(9/2023) Students are back in class. Temperatures are cooling off. Community shows and the Great Frederick Fair are right around the corner. It must be September! This September, for the first time, we will celebrate Deaf Awareness Month at Winchester Hall. Frederick County is home to a thriving community of people who are deaf or hard of hearing. We’re partnering with the nonprofit Maryland Deaf Community Center to hold a proclamation ceremony on Wednesday, September 6th at 2 p.m. Maryland School for the Deaf Superintendent John Serrano will be on hand, as well. I hope you can join us!
Crisis Care Center
This month, Frederick County’s first walk-in crisis care center opens for people experiencing mental health or substance use emergencies. Behavioral health issues account for about 1 out of every 5 visits to Frederick Health Hospital’s emergency department. By opening a 24/7 walk-in crisis care center, people can get the help they need when they need it, without going to a hospital.
Frederick County is the first county in Maryland to open this kind of center for behavioral health emergencies, officially known as a crisis stabilization center. When someone comes to the center, they will receive care for their immediate crisis, speak with peer support counselors, and be connected to resources for ongoing care in our community.
The Mental Health Association will operate the center, located at 340 Montevue Lane in Frederick, under the direction of the Frederick County Health Department. MHA’s existing walk-in clinic will move to the new center and begin offering services around the clock.
People can walk in to receive care, or they can be referred to the center by a long list of community partners: local crisis hotlines (211 and 988), first responders, law enforcement, mobile crisis response teams, community providers, and families of those who are in crisis.
We are able to bring this important service to our community thanks in part to our State and Federal partners, who together contributed over $2.5 million. A portion of the county’s American Rescue Plan funds also are dedicated to the walk-in crisis care center. Legal settlement money that Frederick County receives from opioid manufacturers and distributors will also go toward the center’s operation. Frederick County’s share of the settlements is $11.2 million paid out over 18 years.
Rural Historic Preservation Grants
Our Rural Historic Preservation Grant Program helps to protect Frederick County’s rich history. We’ve made some changes to the program this year to improve the process for property owners. People can begin applying now for one of these competitive grants, which are used to restore historic structures in our unincorporated areas.
Applications will be accepted through November, with awards made next spring. Previously, the grant cycle started later in the year. That meant that by the time applications were reviewed and ranked, and agreements signed, money wasn’t distributed until late in the summer. The timing made it difficult for projects to be completed before winter weather sets in.
Grants can total up to $50,000. To be eligible, a property must be either designated on the County Register of Historic Places or as a contributing resource in a County-designated historic district. If the property or district is not yet listed, a letter of determination by the Historic Preservation Commission will need to be included with the application.
Several workshops are scheduled to provide information about the program and how to apply. The next workshop is planned for September 14th at 5:30 p.m. at the C. Burr Artz Library. A virtual session is planned for October 9th. You can register for one of the workshops online at FrederickCountyMD.gov/RuralHPGrant. If you have any questions, contact Historic Preservation Planner Amanda Whitmore at AWhitmore@FrederickCountyMD.gov.
Agritourism
I am excited to see the progress being made by the Agritourism Workgroup that began meeting this summer. I appointed the group to examine the laws, regulations and programs in place today that affect this growing industry. At their August 24th meeting, farmers brought their ideas for ways the County can support them. You can follow the workgroup’s efforts online at FrederickCountyMD.gov/Agritourism.
Farming has changed substantially over the years. Our laws and regulations need to catch up. By modernizing our system, we can lay a foundation to support innovation in the years to come so our farms, and our farmers, can continue to thrive.
Data Centers (for Brunswick editions)
While the Agritourism Workgroup is helping to modernize one of Frederick County’s oldest industries, another workgroup is examining one of our emerging industries – data centers. Residents had an opportunity to weigh in at a recent community meeting in Adamstown. The meeting took place after the News-Journal went to press, but the video should be online to watch now at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/DataCenters.
Upcoming meetings are scheduled for September 27, October 18, and November 15. A final report will be submitted by January 5, 2024. You can stay abreast of the workgroup’s progress at the same website.
