SelectUSA: Showcasing Frederick to International Companies

In May, the City and County of Frederick Economic Development teams participated in Select USA Investment Summit, hosted at National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The annual conference is designed to attract international businesses and support their transition into the U.S. market by connecting them with incubators, incentive programs, commercial real estate opportunities, local business networks, and government contracting resources. Over the course of three days, Frederick’s economic development representatives met with international business delegations, site selection consultants, service providers, and fellow economic development organizations from across the world to share Frederick’s story and highlight the community’s strengths as a place to invest, innovate, and grow.

Prior to the conference, Frederick hosted a SelectUSA spinoff tour, during which approximately a dozen international entrepreneurs representing a variety of industries visited Frederick City and County. During their visit, the entrepreneurs toured local biotech and tech companies, met with community and business leaders, and engaged with key stakeholders to better understand the advantages of establishing and expanding operations in Frederick. The tour provided an opportunity to showcase Frederick’s collaborative business environment, strategic location, highly educated workforce, and strong quality of life.

Frederick offers a unique combination of resources, location, culture, and community appeal that makes it the perfect spot for U.S. expansion. Through our alignment with the Maryland Soft Landing Program, international companies get the opportunity to test out the U.S. market at an affordable rate by partnering them with companies to provide access to facilities, resources, advisors, and more. Frederick’s soft-landing incubator, the Frederick Innovation and Technology Center (FITCI), fosters innovation and supports entrepreneurial success by providing world-class resources, coaching, connections, customers, and a vibrant community. This program aims to bridge the gap between global innovators and the U.S. market by leveraging FITCI’s diverse community, CEO Roundtables, and Frederick’s thriving business and social ecosystems. You can learn more about the Maryland Soft Landing Program and FITCI here.

Photo of City Economic Development Team attending SelectUSA Summit

The City, County and State economic development teams work collaboratively with prospects to provide connectivity to programs and resources as well as to support partnering and innovation within the biotech ecosystem. Participation in events like SelectUSA plays an important role in supporting a strong, resilient, and diverse local economy. By building relationships with international companies and industry leaders, Frederick continues to position itself as a competitive destination for investment and job creation. These efforts help strengthen the community’s economic foundation, support opportunities for residents and businesses alike, and contribute to maintaining the high quality of life that makes Frederick such a desirable place to live and work.

To connect with our city, county, and state economic development team and explore international opportunities, you may arrange a meeting with us here.

Frederick's First Spanish Business Mentorship Program

The first ever Spanish speaking business mentorship program Visión Empresarial is a Spanish business mentorship program offered by Centro Hispano de Frederick in close collaboration with Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED), the City of Frederick’s Department of Economic Development (DED), the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Maryland Small Business Development Center. Tailored specifically for Spanish speaking entrepreneurs, this six-week program, modeled after FCOED’s EmPOWER Mentorship program, equips aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs with practical skills to grow and strengthen their business. This program is a collaborative effort led by local partners committed to supporting Fredrick’s small business community, providing participants with hands-on guidance, mentorship, and tools they can immediately apply to their ventures.  In investing both financial resources and staff support, the City helps ensure that aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs have access to the guidance, training, and connections they need to grow successful businesses.

Heather Gramm, Director of Frederick County Division of Economic Opportunity said, “Frederick County has offered the EmPOWER Mentorship Program for several years now with great success. This year we were excited to collaborate with community partners and be able to offer the same impactful program in Spanish. This expansion into Spanish-language programming reflects our commitment to ensuring that all Frederick County residents have access to the tools and support they need to build successful businesses. Between the knowledge and skills they’ve built over the past six weeks, the support of their fellow entrepreneurs, and the opportunity to utilize the EmPOWER Loan Program, this cohort is well-positioned to grow and thrive as business owners in Frederick County.”

Visión Empresarial began as an idea from Ariel Rodriguez Mercado, Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor for Northwest Mutual. This concept began to take shape when he shared this vision with other community partners like Dr. Suzanne Salichs and Dan Blum with Centro Hispano, and Patricia Mir with the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, among others.

“Vision Empresarial is a true collaborative effort; the team at Centro Hispano and Maryland Hispanic Chamber of commerce, led by Dr. Suzanne Salichs and Patricia Mir, played a major role in refining, developing, and executing the program into what it is today. Their leadership and commitment, along with the support of many community partners, helped transform an idea into a meaningful initiative for Frederick's Hispanic business community.

As I reflect on the journey of Vision Empresarial, I am incredibly excited about what lies ahead and the impact this program can continue to have on our community. What began as a simple idea has grown into something meaningful, empowering entrepreneurs with knowledge, confidence, and connections. The success of our first cohort is a testament to the power of collaboration, and I truly believe this is only the beginning of even greater opportunities ahead. Vision creates opportunity; collaboration turns it into reality." - Ariel Rodriguez Mercado

During the six-week course term, participants attended workshops led by the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the program’s state partner, who delivered instruction on key business fundamentals such as planning, marketing strategies, financial management, and operations. These sessions are designed to give entrepreneurs the confidence and knowledge needed to navigate common business challenges while building a strong foundation for long-term success, and reviewed these topics:

• Introduction to Entrepreneurship 

• Planning for Your Business

• Managing Your Business 

• Marketing Your Business 

• Growing Your Business

• Doing Business in Frederick/Graduation

The program concluded with a graduation celebration that featured a pitch round for the participants, presentations and support from community partners including insights from city and county economic development on business resources and tools available to local entrepreneurs. Dr. Suzanne Salichs, Ph.D., Executive Director for Centro Hispano, was pivotal in the program’s creation and design. She says of the course, “Centro Hispano’s Mentoría Visión Empresarial was an amazing collaboration. It was exciting to see the business owners engaging, learning, and networking. We appreciate the support and are excited to see the program grow and serve more of our local business owners.” Centro Hispano de Frederick hopes to build on this cohort’s momentum and continue the mission expanding access to entrepreneurship education and support across the community.

The City of Frederick supports programs like Visión Empresarial that strengthen the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Andie Feldman, Economic Development Specialist (Bilingual) says, "This program demonstrates how intentional investments in language accessibility can drive economic development. Recently the Department has added bilingual capacity to their team to expand our outreach, provide more meaningful support to Latino entrepreneurs, and help more businesses access the tools and mentorship they need to thrive. When more businesses succeed, our entire community benefits through job creation, local investment, and a stronger, and diverse economy."

To learn more about Visión Empresarial and other initiatives that help entrepreneurs grow and succeed, visit the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development’s website.

IEDC Conference in Detroit: A Celebration of Collaboration, Innovation, and Impact

The synergy in Detroit was inspiring as economic developers from across the nation gathered for the 2025 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference. With over 4,500 members, IEDC is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing economic prosperity and quality of life in communities large and small. This year’s conference was a powerful reminder of the transformative work happening across the country—and Frederick is part of that narrative.

A Golden Moment for Frederick

One of the most exciting highlights from the conference was the City of Frederick’s Department of Economic Development receiving a prestigious Gold Award for its collaboration with Frederick Community College and the Frederick County Office of Agriculture. The award recognized the innovative Food Business Entrepreneurship Program, a free initiative that equips aspiring food entrepreneurs with hands-on training in culinary arts, business management, and marketing. Earning top recognition in the Secondary Institution Partnership category, this program combines academic training, industry expertise, and community resources, equipping aspiring food entrepreneurs with the tools to launch and grow successful food businesses—strengthening both Frederick’s food economy and its culture of entrepreneurship.

Hosted at FCC’s Hospitality, Culinary & Tourism Institute (HCTI), the program culminates in a “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition, where participants present their business ideas for funding and mentorship. Thanks to the training received at FCC and the support from City and County teams, several graduates have already launched successful ventures in Frederick—proof that strategic partnerships can spark real economic growth in our community.

2025 IEDC Gold Award Recipients

Economic Development Takeaways from Detroit

Throughout the conference, Detroit itself served as a living case study in urban renewal. Once teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, the city has undergone a remarkable transformation fueled by over $2 billion in public-private investment. From revitalized neighborhoods to a reimagined waterfront along the Detroit River, the city’s renaissance is a testament to the power of collaboration, vision, and long-term commitment.

Conference attendees explored themes that are shaping the future of economic development, including:

• Placemaking & Infrastructure Investment

• Entrepreneurship & Small Business Ecosystems

• Communications & Storytelling for Impact

• Talent & Workforce Transformation

• Innovation & Industry Evolution

• Capital Access for Communities

Additionally, attendees learned about a new tool for measuring impact that will be launched this month.  One of the biggest challenges in economic development is proving impact to stakeholders. To fill this gap, IEDC will be launching the State of the Field Survey Dashboard, a new member-exclusive tool to help organizations better understand and communicate results—an essential step in creating impactful programs, securing support and scaling success.

Maryland in the Mix

The Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) had a strong presence at the conference too, with Frederick represented by both City and County teams. It was energizing to connect with peers, share best practices, and bring home fresh ideas to fuel our local efforts.

MEDA Members at the IEDC Conference in Detroit.

As we look ahead to IEDC’s 100th anniversary celebration in New Orleans next year, the momentum is undeniable. Frederick’s commitment to inclusive growth, entrepreneurial support, and regional collaboration continues to set a high bar—and we’re just getting started.

Whether it’s celebrating award-winning partnerships or learning from Detroit’s bold reinvention, the IEDC Annual Conference reminded us that economic development is more than policy—it’s a “team sport” about people, purpose, and possibility. Frederick is proud to be part of a dynamic community, and we’re excited for what’s next for our businesses. 

To learn more about taking advantage of economic development resources in Frederick, reach out to schedule a meeting with our team today: Schedule Meeting.