Frederick County Office of Economic Development Honored as 2018 MEDA Winners

The Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) was honored for their Craft Beverage Growth Program and OED’s Assistant Director Heather Gramm were honored as the MEDA Economic Development Program Award winner and Rising Star winner for 2018.

Nearly 300 economic development professionals gathered on April 30 for an inspiring evening to celebrate industry excellence during the MEDA Annual Conference Awards Banquet. Sponsored by Miles & Stockbridge P.C., the MEDA Awards showcase efforts to attract new businesses, assist existing businesses, redevelop business districts, market communities and support economic development throughout the state.

David Ryan, executive director of the Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development Corporation, was inducted into the MEDA Hall of Fame. Ryan was recognized for his leadership skills and contributions that have excelled the practice of economic development throughout his career. Ryan is a former MEDA president and is a member of the MEDA Council of Past Presidents.

Heather Gramm, CEcD, assistant director of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development, was honored with the MEDA Rising Star Award. Gramm was recognized for creating growth opportunities to expand Frederick County’s attraction and retention of business. She has also served on the MEDA board in a number of capacities—including as chair of the Professional Development Committee and currently as MEDA vice president.

Development Real Estate Company (DEVRECO) earned the Economic Development Project Award in the small community category. DEVRECO received the award due to its revitalization efforts of The Cadmus Building, located in Easton, Maryland. Revitalizing the Cadmus Building created an opportunity to increase the supply of medical offices in Easton, the medical hub of the Mid-Shore. Having a first-class medical complex helped Shore Regional Health consolidate several physician practices into one location and serves as a premiere asset to attract better doctors, nurses and other medical industry employees. DEVRECO was nominated for the award by Talbot County Economic & Tourism Development.

Susan Gage Caterer earned the Economic Development Project Award in the large community category. Susan Gage Caterer received the award due to a $4.6 million redevelopment, which moved the company from its Oxon Hill location to a 31,000-square-foot warehouse space in Hyattsville. The redevelopment efforts allowed Susan Gage Caterer to hire an additional 189 employees—62 percent of which are Prince George’s County residents. Susan Gage Caterer was nominated for the award by FSC First and Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation.

Additionally, Hekemian & Co. earned the Economic Development Project Award in the large community category. Hekemian & Co. received the award due to its redevelopment work of The Rotunda in Baltimore. The project has helped diversify the local economy through the variety in its development program, from neighborhood-serving tenants, destination retail, hundreds of new residential apartments, and revitalized office space. A true mixed-use project, Hekemian & Co. serves a diverse set of neighborhoods in the surrounding area and has re-envisioned a mostly vacant property into a 24/7 hub of activity. Hekemian & Co. was nominated for the award by the Baltimore Development Corporation.

Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery in the Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University earned the Economic Development Program Award in the small community category. Beginning in 2013 as an extension of the long running and enhanced Student Entrepreneurship Competition, the Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery was started to attract, find, encourage and award entrepreneurs from the Mid-Atlantic region. Since its inception, 150 applicants have applied to the Shore Hatchery with 42 businesses selected and awarded $902,000 and assigned mentors from the Shore Hatchery Board. The winners for the first four years of the Shore Hatchery reported the creation of 179 jobs and generation of $4 million in revenues. The Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery in the Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University was nominated for the award by Salisbury University.

Frederick County Craft Beverage Growth Program earned the Economic Development Program Award in the large community category. Frederick County leads the state in the combined number of wineries, breweries and distilleries. Frederick County currently has 30 wineries, breweries, distilleries, cideries and meaderies, representing a 68 percent increase since 2015, and 21 percent of the total establishments in Maryland. Most significant within that growth was the increase in distilleries and craft breweries. Frederick County Craft Beverage Growth Program was nominated for the award by the Frederick County Office of Economic Development.

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Experience, in Cambridge, Maryland, earned the MEDA Marketing Award in the small community category. The purpose of the marketing campaign was to inspire the targeted audience to travel to Maryland's Eastern Shore and visit the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center and Byway, creating economic impact through tourism-related taxes on lodging, dining and entertainment. The marketing campaign drew attention not only to the Tubman story, but also to the authentic Eastern Shore small towns, scenic beauty and outdoor recreation activities in the area. The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Experience was nominated for the award by the Maryland Department of Commerce.

“The New Tech Hub on the Bay,” a digital media campaign by Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, earned the MEDA Marketing Award in the large community category. This digital media campaign yielded a 76 percent increase of Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation's overall new website sessions—increasing website traffic by 1,700, 6,944 page views and 2,441 users. The total reach for the campaign topped 951,000. The campaign reached social media influencers and helped create a greater awareness of the economic benefits of Anne Arundel County. “The New Tech Hub on the Bay” was nominated for the award by the Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation.

The Awards Banquet was held April 30 during the 2018 MEDA Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge, Maryland.

Visit www.MEDAmd.com to learn more about the Annual Conference and other upcoming events.

 

About MEDA

The Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) enhances the knowledge and skills of its members, encourages partnerships and networking among people committed to bringing jobs and capital to Maryland, and promotes economic development as an investment in Maryland.