The state of Frederick County is strong, vibrant and on the move, County Executive Jan Gardner said during her annual State of the County Address. She shared a video highlighting accomplishments of the past year and unveiled the Livable Frederick Implementation Program, which will guide the county’s initiatives in the coming year.

"Livable Frederick lays the foundation for our bright future so we can make life better for the people who call Frederick home," Executive Gardner said. "We’ve embraced our rich history, invested in our people and places, and taken care of our citizens. We are leading the way with innovation and excellence. Frederick County is soaring to new heights!"

A few key accomplishments include:

• Welcoming Kite Pharma’s move to Urbana, with hundreds of new jobs projected.
• Accelerating school construction: Building has begun on a new Urbana Elementary School and a new Rock Creek School, and plans are underway for Blue Heron Elementary School, Waverley Elementary School, and an addition to Oakdale Middle School.
• Powering up a solar array at the landfill that now provides power to seven county buildings, including charging stations for TransIT’s growing fleet of electric buses.
• Excellent financial management and AAA bond ratings allowed the county to build a new Othello Regional Park in Brunswick, an expanded Utica District Park, a library in Myersville, and a major transportation project near New Market, all without raising taxes.

Executive Gardner also unveiled numerous initiatives and announcements for the coming year:

• Livable Frederick Implementation Program – Public processes will begin soon for two small area plans: a Sugarloaf Mountain Treasured Landscape management plan to preserve the area’s natural and scenic beauty and a plan along the county’s primary business corridor of MD 85/355 to ensure economic resilience and sustainability.
• Broadband Feasibility Study — A feasibility study will look at how to bring high-speed Internet to underserved areas of the county. Access to broadband is fundamental to education and economic development.
• Detox Center – 18 medically supervised beds will be available at the Mountain Manor facility in Emmitsburg by Jan. 1, 2020. Another 28 beds will be available at the newly named "Mountain Manner at Marcies Choice" location by December of 2020.
• Sustainability – Frederick County has been named the 2019 Chesapeake Forest Champion by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the U.S. Forest Service. The award, which will be presented on Nov. 15, recognizes efforts to replenish forest cover. In addition, a new proposal to strengthen the county’s Forest Resource Ordinance will be introduced in the coming weeks.
• Second Solar Array – Next month, the county will power up a solar array adjacent to the Ballenger-McKinney Waste Water Treatment Plant. The array will provide back-up power for the facility.
• Expansion of Electric Bus Fleet – TransIT’s new all-electric bus goes into service in the next few weeks and more will be delivered next spring. The buses are 100% powered by renewable energy.
• Agriculture Initiatives – A value-added agricultural workgroup will evaluate next steps to help farmers process local products through a co-op or collaboration. The county also will look to accelerate agriculture land preservation to ensure a legacy of agriculture for future generations.
• Bookmobile – A new bookmobile stop is being established in the neighborhood of Waverley Elementary School. A kick-off celebration is planned for Nov. 5.
• Senior and Workforce Housing – The county is actively looking for land that can be used to provide senior and workforce housing.

The full State of the County presentation can be viewed at www.tinyurl.com/StateofCounty2019.

County Executive Unveils Legislative Initiatives for 2020 General Assembly

Education tops the list of priorities for Frederick County in the upcoming Maryland General Assembly session, County Executive Jan Gardner announced during a recent public information briefing. State funding for public education and school construction are expected to be the focus of the legislative session that begins January 8. Executive Gardner also unveiled two initiatives that she plans to include in the County’s legislative package. One bill would help to address affordable housing by expanding the State’s renters tax credit with a local tax credit to qualifying renters. The second would increase the annual compensation of Board of Education members to $14,000.

"One of my administration’s top priority is education, and it is my intent to actively participate in the shaping of new funding formulas for our public schools," Executive Gardner said Tuesday. "The County’s local investment per student has far exceeded the state investment per student in Frederick County over the past five years."

During Tuesday’s briefing, the Executive also outlined requests from community organizations for items to include in the 2020 legislative package. Those requests can be found on the County’s website at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/Legislative. For more information, contact Government Affairs Director Roger Wilson at 301-600-1621 or via e-mail at rwilson@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

Solar Co-Op Program Returns to Frederick County

Frederick County residents and businesses have an opportunity to join a solar co-operative program that will allow members to reduce their carbon footprints and save money at the same time. A solar co-op is an organized community of residents, small business owners and/or nonprofits who buy solar in bulk to save on total costs of installation fees.

The Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources (OSER) is bringing a joint co-op to Frederick and surrounding areas through a collaboration with Solar United Neighbors of Maryland (MD-SUN). The MD-Sun co-op allows members to get discounts on solar installation costs. Solar United Neighbors also offers support from the start of the program to the end of the installation process, including the issuance of competitively bid contracts to solar installers.

The Frederick County program is one of many OSER initiatives that strive to promote the usage of renewable energy resources, which in turn minimize greenhouse gas emissions within the county. This is the second time OSER has partnered with MD-SUN. In 2017, a solar co-op resulted in over 30 solar installations in Frederick County, with a combined solar capacity of 285 kW. Co-op participants are able to purchase solar installations or solar power at a wholesale rate.

Information about the current program will be provided an informational sessions November 20, 7 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library

For more details about the program and how to join the Frederick County Solar co-op visit www.SolarUnitedNeighbors.org/fhm. Questions can be directed to OSER’s Chesapeake Conservation Corps Member, Tyrah Cobb-Davis, at 301-600-1416 or TCobb-Davis@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

County Announces Educational Partnerships with Hood College

County Executive Jan Gardner announced two innovative partnerships between Frederick County and Hood College. The first partnership agreement will allow Hood College to use two county-owned greenhouses at the Scott Key Center for community gardens to supply food to people through the Frederick Food Security Network. The second agreement is the NeighborHOOD Partners Program that provides educational opportunities to county employees and their qualified dependents.

"Our collaboration with Hood College will provide food for people in need throughout our community," said Executive Gardner. "I’m also excited that our employees will benefit from scholarships at the college, as we work together to develop people who are vested in our community."

"We are excited to have such strong partnerships with Frederick County and be able to improve communities and offer scholarships," said Hood College President Andrea Chapdelaine. "As an institution of higher education, our mission is to empower students and the community to meet personal, professional and global challenges. These partnerships allow us to do just that."

The Scott Key Center greenhouses previously provided employment opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities. The center recently shifted its focus to finding clients internships and jobs with employers in the community. As a result, the greenhouses will be used by Hood College students to grow fresh local produce, which they will supply year-round to the Frederick Food Security Network. These community gardens improve food security for residents of local food deserts and promote better eating habits and environmental stewardship in the community.

In exchange for the use of the greenhouses, Hood College will recruit and train volunteers and students to work there, and they will grow plants to feed community members. The college will also provide education outreach programs for the community.

Executive Gardner and President Chapdelaine also signed an agreement for Frederick County employees to participate in the NeighborHOOD Partners Program, allowing the employees and eligible family members to take advantage of Hood’s educational opportunities. Tuition discounts will be available to county employees, their spouses and dependent children who are degree seeking and enrolled either full time at the undergraduate level or part time at the graduate level.

Community Partnership Grant Program Application Process

Frederick County announced the opening of the application process for the FY21 Community Partnership Grant program that awards competitive grants to non-profit organizations serving the needs of county residents. The grants can be used for community needs, seniors and housing.

"I am proud to restore our long-standing partnerships with our local human service non-profit providers," commented Executive Gardner. "Together, we leverage our efforts to provide effective services and to make sure everyone shares in our community’s prosperity."

This year marks the sixth round of the grants program. Grants can be for operating expenses or for one-time purchases. Examples of one-time projects funded in the past include replacement flooring for a transitional housing shelter, costs associated with a mobile dental clinic, and a refrigerator/freezer for a senior center, among others.

Applications will be available at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/cpg beginning Nov. 8. The deadline to submit an application is midnight, Dec. 8. Funding awards will be considered in the county budget process and announced in April, with funding available beginning July 1. For more information and program updates, visit www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/cpg or contact Citizens Services Director of Operations Kelli Goetz at 301-600-1410.

Executive Gardner Encourages Residents to Attend Human Relations Commission Annual Naturalization Ceremony

County Executive Jan Gardner encourages Frederick County residents to attend the 23rd Annual Naturalization Ceremony at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, in the first floor hearing room of Winchester Hall, 12 East Church Street. Hosted by the Frederick County Human Relations Commission, the event will see up to 40 individuals from dozens of countries take the Oath of Citizenship to become American citizens. The ceremony will feature Oneyda Escobar as the keynote speaker.

"This will be a very special day when the United States of America will welcome these individuals with open arms, as we have welcomed immigrants for literally hundreds of years," said Executive Gardner. "We are a stronger nation because of people like this, who longed to be part of the great American experience."

Executive Gardner will speak during the ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of these men and women, including both the struggles and the triumphs that they had to endure to reach their goal. She will also present a proclamation naming the day as Naturalization Day in Frederick County.

During the oath of citizenship, each person will swear to serve the United States and support and defend the Constitution. One of the most important responsibilities they will have is to be an educated, informed voter who is eligible to vote.

Executive Gardner thanks the Frederick County Human Relations Commission for hosting the naturalization ceremony for more than 20 years. She also extends her appreciation to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for their partnership in making the event possible.

For more information about the ceremony, contact Human Relations Department Administrative Coordinator Pat Fleet at 301-600-1063 or via e-mail at pfleet@FrederickCountyMD.gov, or Director Miles Ward at 301-600-1110 or via e-mail at mward@FrederickCountyMD.gov.