(1/2022) Happy New Year! As 2022 gets under way, I want to reflect back on some of the great things that happened in our community in 2021.

Frederick County has an amazing story to tell. It is a story of hard work and determination. It is a story about people – people who care for each other and care about community and our environment. It’s a story of rich history, opportunity and transformative change. Above all, our story is a story of resilience. Working together, we make Frederick County a great place to live, work, raise a family, and call home.

Here are some of the highlights from 2021:

Health

Frederick County is focused on protecting people’s health and well-being. The Frederick County Health Department has and continues to provide COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. The health department administered more than 91,000 COVID-19 vaccinations in 2021 through high-volume clinics as well as smaller pop-up clinics in Emmitsburg, Thurmont and elsewhere, as well as at events around the county to meet people where they are. These efforts continue today.

Frederick County can be proud that we have vaccinated a high percentage of our community though there is still more to do. Over 94% of our residents over the age of 65 and 83% of adults received a COVID-19 vaccine in 2021. However, as the pandemic continues and a new variant increases cases in our county, it is more important than ever for everyone to get vaccinated and get a booster. I also encourage everyone to wear a mask at indoor public places. Our healthcare workers are tired and our hospital is close to being overwhelmed. We want people to get the medical they need and everyone needs to do their part to ensure it.

Our focus on community health paid off. Frederick County was recognized as one of the nation’s Healthiest Communities in 2021 by U.S. News and World Report.

I was excited to implement a 24/7 Mobile Crisis Unit last year. Social workers and mental health experts can now respond to calls for help alongside law enforcement or separately. Mobile crisis brings the right services at the right time so people facing a crisis have the assistance they need to achieve the best outcomes. Mobile Crisis has been welcomed and embraced by our law enforcement agencies.

We know that mental and physical health can be boosted by spending time outdoors walking, biking, hiking or enjoying nature. Frederick County’s parks and trails are popular spots. In fact, 2021 set a new record. More than 4 million visitors came to a one of our county parks last year.

We were excited to offer a new adaptive recreation program at the new Rock Creek School in Walkersville. The gymnasium allows our Division of Parks and Recreation to offer therapeutic programs for hundreds of residents with disabilities and special needs, because every child deserves a place where they can play.

A helping hand

Our focus on people has included providing rental assistance, food assistance, and a wide range of support for people who have experience lost wages or reduced hours due to the pandemic. Rental assistance continues to be available. If you or anyone you know needs assistance, they should contact the Religious Coalition at thereligiouscoalition.org.

Feeding Frederick connects people with food resources and nutrition. An interactive map, available on the county’s home page, helps people to find the closest food distribution site from more than 80 participating locations, such as the Seton Center, churches and schools. For more information, go to www.feedingfrederick.com. Our Senior Services Division delivered groceries to seniors and expanded food delivery by over 600%.

Some of our local and small businesses also needed a hand up during a most difficult time. Frederick County distributed over $17 million in grant support to our local businesses and agriculture community, including childcare providers, restaurants and hospitality businesses, and small main street businesses. These efforts have helped our community’s economic recovery.

Economy

While some industry sectors and businesses have struggled during the pandemic, Frederick County’s economy has weathered the storm. We actually experienced strong and stable revenue growth, including in the life science and technology sectors, robust construction, stable manufacturing, and an incredible amount of new economic development interest. Why is Frederick County doing so well? Because our businesses know what we know. Frederick County is a great place to do business! Even during a pandemic, we saw new businesses launch, existing businesses expand, and new companies relocate to Frederick County and in our towns.

An Australian company, Ellume, announced plans to open their first manufacturing facility in the United States, and they chose Frederick County. Over time, Ellume will add about 1,500 jobs making diagnostic kits for infectious diseases, including at-home tests for COVID-19.

We also laid the groundwork to create a Mobile Career Center. The high-tech van will bring technology and training for job searches to the rural areas of our county, where people may not have access to reliable broadband or transportation. We are also working on plans to expand broadband to unserved and underserved parts of the county.

Agriculture

One of my priorities is to ensure that we leave a legacy of agriculture for future generations. Frederick County farmers proudly produce food and fiber for our region. To make sure our rich history of agriculture remains part of our bright future, we launched our first-ever Agriculture Innovation Grant Program this year. The program, which helps farmers to diversify, was recognized with a Sustainability Award for Conservation from the Maryland Department of Planning in December.

Leaving a legacy of agriculture means not only making sure that agriculture remains an economically viable industry, but we have to preserve our best and most productive farmland for future farming. I often say that what we do outside our growth areas is just as important as what we do inside our growth areas. Our agriculture preservation initiatives have significantly accelerated, adding more than 2,800 acres in the past year. We have now preserved over 70,000 acres!

Education

We know outstanding public education lifts our students, their families, our property values, and ensures our long-term economic prosperity by delivering a well-educated pipeline of workers for the future.

My administration made a record investment of $21.5 million in public education last year. Education is the path to future prosperity. Providing adequate school facilities and addressing school overcrowding is a top priority. School construction and renovation projects continue to move forward. In August, we opened two new schools, and we are advancing a limited renovation project at Thurmont Elementary School.

Frederick County Public Libraries are truly loved by our community. Library services were in high demand during the pandemic, as Frederick County Public Libraries pivoted to expand digital content, online programming and story times, and curbside pick-up. The statistics are amazing: 2.3 million items checked out in person and digitally, including more than half a million items picked up curbside. The library hosted over 140,000 wi-fi sessions, and issued 12,500 new library cards. Close to half of all county residents are active library users!

Equity

We believe every resident should be free to experience the full benefits of living, learning, and enjoying the privileges and opportunities available in Frederick County. This year we formally created the Office of Equity and Inclusion and created an advisory committee to ensure an ongoing community voice.

County Government should lead by example. That is why we launched studies to look at our hiring and procurement processes. We also expanded our program to support minority businesses within our Office of Economic Development.

Finances

Frederick County Government is well-managed and our fiscal outlook is positive. We are investing in what matters – our people, education, public safety, and human needs – and living within our means. The nation’s bond rating agencies reaffirmed Frederick County’s AAA bond rating last year, evidence of our strong fiscal management.

You can watch my State of the County video with more highlights from 2021 on FCG TV or at YouTube.com/FrederickCountyMD.

Have a blessed New Year!