The Frederick Arts Council is working with award-winning artist Wing Young Huie on Golden Mile – In Focus – a public art project which will cover Frederick’s Golden Mile and open this June.
We are asking businesses if they would be interested in participating by providing exhibition space —either outdoor space on your building or outdoor space in windows or on walls of your business and/or property. Sponsoring this prominent public exhibition will provide your company with local and regional exposure.
Golden Mile – In Focus will adorn blank walls and buildings throughout Frederick and welcome visitors to the city. The images displayed on large prints, banners and billboards will portray the Frederick community and reflect their interest in the arts This project will not only cultivate the creative capacity and voice of the surrounding community, but it will also promote the Golden Mile as a cultural and economic destination, resulting in strengthened civic and social networks and connections within and across communities.. Current sponsors include 3M and SMI signs.
If you are interested, please write or e-mail the Frederick Art Council, 11 West Patrick Street, Suite 201, Frederick MD 21701 or www.frederickartscouncil.org . The Frederick Art Council will provide a Sponsorship Benefits Package.
Frederick County businesses can now apply for a grant to help them recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Ogden Newspapers Inc., the parent company of The Frederick News-Post, has established a $1 million fund to help local businesses get back to full strength by subsidizing local marketing efforts through matching advertising dollars.
“We know businesses and workers here are hurting; we’re hurting, too,” said Geordie Wilson, publisher of The News-Post. “But if we can pull together as a community, we can weather this. Here at The News-Post, we want to do everything we can to help everyone get through the pandemic and get back to work. With these matching grants, we can help local businesses tell their story as they rebuild.”
Businesses operating in the Frederick market can apply for a grant of up to $15,000 today at ogdennews.com/community-grant. Applicants will receive a response to their application within one to two business days.
The fund is open to all locally owned and operated businesses affected by the coronavirus, Wilson said, whether or not they are current News-Post advertisers. Grant money can be used for local print and online advertising in The News-Post and at FrederickNewsPost.com between April 1 and June 30, 2020.
A micro-grant program activated by funds from the Department of Economic Development to assist small businesses in The City of Frederick impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and affiliated State Executive Orders *
Program Overview:
One-time grant award of $2,500 with no repayment due (This is not a loan)
Limited to one award per business entity
Eligible grant uses: building rent; mortgage payments; utilities
Criteria for Eligible Businesses:
Must be a registered business entity in good standing with the State of Maryland
Have physical establishment within The City of Frederick
Have no more than 15 Full-Time employees (as of March 1, 2020)
Engaged in activities currently regulated or impacted by the COVID-19 Maryland’s State of Emergency and have a license/permit associated to that regulation
Have no pre-existing tax liens or legal judgements
Demonstrate a loss of business revenue of 50% or more related to COVID-19
A PDF version of the application is available by request.
Applications will be processed on a first come, first serve basis – with five initial grants designated for each City business district (North, South, East, West, & Downtown) through April 15, 2020. After April 15, micro-grants will be awarded to eligible businesses in order of application submission, regardless of business location.
Applications will be reviewed by the Department of Economic Development staff.
Additional Information:
This funding CAN be combined with other funding sources, tax credit programs, and state grant or loan programs.
Awardees will be required to complete a disbursement form and must be able to produce receipts.
Awardees will agree to report basic employment and business data for up to 2 years after the grant is issued so the program can track progress and success.
Private donations to assist this program can be made through the Community Foundation’s Economic Development Fund.
Awardees consent to be included in marketing and promotional materials.
Questions?
Contact the Department of Economic Development at 301-600-6360 or at business@cityoffrederickmd.govfor additional information.
Maryland has authorized $130 million in loan and grant funding for small businesses and manufacturers that have been negatively impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). This emergency assistance provides interim relief and proceeds that can be used to pay cash operating expenses including payroll, suppliers, rent, fixed debt payments and other mission critical cash operating costs.
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The State of Maryland has also announced a new “COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund” designed to support businesses undergoing economic stresses due to the pandemic by preventing or minimizing the duration of unemployment resulting from layoffs. The award (up to $50,000 per applicant), will be a quick deployable benefit and customizable to the specific needs of your business to minimize the need for layoffs.
More information can be found here:http://www.labor.maryland.gov/employment/covidlafund.shtml
We’ve been notified that Frederick County businesses and nonprofits are now eligible to apply for emergency loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA). This program designation recognizes the catastrophic impact that shutdowns are having resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic.
This program, administered by the SBA, offers emergency loans at a deeply discounted interest rates for businesses and nonprofits covered by national declarations. Currently, Frederick County is covered because of our contiguous border with PA and VA, but a statewide declaration is also anticipated for all of Maryland.
Unlike other situations, a business does NOT need to have been turned down by a commercial lender in order to apply.
The process takes some patience and time, but for our members struggling with both short and long term financial issues through no fault of their own, this program could offer critical assistance.
