A YEAR IN REVIEW
JULY 2023 – JUNE 2024
YEAR IN REVIEW
Launched a pallet pick-up program for downtown businesses
Rolled out a new informational kiosk to use during events and weekends
DOWNTOWN FREDERICK AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
Ambassadors help keep Downtown Frederick a safe and beautiful destination all year long. This team works 5 days a week, providing essential functions like cleaning downtown sidewalks, providing directions and information to visitors, removing graffiti and stickers, pulling weeds in public spaces, and so much more.
Recycled 87 pounds of cigarette butt litter
JULY 2023 JUNE 2024
11,758 BLOCK FACES CLEANED
189 GRAFFITI TAGS REMOVED
1,660 BAGS OF TRASH REMOVED
2,269 PEOPLE USED HOSPITALITY SERVICES
209 HRS OF POWER WASHING
3,286 BUSINESS CONTACTS MADE
THE DESIGN COMMITTEE
works with numerous community partners to address key planning issues that set Downtown Frederick apart. The committee encourages attractive storefronts, revitalized facades, clean sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly amenities.
PLACEMAKING & BEAUTIFICATION INITIATIVES
Expanded the Downtown Light Walk with two new lighting installations for the winter season – Disco Garage and Snowfall
Added string lights to the Carroll Creek Trellis, creating a welcoming space for community gatherings and events
Recruited 304 volunteers to sweep sidewalks, pick up trash and mulch more than 700 tree wells during the Partnership’s annual volunteer cleanup day, Bring A Broom Saturday
Secured critical financial partnerships to narrow the funding gap for Seventh Street Fountain Park improvements, including support from the Partnership’s first-ever Legislative Bond Initiative and the National Endowment for the Arts
INVESTING IN THE DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
Worked with a consultant to identify sustainable funding sources to support the Ambassador Program for the long-term
Focused on addressing the threat of fire, offering a $25,000 Fire Suppression Grant Program and working with Preservation Maryland to build a case study advocating for increased funding for sprinklers in historic buildings statewide
Provided $43,609 to downtown businesses to enhance their storefronts through the Facade Improvement Program
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
The Partnership is fully invested in Downtown Frederick, advocating for policies that enhance downtown as a place to live and do business. In the past year, major initiatives included:
Downtown Streetscape Plan –completed the Partnership’s first-ever Congressionally Directed Spending Request, seeking $4M to support future streetscape improvements
Carroll Creek Wayfinding –worked with the City of Frederick and Visit Frederick to design wayfinding along Carroll Creek, the most-visited tourism destination in Frederick County
Future Development –advocated for integration of the Brickworks development with the existing fabric of downtown
THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
provides Downtown Frederick’s new and existing businesses with the incentives, tools and resources they need to thrive. The committee focuses on creating a supportive environment for the entrepreneurs and innovators that drive the downtown economy.
SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES
Granted $25,000 furnished by the Dakota James Foundation to purchase security cameras for downtown businesses and the City of Frederick Police Department
Proactively met with business owners to check-in and discuss current challenges
Working to provide more support for new businesses:
Assisted City of Frederick with content for a New Business Start Up Guide
Began efforts to launch a small-scale food hall, which will provide an affordable way for diverse entrepreneurs to launch their food-based business in downtown (applied for $560,000 in funding to support the project)
Advocated for the downtown business community on complex issues, including the City's Plastic Bag Ordinance, parking fee changes, and increased private for-profit vendor markets along Carroll Creek
Helped businesses through crisis, launching crowd-sourced fundraising campaigns to support businesses impacted by fire
Grew the downtown workforce, promoting 63 jobs on the Partnership website and attending career and internship fairs at local colleges
Provided educational resources for downtown businesses, hosting free Competitive Edge workshops about AI for small business, sales training and a trip to Annapolis to explore their policies around outdoor dining, public parking, marketing and business incentives
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
The Partnership co-manages the Downtown Frederick Arts & Entertainment District with the Frederick Arts Council.
The district provides:
• tax deductions for eligible artists
• exemption from state admission and amusement tax for certified arts activities
• property tax credit for buildings renovated or constructed for an arts related use
DATA & INSIGHTS
Each year, the Partnership administers a Business Performance Survey to gain insights into the downtown economy, providing a unique opportunity to gauge the health of the Downtown Frederick business community and effectiveness of the Partnership.
49% of businesses rated their revenue performance as excellent or above average (51% in 2022 and 47% in 2019)
63% of businesses reported increased or steady profits compared to 2022
69% of respondents felt that the overall economic climate for businesses like theirs would be good or very good in the coming year
92% of businesses say they are likely to stay in their downtown location
KEEPING DOWNTOWN FREDERICK FUN AND FRESH IS THE MANTRA OF THE PROMOTION COMMITTEE
THE PROMOTION COMMITTEE
spends hundreds of hours organizing and executing events like First Saturday, Alive @ Five and Frosty Friday that make Downtown Frederick a vibrant destination and a fun place to live.
MARKETING THE MAGIC OF DOWNTOWN
Led the creation of a streaming ad campaign featuring all the Frederick County Main Street communities
Partnered with Heritage Frederick to create a historic building content series that highlights the unique histories of downtown commercial properties
Launched the Voices of Downtown Frederick blog series to celebrate the many cultures that call downtown home:
Pride: Unique, Beautiful and Authentic Frederick
Bringing World Culture to Downtown Frederick Living in Color
Breaking Barriers and Building Community: The Rise of Black Entrepreneurs in Downtown Frederick
A Little Bit of Sabor, a Whole Lot of Satisfaction
Placed more than $115,000 in advertising to promote Downtown Frederick as a vibrant destination
PROMOTING SMALL BUSINESSES
Held monthly meetings to provide downtown businesses with a chance to network, brainstorm ideas and stay up to date on current news and issues
Helped keep storefronts looking fresh by coordinating orders for holiday lights and springtime flowers
Provided custom holiday shopping bags at no cost to downtown businesses
Sold 500 Craft Beverage Passports, featuring 23 wineries, breweries and distilleries with the Frederick County Office of Economic Development
Curated a Weekly Top 5 to promote events at downtown businesses
Generated more than $260,000 of spending at downtown businesses through the Downtown Frederick Gift Card program
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Expanded Frederick Restaurant Week to a two-week long experience – Bites & Bevs
Welcomed 1,500 people to the Lawn Party at the High Wheel
Promoted downtown galleries with a monthly Sunday Art Walk
Featured 131 ice sculptures and added the first-ever Ice Putt Putt Course and Polar Lounge ice curtain to February First Saturday: Fire in Ice
Hired 82 local musicians and entertainers to perform during First Saturday events
Developed 6 brand-new events (see page 8)
Provided support for community partner events, including the Black Frederick Festival, Thai Water Festival, Hispanic Heritage Festival, Acton Children’s Business Fair and the Asia on the Creek event series
17,578 ATTENDEES DURING THE 2023 SEASON
80 FRIENDS OF ALIVE @ FIVE SEASON PASS HOLDERS ALIVE @ FIVE IS THE PARTNERSHIP’S LARGEST FUNDRAISER All proceeds are reinvested into the downtown community through the Partnership’s work.
NEW THIS YEAR
DOWNTOWN FREDERICK PARTNERSHIP
946 VOLUNTEERS WORKED 1,603 HOURS
$138,957 SPONSOR DOLLARS RAISED IN 2023
$235,000 EARNED FOR DOWNTOWN FREDERICK (NET PROCEEDS)
To help reduce waste, the Partnership started a cup recycling program with the support of 42 dedicated volunteers 30,650 cups recycled (1,000 pounds of waste diverted from the landfill)
Released limited-edition Alive @ Five t-shirts
Added more free fitness, wellness and dance classes led by local instructors
NEW EVENTS
The Partnership is excited to launch six new events in FY2025!
Fall Fest in Everedy Square & Shab Row • September 27-29, 2024
Fall-themed shopping & family fun all weekend long
Uptown Salsa Night • October 5, 2024
Dance under the stars to the rhythms of salsa and other Latin beats
Frederick @ Night • November 8, 2024
Kick off the holiday season with lights & decorations
Love Local Tour • December 10, 2024
Weeknight holiday shopping featuring Frederick collectibles, perfect for locals
Spring Fling on Patrick • May 2, 2025
Spring blooms, shopping and local love on Patrick Street
Artopia • June 14, 2025
Watch downtown come alive with life-size canvases, sidewalk chalk and art at every corner
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THE ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE
is focused on creating a strong foundation for the Partnership by cultivating the partnerships, community involvement and resources that are necessary to achieve our goals.
BETTER CITIES FILM FESTIVAL
Welcomed 200 people to the first-ever Downtown Frederick Better Cities Film Festival for a night of learning and dreaming big
Screened 19 films from all around the world on topics of placemaking, urban planning and design, transportation and infrastructure, community development, art and entrepreneurism
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Became the nonprofit partner for The Black Pearl, Oldetowne Landscape Architects’ boat in Sailing Through the Winter Solstice
Organized a first-look tour of the new Visitation Hotel exclusively for attendees of the Downtown Friends Bash
Featured as Nonprofit of the Day at the Frederick Flying Cows' final game of the season
HOLIDAY LIGHTS
Installed holiday lights on 175 trees along Market and Patrick Streets, recruiting 82 sponsors and raising $113,000 to support the project – a joint effort between the City of Frederick and the Partnership
VOLUNTEERS
Organized 3,563 volunteer hours in support of the Partnership’s committees and events, valued at more than $119,000 to the downtown community
INCOME
EXPENSES
For over thirty years, the Partnership has been working hard to improve Downtown Frederick.
We implement the Main Street Program, which grew out of the historic preservation movement of the 1960’s. This work is based on the theory that a community’s most valuable asset is its unique sense of place. The architecture, the people, the businesses, the art – it all adds
The Partnership’s work demonstrates our commitment to protecting the unique sense of place that Downtown Frederick already offers, and being intentional in how we grow and what we do next. From providing decades of community events and programming, to spearheading public art installations and providing small business support, we strive to make our city a better place. Thank you for supporting our work, and for helping Downtown Frederick become a thriving,
Pledge your support for FY2025 or donate today at downtownfrederick.org/donate
The Partnership’s work would not be possible without the generous support of so many investors,
LOOK INSIDE TO VIEW THIS YEAR’S INVESTORS AND SPONSORS.
