“Navigating Complexity. Embracing Innovation. Driving Impact.” served as the guiding theme for the 2026 Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) Annual Conference. This year’s gathering brought together economic development professionals, policymakers, and community leaders from across the state to examine the evolving challenges and opportunities shaping Maryland’s economic future. For the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development (DED), participation in MEDA’s annual conference remains an important opportunity to stay informed on statewide initiatives, strengthen professional partnerships, and bring innovative strategies back to Frederick. MEDA continues to play a critical role in supporting Maryland’s economic development community through advocacy, education, and collaboration that empowers local jurisdictions to foster sustainable growth.
Throughout the conference, a dynamic lineup of sessions and panels offered timely insights into the policies and trends influencing communities across Maryland. The Secretaries Panel provided direct perspectives from state agency leadership on economic priorities, housing, and workforce development, while the Young Leaders reflective session emphasized the importance of mentoring and cultivating the next generation of economic development professionals. One of the conference’s standout sessions, “Economic Outlook: First Brood,” featured Tom Sadowski and renowned economist Anirban Basu, whose analysis offered attendees a deeper understanding of current economic pressures, market trends, and long-term outlooks impacting both local and regional economies. Combined with impactful keynote speakers, these sessions provided valuable education on the importance of resilience, innovation, and strategy in today’s increasingly complex economic environment.
Rock Hall Tour
Attendees also had the opportunity to attend an off-site tour of Rock Hall, led in partnership with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. The visit highlighted the successes of Main Street revitalization, heritage tourism, and community-driven economic development in one of Maryland’s distinctive waterfront communities. Exploring Rock Hall’s revitalized downtown and learning about strategic investments showed successful examples of placemaking and revitalization that can inspire similar efforts in communities across the state.
Luncheon & Secretaries Panel
The Annual Conference Luncheon & Secretaries Panel brought together state secretaries and deputy secretaries from Maryland’s most impactful agencies to drive home the critical role economic developers play as architects of systemic change. There, a unified message that transformation requires coordination across agencies, sectors, and levels of government resonated. Reshaping Maryland’s economic landscape requires vision that empowers local governments, state agencies, and economic development organizations to create communities designed for future generations.
(l-r) Allen Etzler, Deputy Chief of Staff, Mary Ford-Naill, Manager of Economic Development, Co-Developer, Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development, Gayon Sampson, City of Frederick Chief of Staff
The conference concluded with the annual MEDA Awards Ceremony, celebrating outstanding achievements in economic development throughout Maryland. Frederick’s own Visitation Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, was recognized among this year’s award recipients, highlighting the city’s continued leadership in adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and transformative redevelopment. As DED reflects on the insights and connections gained from this year’s conference, the department remains committed to applying these lessons to support Frederick’s business community and long-term prosperity.
Businesses and stakeholders are encouraged to connect with DED and learn more about ongoing initiatives by visiting the Department of Economic Development’s website.