(10/29) Community Partnership Grant Program Expands

Frederick County’s Community Partnership Grant Program will open to a broader range of local nonprofit organizations, Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced today. The competitive grant program provides funding to nonprofit groups that serve the needs of county residents. The county has expanded the program for the upcoming grant cycle, with new priority funding areas.

"I am excited to open up the Community Partnership Grants process to more nonprofits," County Executive Fitzwater said. "For the last nine years, the program has provided strategic support for our human service agencies. We are building on that structure so all community groups have the same opportunity to apply for funding and be held accountable to the same standards."

Grants for the Fiscal Year 2025 cycle will be focused on the following priorities:

• Housing initiatives, including affordable housing and initiatives to help people age in place;
• Addressing Homelessness and housing insecurity;
• Quality of Life initiatives, including support for seniors, youth support and engagement, recreation, and transportation innovation;
• Health and Human Services, such as programs addressing mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse prevention and intervention, and maternal health; and
• Arts and the Creative Economy including organizations expanding access to cultural enrichment and providing community arts and culture programming.

Applications will be accepted from eligible nonprofit organizations, with a limit of one application per organization. There will be one common application for all priority areas. The link to the online application portal will be available Monday, Nov. 27, at FrederickCountyMD.gov/CPG.

The deadline to submit an application is 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Final funding awards will be considered in the county budget process and announced in April 2024, with funding available beginning July 1. An information session will be held for prospective applicants on Nov. 7, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the first floor hearing room of Winchester Hall. All returning and new applicants are encouraged to attend to hear program updates and application changes, and to get their questions answered.

To better reflect the diverse priority funding areas and align with other Frederick County Government grant programs, the administration of the program has moved to the Division of Finance through the Office of Procurement and Contracting. For more information, visit FrederickCountyMD.gov/CPG, or email questions to CPG@frederickcountymd.gov.

Frederick County Launches Real-Time Air Quality Monitoring Network

The Frederick County Division of Energy & Environment (DEE) has introduced a network of air quality monitors to be stationed around the County. The new system will provide real-time assessments of fine particulate matter concentrations in our air. Examples of fine particulate matter include microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are small enough to be inhaled and go deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing serious health problems. The DEE has initiated this project to track local air pollution, especially in high-risk regions and where people may not be able to respond to air quality problems.

Maryland Secretary of the Environment Serena McIlwain and her staff recently visited one of the County's new air quality monitoring sites. "It was great to host Secretary McIlwain and highlight how Frederick County is working to tackle environmental justice issues. I am proud of the work the DEE is doing to collect and share data to address health and environmental disparities in our community," said County Executive Jessica Fitzwater.

Air quality concerns can vary significantly within a region. To protect those most exposed to poor air quality, the County intends to place at least five of the twelve new air monitors in areas with low-income or disadvantaged populations. These residents are more likely to be affected by air quality issues and may have fewer resources to address them. According to Tiara Lester, Frederick County's Sustainability Program Administrator, "Last summer, smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed our region and briefly drew many people's attention to the issue of air quality. But many people experience similar air quality issues most or all the time." Neighborhoods bordering industrial operations can be continually exposed to particulates in the air. And those who live or work near busy roads may breathe in many different pollutants regularly.

A key goal of this project is to better understand the air quality of specific areas in Frederick County and to make that information readily accessible to the public. The manufacturer of the air sensors provides an interactive online map that allows the public to easily access air quality data. The map allows users to zoom out and view the big picture of air quality in our region or zoom in for readings from a single air quality monitor.

Two monitoring stations have been installed in the County, one at the County Division of Housing's facility on Sagner Avenue and one at the City of Brunswick's Milton Frech Operations Center. "We are honored to lead the way in Frederick County by being the first municipality to join the air quality monitoring network," said Jeremy Mose, Brunswick's Assistant City Administrator. "This program will help us track and reduce the sources of air pollution that threaten our health and environment."

The project provides the opportunity for collaboration among County government agencies and external community-based organizations. Project partners include the City of Brunswick, the City of Frederick, the Frederick County Sustainability Commission, Mobilize Frederick, the Frederick County Health Department, and the Frederick County Family Services Division. The Frederick County Division of Energy and Environment is committed to creating a healthier, sustainable, and more equitable community for all. For more information on their other projects and programs, please visit their website at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/DEE

Frederick County to Release Business Sentiment Survey

The Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED) is asking businesses to participate in a business sentiment survey to gain insight into what potential resources are needed in the local business community, and which current resources business owners are aware of. All businesses located in the county are encouraged to participate and share their thoughts on doing business in Frederick County and the future of their establishments. The survey will be open to all businesses now through Nov. 5. To participate in the Frederick County Office of Economic Development Business Sentiment Survey, please use the link or scan the QR code

FCOED will announce the results of the survey in early 2024 and use those results to guide the direction of programming and resources for the Frederick County business community. "This survey will give us valuable insight into the issues our local businesses face, and will help shape future resources and how they are made available to those businesses," says Frederick County Division of Economic Opportunity Director Lara Fritts. "We want Frederick County businesses to know that we hear their concerns and we are here to support them any way we can. Taking a few minutes out of your day to complete this survey will truly make a difference."

The Frederick County Office of Economic Development serves as the primary contact for businesses to start, locate and expand. We do this by connecting them with Federal, State, and local resources. We assist in site selection, workforce recruitment and training, incentives, marketing and more.

For more information, businesses can reach out to BEACON at Salisbury University at 410-546-6001 or by email using Beacon@Salisbury.edu regarding any questions or concerns.

Annual Application Period Open for Creek ReLeaf Reforestation Program

The Frederick County Division of Energy and Environment (DEE) has opened its annual application period for participation in the Creek ReLeaf reforestation program. Property owners interested in having native trees planted on their land may apply between October 15 and December 30. Since the program's inception in 2018, Creek ReLeaf has helped local landowners enhance the environmental quality of more than 480 acres.

A goal of DEE's Department of Stormwater is to increase forested land in Frederick County. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recognized the importance of this work and awarded DEE a $1,050,717 grant from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund. This funding will help expand the County's reek ReLeaf Program, and local landowners are encouraged to consider their property for participation.

Properties included in the Creek ReLeaf program receive considerable benefits at no cost to the landowner. In support of the County’s reforestation goals, the Creek ReLeaf program creates permanent conservation easements for the selected parcels. Then, specialists perform a land assessment, develop a planting plan, install a variety of native trees, and provide five years of mowing and maintenance to help establish the forest. The landowner receives a one-time payment for the conservation easement placed on the planted parcel.

Reforestation initiatives achieve more than just planting trees - they are a crucial investment that protects a community's health, safety, and prosperity for generations. While individual Creek ReLeaf projects directly benefit the participating landowners, the overall program has a tremendous positive impact on our regional watershed. Forested land provides better stormwater control, prevents soil erosion, and reduces the risk of flooding. Trees filter air and water pollutants, sequester atmospheric carbon, and have a positive effect on microclimate temperatures. In addition to providing beauty and recreational enjoyment for humans, forests increase biodiversity and provide food and habitat critical for wildlife.

Information about Creek ReLeaf is available on DEE's website www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/CreekReLeaf. Applicants may apply online or contact Program Manager Linda Williamson for assistance at 240-608-7426 or via email to LWilliamson1@FrederickCountyMD.gov. Those interested in staying up to date on the County's efforts to provide ecological restoration and environmental resilience can join the @SustainableFCMD community conversations on Facebook and Instagram.

Child Care Gap for Young Children Forecast to Widen by 2035

The child care gap for young children is projected to widen over the next 10 years, at the same time that the business climate for child care providers continues to be challenging, according to preliminary findings from the Frederick County Child Care Market Study. The study led by the Frederick County Office for Children and Families is being conducted by Public Policy Associates and Solomon Evaluation.

The population of young children in Frederick County will increase through 2035, while child care slots decline. The decline is primarily among home-based child care providers, continuing a pre-pandemic trend.

"The greater impact is on families with infants because over 50% of the licensed infant slots are in home-based child care settings. The decline also disproportionally affects different parts of the county. For example 30% of child care slots in the northern part of the county are home-based, but just 17% in the southeastern part" said Shira Solomon, principal of Solomon Evaluation.

Child care businesses are vital for other businesses to have and retain their workforce. But child care providers report a very challenging business climate, according to the Study.

"The pressure on child care business – many of which are very small – is enormous. Thirty-five percent of the providers who responded to the survey said their businesses are not financially stable," said Shelly Toms, director of the Office for Children and Families.

High quality child care contributes to building healthy brains in young children and prepares them for kindergarten. Formal child care is licensed and required to meet certain staffing and other quality requirements.

"Our analysis has shown that formal care prior to kindergarten can make a big difference in readiness for all children but especially for English Learners and Hispanic children," said Rebecca Frausel, Ph.D., senior research associate at Public Policy Associates.

The study will identify child care provider and family needs and inform the County on ways to look at innovative strategies to sustain a strong child care system and improve child care access. The study is funded by an American Rescue Plan Act grant. For more information about the project and information on Community Information and Input Sessions scheduled for November 15 for families and December 6 for businesses and employers, see www.publicpolicy.com/FrederickCoStudy.