Frederick’s community has a long and proud tradition of military service.
Our region’s largest employer is Fort Detrick. The nearly 100-year-old military installation occupies a 1,200-acre campus and hosts more than 10,000 military members, federal employees, and contractors.
Due in part to this local resource, as well as to our close proximity to the nation’s capital, Frederick County is currently home to more than 16,000 veterans and their families. These former service men and women make up a vital part of our community and economy.
Below we look at two exciting projects that are helping honor these men & women’s service to our country, and supporting their successful transition to civilian life.
VFW Celebrates Groundbreaking of New Facility
Last month, a Frederick-based VFW Post celebrated the groundbreaking for the construction of a new facility. The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) is an organization dedicated to supporting veterans, service members in the US Armed Forces, and their families.
The new building for John R. Webb VFW Post 3285 is planned for 5951 Old National Pike, adjacent to the current VFW building. The building is expected to cost about $3 million to construct and will have 6,000 square feet on the first floor and a 3,000-square-foot lower level. The floor plan will feature offices, as well as a kitchen, a back deck and open space that will include a memorial garden.
The project will offer the local Post necessary meeting space to conduct monthly meetings as well as new growth opportunities. The Post intends to have an an office specially dedicated to a service officer. The service officer will be responsible for helping connect veterans to benefits and resources, in areas such as disability rating, education and home loans. There will also be storage space included under the building to maintain hospital equipment available for loan to veterans at no cost.
Due to the growth of our organization, having that home base is exciting because it gives us the drive to continue to do more for veterans.
Our membership is starting to lean heavily towards a younger generation of combat veterans. We are calling it the ‘VFW of now’ because of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans that are joining us everyday. The VFW helps us find purpose and we are able to collectivly give back to Frederick via the VFW.
Patrick Pierson, Chair, VFW Building Committee
The VFW in Frederick currently has a membership of nearly 1,500 and is the largest and youngest post in the State of Maryland.
Learn more about the John R. Webb VFW Post 3285 here.
Veterans Services Center Celebrates 1 Year anniversary
This month also marks the 1 year anniversary of Frederick’s Veteran Services Center (VSC). The 13,000 SF center, a joint project between Goodwill Industries of Monocracy Valley and Platoon 22, offers a single place for veterans to find support and services.
The VSC brings local community service providers together to provide holistic, life-changing resources to support our veterans (and their families) as they transition to civilian life. The program’s services include career coaching and employment services, veteran peer connections, transportation services, access to counseling and mental health resources, financial education, and more.
In the Year to Date, the Veteran Service Center has received over 2,300 visits with ~1000 unique visitors seeking services.
In its first year, the center has already begun exploring creative partnerships to tap into the civilian workforce potential of our community’s veteran population. Announced in January 2023, Platoon 22 and Maryland Tech Council’s BioHub Maryland are partnering to offer veterans access to training in the skills life sciences employers value most. This includes BioHub Maryland’s online skills academy that teaches the fundamentals of the industry, such as biomanufacturing concepts, cell and gene therapy and vaccine manufacturing fundamentals, quality control skills, technical writing, and data analysis. In 2024, BioHub Maryland will also offer state-of-the-art lab space where trainees can gain competency-based, “learn by doing” biomanufacturing training. Programs like these represent an exciting opportunity for both our veterans and our local economy.
Looking to connect with area veterans regarding job opportunities at your company, or interested in training opportunities for your existing veteran workforce?
Reach out to our Department of Economic Development and we’ll help connect you: businessinfrederick@cityoffrederickmd.gov or 301.600.6360.