One hundred percent of Frederick County businesses asked during Business Appreciation Week said they like doing business here, County Executive Jan Gardner announced today during her weekly public information briefing. “Our high quality of life is one of the main factors driving the economic growth in Frederick County, along with location and growth potential,” said Executive Gardner. “Clearly Frederick County is a great place to do business!”
A record number of Frederick County businesses expect to expand in the coming year, according to feedback received during the county’s 18th annual Business Appreciation Week visits. Executive Gardner announced that 73 percent of the more than 100 participating businesses said they have plans to grow their operations, compared to 30 percent four years earlier. Most said business this year has been better than last year, and were even more optimistic about the coming year.
Organized each year by the Office of Economic Development, Business Appreciation Week is the largest business retention event in Frederick County and in the state of Maryland. This year’s event ran from October 15-19. Visits were made to businesses from Emmitsburg to Brunswick and from Mount Airy to Myersville. Based on information gathered during the week, business is booming in Frederick County.
Through the week, teams of ambassadors thanked businesses for choosing Frederick County. Ambassadors, who included local and state economic development partners, also asked what the county could do to help local businesses succeed. The event provides the Office of Economic Development the opportunity to assess the local business climate, look for trends and provide feedback to the community and elected officials.
When asked how business has been this year versus last year, 71 percent of those who responded said it was better than last year and 21 percent said business held steady. Businesses were very optimistic about what 2019 holds, with 86 percent predicting a better year next year and 13 percent expecting similar results to this year.
Business Appreciation Week helps OED stay in tune with the pulse of the business community and provides an opportunity to meet or reconnect with businesses. OED makes a concentrated effort for its ambassadors to visit as many businesses as possible in diverse industries throughout the county so that it can stay abreast of the business environment. BAW helps to position the county to be able to adapt to emerging markets, new employee skill set needs and new ways of doing business to stay competitive.
This year’s theme for BAW was “Share the Love.” To view photos from the event, follow the Office of Economic Development on Facebook at www.facebook.com/discoverfrederickmd. To learn more about Business Appreciation Week, visit www.discoverfrederickmd.com/baw or call 301-600-1058.