GOVERNMENT & EDUCATION
Town of Emmitsburg
WHEN IT COMES TO BEING A LEADER IN SUSTAINABILITY, Emmitsburg is the little town that could. Nearly 95 percent of the town’s government facilities, including its wastewater treatment plant, are powered by solar energy, and all its streetlights use energy-saving LED light bulbs. The town has also installed a new voltage optimization system that saves on power consumption by reducing excess voltage. These efforts have enabled Emmitsburg to cut its energy bills in half. A new solar-powered algae filtration system at Rainbow Lake should reclaim nearly 642,000 gallons of water a month and reduce the town’s reliance on local wells. It will also significantly reduce Emmitsburg’s use of water treatment chemicals. Emmitsburg’s efforts at sustainability extend beyond power consumption, however. The town has launched a campaign to bring more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly amenities to the area around its main intersection at Seton Avenue and Main Street. The “Let’s Move” effort calls for more than 3,000 linear feet of new sidewalks in and around the Town Square, as well as new nearby mountain bike trails and a dog park. In recognition of these efforts, Emmitsburg has been named a certified Maryland Sustainable Community by Sustainable Maryland and has received the 2017 Maryland Green Registry Leadership Award. “Our goal is to use what we need so we can save for future generations,” said Mayor Donald N. Briggs. “We like to say that, in Emmitsburg, every day is Earth Day.”
Frederick County Teachers Association
300A S. Seton Avenue Emmitsburg 21727 301-600-6300 www.emmitsburgmd.gov info@emmitsburgmd.gov
City of Frederick
Department of Economic Development
EVERY TEACHER IS A LEADER, according to Missy Dirks, president of the Frederick County Teachers Association. Dirks—who is in her second year of a four-year term—said FCTA’s core mission is to empower the county’s educators to ensure an excellent and equitable public education for all students. That is accomplished, in part, she said, through free professional development opportunities available to FCTA’s nearly 2,800 members. Dirks, a longtime elementary school art teacher, said FCTA holds an annual leadership retreat to help grow the next generation of FCTA leadership and provide teachers with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom. Other than Dirks, members of the organization’s board are fulltime teachers. “Leadership is about how you can make those around you be their best and achieve their highest potential,” she said. “We are constantly working to help all of our members be the best that they can be.”
THE CITY OF FREDERICK’S Department of Economic Development is uniquely experienced to assist business owners with resources to help businesses locate, grow and thrive. “Every day, our office connects entrepreneurs and companies with resources and start-up information,” said Richard Griffin, director of Economic Development for The City of Frederick. Frederick continues to grow as an attractive community for businesses of all sizes, said Griffin. “In Frederick, businesses find a talented and well-educated workforce, easy access to both D.C. and Baltimore, and a quality of life that is outstanding,” he added. The city’s vibrant economic climate is bolstered by a concentration of bioscience and advanced technology companies, professional services and tourism. Historic Downtown Frederick, with a variety of shops and restaurants, serves as a hub for residents, businesses and visitors. “We are here to support all businesses that want to open and grow in Frederick,” said Griffin. Contact Frederick’s Department of Economic Development to learn how its team can help your business thrive.
1 Wormans Mill Court, Suite 16 Frederick 21701 301-662-9077 mdirks@mseanea.org myfcta.org
101 N. Court Street Frederick 21701 301-600-6360 businessinfrederick.com thrive@cityoffrederick.com
A PUBLICATION OF THE FREDERICK COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE FREDERICK NEWS-POST | P R O G R E S S 2 0 1 7
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