Frederick County Office of Economic Development

What Frederick County Office of Economic Development does

Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED) is the county-government economic development agency for Frederick County, Maryland, headquartered at 118 N Market St, Suite 200 in Frederick. The agency serves as the single point of contact for businesses starting, locating, or expanding within the county, providing site selection assistance, workforce recruitment and training support, incentive navigation, permit expediting, and marketing services at no charge to in-county companies. Its mandate spans supporting 7,100+ businesses and 107,000+ workers operating across a 660-square-mile county that generates $15.4B in annual economic output, anchored by Fort Detrick's federal life-sciences cluster, AstraZeneca, Kite/Gilead, Lonza, ThermoFisher, and a growing hyperscale data center ecosystem at the Quantum Frederick campus.

FCOED operates a portfolio of branded programs and tools. The Frederick Innovative Technology Center (FITCI) is a business incubator with a 93% startup survival rate and $389M in cumulative member economic impact, operating from two locations including The EDGE @ 321 Ballenger Center Drive. The Made in Frederick initiative focuses on advanced manufacturing, while the EmPOWER Initiative delivers DEIB-focused programs (Loan, Mentorship, Accelerator, Networking) for underrepresented entrepreneurs. Digital tools include the Building & Site Selection Tool, SizeUp Business Analytics, the Frederick County Economic Dashboard, and the Diverse Business Directory. Marketing services include PR Frederick, a complimentary press release distribution service normally valued at $259 per release. Distribution is multi-channel: direct office consultation, self-serve web tools, partner referral networks (SBDC, Maryland Women's Business Center, SCORE, FITCI, Chamber of Commerce), and incubator space.

The agency's competitive position rests on regulatory and geographic assets it does not own commercially — Frederick County's AAA bond rating, zero business personal property tax, commercial electricity rates 55% below the Maryland average, I-270 Tech Corridor location, 44.9% bachelor's-degree attainment, and proximity to three international airports. Because FCOED is a government department rather than a revenue-generating entity, its financial sustainability is determined by Frederick County Government's appropriations rather than customer revenue. Strategic priorities reflected in 2024-2026 activity include hyperscale data center attraction (Quantum Frederick, Catellus Development partnership), large-scale biotech manufacturing retention and expansion (AstraZeneca $2B), incubator buildout (FITCI EDGE), and a countywide Economic and Workforce Strategic Growth Plan unveiled by the Division of Economic Opportunity under Director Heather Gramm.

Name

Frederick County Office of Economic Development

Legal name

Frederick County Office of Economic Development

Website

https://discoverfrederickmd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1748

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Frederick County Office of Economic Development is a county-government agency that provides free site selection, workforce recruitment, incentive navigation, and marketing services to businesses starting, locating, or expanding in Frederick County, Maryland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Code Enforcement (BPAIACAE), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK), Workforce Support Services & Case Management (Coaching, Wraparound) (EDAAAOAK)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Site selection assistance
• Business incubation programs
• Workforce development support
• Tax incentive programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Frederick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED) is a county government agency that provides free economic development services to businesses looking to start, locate, or expand in Frederick County, Maryland. Core services include site selection assistance, workforce recruitment and training support, incentive navigation, permit expediting, marketing/PR support, and market intelligence tools. It also operates business incubation through FITCI, supports the manufacturing sector via the Made in Frederick initiative, and runs the EmPOWER Initiative for underrepresented businesses.

Product overview

The Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED) operates as a government economic development agency rather than a technology company. The organization provides a comprehensive suite of economic development services and programs including core business assistance (economic development services, site selection, workforce support), business incubation through FITCI, manufacturing industry support via the Made in Frederick initiative, and market intelligence tools including SizeUp Business Analytics and the Building & Site Selection Tool. Additional services include PR Frederick for press distribution, the Diverse Business Directory, the Economic Dashboard for data visualization, and the EmPOWER Initiative with its component programs (Loan, Mentorship, Networking, and Accelerator) supporting underrepresented businesses. These products are interconnected programs under the FCOED umbrella, designed to support businesses at every stage from startup through expansion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Made in Frederick: An initiative by the Frederick County Office of Economic Development to strengthen and foster the growth of Frederick County's manufacturing industry.

Products and services

• Economic Development Services Core free economic development services including site selection assistance, workforce recruitment and training support, incentives navigation, permit expediting, and marketing assistance for businesses looking to start, locate, or expand in Frederick County, Maryland.
• Frederick County Innovative Technology Center (FITCI) Business incubator supporting early-stage tech and life science startups with flexible office and lab space, equipment, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Reported to have a 93% startup survival rate and $389 million economic impact.
• Made in Frederick Manufacturing industry initiative by FCOED to strengthen and foster growth of Frederick County's manufacturing sector by providing resources, connections, and tools for businesses to succeed globally.
• SizeUp Business Analytics and Market Insights Tool Interactive business and market data tool that allows users to explore industry trends, local market conditions, consumer demographics, and competitive landscapes for specific geographic areas.
• Building & Site Selection Tool Commercial property search tool enabling businesses to find shovel-ready properties, build-to-suit options, high-tech office parks, and high-visibility retail locations throughout Frederick County.
• PR Frederick Free press release distribution service for Frederick County businesses, distributing releases via a premium newswire to reach regional, national, and international media outlets (potential reach to 30,000+ journalists; normally valued at $259 per usage).
• Frederick County Economic Dashboard Census and business data visualization showcasing key statistics on industries, workforce, demographics, and quality of life indicators to help companies evaluate expansion and investment opportunities.
• Diverse Business Directory Searchable directory of local businesses with filtering by certification categories including minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and other business designations.
• EmPOWER Initiative Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative offering the EmPOWER Loan Program, EmPOWER Mentorship Program, EmPOWER Networking, and EmPOWER Accelerator Program to support underrepresented businesses including minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and immigrant entrepreneurs.
• EmPOWER Loan Program Micro-loan program providing early access to capital and commercial credit building opportunities for Frederick County business owners who have completed EmPOWER programming.
• EmPOWER Mentorship Program Facilitated mentoring model designed to help underrepresented business owners generate ideas, identify blind spots, troubleshoot problems, and grow their networks in Frederick County. Includes a Spanish-language cohort known as Visión Empresarial.
• EmPOWER Accelerator Program Multicultural Small Business Accelerator Program held in partnership with M&T Bank, providing tools and resources over a 10-week course to increase business visibility and accelerate growth, concluding in a pitch competition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average commercial electricity rate 55% less than Maryland average and 53% less than national average
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Frederick County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor employer and workforce pipeline partner providing education and training programs for Frederick County students who become future workforce talent.
• Frederick HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system serving as major employer and essential quality-of-life factor for business recruitment and retention.
• Frederick Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-year college providing workforce training, customized industry training, and talent pipeline for local businesses.
• Hood CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate four-year college offering undergraduate and graduate programs, continuing education, and partnership opportunities.
• Mount Saint Mary's UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate university in Emmitsburg providing undergraduate liberal arts and graduate programs including business and education.
• Maryland Department of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development agency providing financing programs including Advantage Maryland (MEDAAF) and MIDFA for targeted industries.
• Frederick Innovative Technology Center (FITCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness incubator for early-stage tech and life science startups with 93% survival rate and $389M economic impact. Supports Biomed, AgTech, and Renewable Energy companies.
• Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free counseling and training for entrepreneurs including business planning, financing, government procurement, and international trade assistance.
• Maryland Women's Business CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelps women entrepreneurs achieve economic growth through training, funding access, and strategic business counseling in Maryland's Capital Region.
• SCOREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentor network providing free business mentoring and workshops for small business owners.
• Catellus Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as lead developer for Quantum Frederick hyperscale data center campus - one of the largest data center projects on the East Coast with 2,100 acres and 17.4 million SF planned.
• Frederick County Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary business membership organization supporting economic development through networking, advocacy, and business resources.
• Entrepreneur Council of Frederick CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil supporting entrepreneurs and startup ecosystem development in Frederick County.
• Potomac Edison (FirstEnergy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectricity provider for Frederick County businesses with programs supporting energy efficiency and economic development.
• Centro Hispano de FrederickcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports immigrant community through tools, classes, and resources. Partner in EmPOWER Initiative providing Spanish-language mentorship program Visión Empresarial.
• Maryland Hispanic Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes Hispanic business community through business opportunities, training, and access to resources. Partner in EmPOWER Initiative.
• City of Frederick Department of Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal economic development partner co-hosting EmPOWER programs and collaborating on business development initiatives.
• Rowan Digital InfrastructurecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerData center operator with BAUXITE I, II, III facilities in Frederick County as part of the hyperscale data center ecosystem.
• Aligned Data CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdaptive data center developer with facilities in Frederick County, Maryland.
• Visit Frederick (Tourism Council of Frederick County)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism marketing organization partnering on craft beverage and business tourism initiatives.
• Frederick County Workforce ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce services partner providing job-seeker resources and business services for workforce recruitment and training.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves17 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FredCoOED
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/discoverfrederickmd
• Facebookfacebook.com/discoverfrederickmd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frederick-county-office-of-economic-development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Frederick County Office of Economic Development