ROOT Gains New Tenant as Mount St. Mary’s University Signs Multi-Year Lease

Mount St. Mary’s University is the newest tenant at ROOT, the award-winning business innovation hub in the heart of Downtown Frederick. 

Mount St. Mary’s University’s President Timothy E Trainor, PhD, and Frederick County Executive Jan H. Gardner signed the multi-year lease on December 18, making them the newest tenant in this public/private partnership of established leaders in the community who support Frederick County’s businesses and innovative future-focused Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) start-ups. 

Mount St. Mary’s University joins the Office of Economic Development, FITCI, Frederick Chamber of Commerce, Hood College, Maryland’s Small Business Development Center and the Maryland Women’s Business Center in this collaborative center driving the stability and expansion of current and future businesses in Frederick County.

According to Mount St. Mary’s University President Trainor, “Mount St. Mary’s University is excited to establish its first outreach office in the City of Frederick. We are dedicated to meeting the needs of our students in an even more convenient and accessible location. The Mount will be even closer to our partners, the community, businesses and students to provide the same student-centered support we have given over the past two decades.“

Andi Overton, Director of the Partnership Ofice at Mount Saint Mary’s shares in the excitement that this newest location is a way to further connect with the Frederick community.  One of their main goals for the office is to allow them to work more closely with their partners.  Professors and professionals currently provide support to FITCI’s mission, work with the Frederick Chamber of Commerce to provide discounted tuition to Chamber members, and offer a unified master’s degree in cybersecurity with Hood College.     

A wide variety of services will also be offered to Mount St. Mary’s students from this downtown space, connecting those from the main campus in Emmitsburg to industry in Frederick.

Helen Propheter, Executive Director of Economic and Workforce Development, expects other benefits for the Mount from networking and training at ROOT.  Partners work collaboratively, with shared meeting space and training opportunities. 

According to Frederick County Executive Jan H. Gardner, “I’m thrilled to announce plans for Mount St. Mary’s University to expand into the City of Frederick and locate with our other economic development partners. The goal was to become one of the most compelling locations for business incubation and business support in the region and ROOT is well on its way to reaching this goal.”

To learn more about ROOT, its partners and services, visit:  rootfrederick.com