Fast Track Permitting Case Study: Emmes Corporation

Fast Track Permitting in Action

When Emmes Corporation decided to expand their Maryland operations with a new Frederick facility, timing was critical. Emmes’ leadership had an aggressive goal for moving into the new space, so the business reached out to OED for assistance in the permitting process.

Emmes, a clinical research organization with more than 500 employees in Rockville, is growing rapidly. Through their unique approach to the CRO model – they consider themselves a clinical research collaborator – they work side-by-side with leading researchers to tackle challenges that have an impact on public health throughout the world. As the company examined their growth options, they discovered that Frederick had a strong life sciences cluster, easy access to many of their federal clients in the public health sector, and that many of their employees worked north along the I-270 corridor.

We knew Emmes would be the perfect fit for Frederick, so in order to support the critical occupancy timelines of expanding or new businesses, the OED partnered with the Frederick County Division of Planning & Permitting to offer Fast Track Permitting.

Who Can Get on the Fast Track?

  • Companies that are moving into an existing building and need to complete tenant fit out
  • Companies constructing a brand new facility

Information That Will Help You Qualify

  • Does your business fall into one of our targeted industry sectors? Find out here.
  • How many jobs will your business bring to the county?
  • Can you put a number on the amount of capital investment being made in the facility?
  • What kind of average annual employee salary will you offer?

Once these factors are accessed and approved, the company has a pre-submittal meeting with the reviewing agencies. This means the company has top priority throughout the development review and permitting process, and the support of an OED staff member to serve as an ombudsman throughout the project.

Emmes’ Success Story

Thanks to Fast Track permitting, and the collaborative approach of Frederick County agencies, Emmes moved from pre-submittal to permits-in-hand in just six weeks and are on track to occupy their space less than four months later. The company will open their doors at 5280 Corporate Drive this spring, bringing 100 new jobs to Frederick over the next few years. According to Clay Edwards, Emmes’ Facility Manager, “…the fast track process works. Thank you all for doing this so quickly.”

Frederick County Office of Economic Development has a department full of people passionate about contributing to the county’s growth. Our ultimate goal is to bring business that targets Frederick’s many industries and appeals to its diverse, capable workforce.

If you’re ready to start embarking on your own success story, contact our team to explore how Fast Track Permitting can help you meet your critical business timelines and get you up and running in our community.