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1. Priority Area: Economic Development & Jobs

STATUS: COMPLETED 

• Tax Relief Targeted to ALICE Families 
  • The County Executive and the County Council reduced the tax rate on the County’s lowest income residents in the FY2024 budget to the lowest level allowed by state law. The Division of Energy & Environment’s Power Saver Retrofits program has helped 700 ALICE households reduce their energy cost burden.

STATUS: ONGOING 

• Implement GO Strategy 
  • The Division of Economic Opportunity developed a workplan in the second quarter of 2023 which includes updating the GO Plan to reflect changes in the economy because of the pandemic and continuing to implement the plan. 

STATUS: UNDERWAY 

• Revitalize the B&I Cabinet
  • The Frederick County Council created a Small Business Advisory Commission in 2021. The SBAC met in the second quarter of 2023 to develop its final report. After the SBAC issues its report to the County Council, the County Executive’s Office will issue a call for nominations for members to serve on the new Business & Industry Cabinet.
• Streamline Permitting
  • The County Executive and County Council created two new positions in the FY2024 budget to help residents and businesses navigate the permitting process: A Planning and Permitting Ombudsman and a Small Business Navigator. Those positions were posted in the third quarter of 2023.
• MBE Program
  • The County contracted with a consultant to conduct a disparity study as required by the Supreme Court decision in City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Company as a precursor to establishing a program. The disparity study will be completed in 2024, and the County will use the results to develop a program.
• Procurement Local Businesses
  • The disparity study will include findings on this.
• Creative Economy
  • The County Executive is incorporating the arts into the County’s Community Partnership Grants program, which awards competitive grants to non-profit organizations serving the needs of our residents.
• Place-Based Economic Development
  • The Planning Board adopted a draft of the South Frederick Corridors Plan in April 2023 and received comments from State agencies in May 2023. The Plan involves significant place-based economic development strategies. The Division of Economic Opportunity secured a $100,000 grant from the Maryland Makerspace Initiative Program, which it is using to establish a new makerspace in Frederick County.
• Agricultural Economy
  • The County Executive convened an Agritourism Workgroup in the third quarter of 2023 to review the County’s existing laws and regulations related to agritourism and the County’s existing programs to support agritourism, and to make recommendations to promote agritourism while protecting the health, safety, and quality of life of Frederick County residents. The Workgroup will issue a report no later than December 1, 2023.
• Data Centers
  • The County Executive convened a Data Center Workgroup in the third quarter of 2023 to examine lessons from Northern Virginia’s experience with data centers and consider appropriate locations for data centers; taxation issues related to data centers; water, power, and other infrastructure needs of data centers; community benefits that can be derived from the data center industry; and potential amendments to the County’s critical digital infrastructure law. The workgroup will issue a report no later than January 5, 2024.

STATUS: PENDING 

• Retail Incubator
  

2. Priority Area: Education & Workforce Development

STATUS: ONGOING 

• Recruit & Retain Educators 
  • The County Executive and County Council appropriated $29.2 million in FY2024 to raise salaries for educators, administrators, and support staff – roughly a 6% increase for all employees. The County Executive and County Council appropriated the funds to add 346 full-time employees to FCPS in FY2024, of which 330 work directly with students. The County Executive and County Council also provided support in FY2024 to implement longevity stipends for some FCPS employees, provide stipends for bus drivers and bus assistants, and limit insurance premium increases.
• Student Behavioral Health
  • The County Executive and County Council provided increased funding for special education by approximately $7 million in FY2024 to support the Child Find program and to hire new board-certified behavioral analysts, itinerant special education school therapists, a school psychologist, a pupil personnel worker, and a trauma therapist.

STATUS: UNDERWAY 

• Better Utilize Real Estate
  • Under the direction of the Chief Administrative Officer, County staff are compiling a comprehensive inventory of County-owned buildings and land. Once complete, this inventory will be used to identify opportunities to think creatively about use of County-owned spaces.
• Universal Pre-K Implementation
  • At the August 16 Planning Commission meeting, FCPS staff reported that they have space or have a plan to have space for pre-kindergarten for four-year-olds.
• Comprehensive Workforce Plan Summit
  • The County Executive will convene a workforce summit planning committee in the fourth quarter of 2023 and will host a workforce summit in the first quarter of 2024.
• Apprenticeship and Internships
  • The Division of Public Works Training Program coordinates with the Career & Technology Center and Frederick Community College and currently has employees in the ABC trades. The Division of Human Resources is partnering with FCPS to roll out a County-wide initiative to place students in apprenticeship and internship positions in County government.

STATUS: PENDING 

• Collective Impact Vulnerable Students

3. Priority Area: Government Innovation

STATUS: ONGOING 

• Modernize the Website
  • The County launched a new website in the second quarter of 2023 and is implementing policies and procedures to ensure the content is updated regularly.
• Meet Constituents Where They Are
  • The County Executive held a record number of budget town halls, including one in each councilmanic district and continues to hold community meetings around the County. The County Executive’s workgroups are also holding hearings around the County.

STATUS: UNDERWAY 

• Break Down Siloes
  • The County Executive convenes regular meetings with all division directors where the County’s senior leadership team can inform each other about major initiatives within their divisions and share ideas and information. At the Transition Team meeting in early 2024, the County Executive will highlight specific examples of where County divisions came together around a table to solve problems.
• Enterprise-Wide Approach to Tech
  • Under the supervision of the Chief Administrative Officer, all County divisions are migrating to a technology solution which will provide the backbone of an enterprise-wide approach to technology.
• Data Driven Frederick Partnership
  • The County Executive and the President of Hood College will sign a memorandum of understanding in the fourth quarter of 2023 to formalize a partnership between Frederick County Government and Data Driven Frederick.
• Outcome-Based Budgeting
  • In preparation for the FY2025 budget process, County staff are participating in trainings on outcome-based budgeting. During the FY2025 budget process, the County Executive will pilot outcome-based budgeting in several divisions.
• Enterprise-Wide Approach to Comms
  • The Communications and Public Engagement Office began holding regular meetings with division-level communications staff.

STATUS: PENDING 

• Culture of Innovation
• Modernize Talent Management
• Customer Service Experience

4. Priority Area: Housing & Quality of Life

STATUS: COMPLETED 

• Establish Division of Housing
  • The County Executive created a Division of Housing in FY2024, and the County will hire a new director in the third quarter of 2023.

STATUS: ONGOING

• Link Neighborhoods to Rec Spaces

STATUS: UNDERWAY

• Lead Agency for CoC Collaborative
  • The County is in the process of becoming the lead agency.
• Inventory County-Owned Land
  • Under the supervision of the Chief Administrative Officer, County staff are creating a comprehensive inventory of all County-owned land. This inventory will be used to identify opportunities for creative use of County-owned land, including affordable housing opportunities.
• Service Coordination Model for Seniors
  • The County Executive announced on May 31, 2023, that Frederick County Government will transition to a service coordination model that will help seniors age in place, while continuing to provide subsidies for those who need residential skilled nursing.

STATUS: PENDING 

• Housing Finance
• Housing Preservation Strategy
• Partner w/Munis to Increase Housing
• APFO
• Zoning Ordinance to Reduce Barriers

5. Priority Area: Public Health & Human Services

STATUS: ONGOING 

• Access to Mental Health Services
  • A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on August 30, 2023, for Frederick County’s crisis stabilization center, the first facility of its kind in Maryland,which will provide 24/7 trauma responsive, low-barrier, voluntary care and recovery-oriented services. The County Executive and County Council expanded the mobile crisis team and the mobile community healthcare units and funded the crisis stabilization center in the FY2024 budget.

STATUS: UNDERWAY 

• Maternal Health Disparities
  • The Health Services Division conducted a Black Maternal Health Disparity Study and is engaging the community to develop solutions.

STATUS: PENDING 

• Health Equity Lens for Grant-Making
• Healthcare Workforce Development
• HiAP Framework
• Expand Substance Abuse Strategies
  • In addition to the crisis stabilization center, the County is receiving funding through settlements with opioid manufacturers and Juul Labs, which it will use to invest in expanded substance abuse strategies.

6. Priority Area: Public Safety

STATUS: UNDERWAY 

• Laird LODD Implementation
  • As of May 1, 2023, 62 recommendations have been implemented, 37 are underway, and 38 have not been started.
• First Responder Recruitment & Retention
  • The Maryland General Assembly passed and the Governor signed a bill to create a commission to study and make recommendations in this area, and the County will consider its approach to this issue after reviewing the commission’s findings.
• Wellness of Front-Line Workers
  • The County Executive and County Council provided funding for a new wellness program in the Sheriff’s Office in FY2024.
• Expand Programs & Measure Impact
  • The County Executive and County Council provided funding for a data analyst in the Division of Fire and Rescue Services in FY2024.

STATUS: PENDING 

• Intimate Partner Violence Prevention
• Additional Behavioral Health Protocols
• Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
• Youth Engagement

7. Priority Area: Sustainability Infrastructure & Transportation

STATUS: ONGOING 

• Engage the Agricultural Community
  • In addition to the Agritourism Workgroup, the County Executive meets regularly with the Farm Bureau’s leadership and participated in farm visits. The County Executive and County Council provided funding for the Agricultural Innovation Grants in FY2024.

STATUS: UNDERWAY

• Leverage Federal Money
  • The County contracted with a firm that specializes in federal grants to ensure we are securing more than our fair share of federal grant money.
• Transition County Fleet to EV
  • Under the direction of the Chief Administrative Officer, County staff are preparing a plan to transition the County fleet to electric vehicles.
• Advocate for Expanded Regional Service
  • The County Executive met with MDOT Secretary Paul Weidefeld and County staff meets regularly with MDOT staff to advocate for Frederick County’s regional needs

STATUS: PENDING 

• Comm. Approach to Energy Efficiency
• Build Resilience
• Adequate Domestic Water & Sewer
• Greenway Corridors & Infrastructure Plan
• Re-organize & Resource Transportation