(2/2024) February is a month of several occasions including Black History Month and Heart Health Month. In celebrating culture and increasing health awareness, we are excited to host our annual Black History Month celebration and launch Frederick County’s first ever Heart Health Campaign this month.
We have so much to celebrate in Frederick County and are striving to keep it thriving by creating a sense of belonging not only for residents, but for our businesses. Our annual Black History Month Celebration will be held on February 5 at 6 p.m. in the first-floor hearing room of Winchester Hall and broadcasted through our own FCGTV. In addition, various events and classes will be held for our Heart Health Campaign. I’ve included more details on this campaign below.
With session underway for The Maryland General Assembly, I’ll be traveling to Annapolis advocating for the needs of our residents and continuing to host town halls alongside our County Council Members, to receive public input in each district to help me carve out our budget priorities for the fiscal year!
With all the new and exciting developments ahead, I encourage you to stay connected through subscribing to my newsletter www.connect.frederickcountymd.gov/hub Subscriptions/2396.
Heart Healthy Frederick County
Each year, over 805,000 Americans experience a heart attack. Heart disease claims more lives in the United States than any other cause of death – 1 in 5 deaths, according to the CDC, meaning we likely all know someone who has heart disease.
As public servants, we all play a role in raising awareness of heart disease, which is why I called on staff to create a month-long campaign in February called Heart Healthy Frederick County. Throughout the month of February, there will be CPR classes, educational events, materials, and public service announcements to share with our residents. I encourage you to learn how you can help by reviewing the calendar of events and other materials at FrederickCountyMD.gov/HeartHealthyFC. Together, we can help create a Heart Healthy Frederick County!
Business Survey Results
In November, Frederick County businesses were asked to share their optimism, concerns, and needs regarding their economic outlook in a survey conducted for the Frederick County Office of Economic Development by Salisbury University’s Business Economic and Community Outreach Network (BEACON). The results from over 350 respondents showed an overall positive sentiment that Frederick County is a good place to operate a business. The survey asked business leaders, including chief executive officers, owners, and senior executives, to weigh in on a range of topics, from the advantages and challenges businesses face, additional assistance needed and their future economic outlook.
Agriculture Innovation Grants
Supporting our farms and our farmers is a priority for my administration. I am proud that the County’s grant programs help our agricultural businesses innovate, diversify and generally expand their operations. Seven agriculture-related businesses will receive funding through the competitive grant program, which was designed to encourage diversification and innovation in farm operations. The projects selected for funding are expected to create eight full-time and 27 part-time positions.
Information on the program is available by contacting Becca Tucker, Senior Business Development Manager of Agriculture, at 240-739-2013.
Spanish Language Stoke Awareness Campaign
This spring, alongside county division directors and staff from our Health Department, Division of Aging and Independence, and Frederick Health, we announced the launch of a county-wide project to raise awareness of stroke signs and how to take action within the treatment window.
During our year-long development of this initiative, we recognized how imperative it is to have our PSA video and graphics in Spanish.
With Spanish being the second most common language in our community, having educational materials in the Spanish language is key to ensuring equitable outcomes and that residents feel seen and heard. Not only does this further align with the Livable Frederick Master Plan and my Transition Team Report, it also reaches residents where they are, which is a top priority for my administration. More information on our campaign can be found at https://health.frederickcountymd.gov/696/Stroke-Awareness.
