistance.

The survey was completed by 1,300 Frederick County families in May by the study’s contractor, Public Policy Associates and Solomon Evaluation. The Office for Children and Families continues to seek out ways the County can look at innovative strategies to improve child care access and the child care system. For more information about the project and information on the Community Information and Input Session scheduled for December 6 for employers and businesses, contact the Office for Children and Families or see visit www.publicpolicy.com/FrederickCoStudy.

Mobility Action Learning Network Boosts ALICE Households

Frederick County Government, along with community partners the United Way of Frederick County, Data Driven Frederick and other community leaders, were selected to participate in The Urban Institute’s Mobility Action Learning Network. The network provides free technical assistance to teams of community leaders who are moving people out of poverty and creating equity. It also provides us an opportunity to engage in collaborative problem solving with other communities across the country who are committed to addressing the underlying causes of poverty.

As a member of the network, Frederick County will participate in virtual workshops, peer-learning opportunities, and advisory support calls with Urban Institute experts for 12 months. Over the next year, the team will utilize a data-driven approach to finding solutions by utilizing existing data, such as the Child Care Market Study, the ALICE Report, and other local data to determine where they can make the greatest impact collectively. I am excited that we were selected among 30 teams national to participate in the Mobility Action Learning Network! Breaking down barriers to economic mobility in Frederick County is crucial to our health as a county.

Other noteworthy community initiatives that break down barriers to access in our County, include our local United Way’s Internet Access Initiative. United Way of Frederick County is offering free Chromebooks to eligible households through December to help close the digital divide in Maryland. For more information on eligibility and distribution, the public is encouraged to visit.

Rides for Good Program

You often hear me say that I want everyone in Frederick County to be able to thrive. To thrive, people need food, housing, health care, and a job. Frederick County ranks as one of the healthiest communities in Maryland. Our unemployment rate is an amazing 1.7% - lower than the state’s and less than half the national rate. In order to access jobs and health care, really all our basic needs, people must have transportation. Frederick County Government has provided funding to jump-start the Safe Ride Foundation’s new program called Rides for Good. Through a strong partnership between the Safe Ride Foundation, the United Way of Frederick County, and Frederick County Government, the program will provide a viable transportation option to our most vulnerable populations.

Lack of transportation options is cited as a major barrier, especially for our ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained and Employed ).They seek safe, reliable ways to get to doctors’ appointments, the supermarket, and job interviews. The ability to connect residents in our community with essential services, and activities adds meaning and value to the lives they live.

This program affirms that Frederick not only recognizes the need but is prepared to implement solutions.

State Investments Help Frederick County

This month, we had the pleasure of hosting Governor Moore and Lt. Governor Miller to see firsthand how State investments are making a difference in our community! Their visit included the Platoon 22’s Veterans Service Center, the ribbon cutting of the new Asian American Center of Frederick County office, and the site of the future downtown hotel and conference center. The long-planned Downtown Frederick Hotel and Conference Center is an economic development project of the City and County to bring needed lodging, meeting space and jobs to the second-largest city in Maryland.

Budget Public Hearing and Upcoming Listening Sessions

On December 4, I will be hosting a budget public hearing at Winchester Hall at 7 p.m. The public is invited to either attend in-person or join us virtually vai FrederickCountyMD.gov/BudgetPublicHearing. To join the meeting by phone, call toll-free 855-925-2801 and enter meeting code 10042. Comments also may be submitted online at FrederickCountyMD.gov/BudgetPublic