Financial Resources

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2025 S.H.E. Pitch Recap: Construction and Cookies Win First Place

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The 2025 S.H.E. Pitch competition put Frederick’s women entrepreneurs in the spotlight once again, with finalists pitching ideas and established businesses before a live audience and panel of judges.

Hosted at Hood College’s Hodson Auditorium, the annual S.H.E. Pitch event is part of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce’s S.H.E. Week. A long-time event sponsor of S.H.E. Pitch, the City of Frederick’s Department of Economic Development (DED) was honored to serve on both the judging panel and selection committee again this year.

Why S.H.E. Pitch Matters

The pitch competition amplifies the visibility of women-led businesses and connects them with mentors, resources, and the greater Frederick community as female entrepreneurs compete for cash prizes in either the “idea stage” and “growth stage” of business. Winners are awarded over $10,000, offering vital financial support and investment in their business success.

Meet the Winners

Two Frederick City businesses walked away with the win. Sweet Maddie’s – Cookies on Demand, founded by Michelle Bryan, won the Growth Stage prize in addition to the People’s Choice Award. NCE BIM Consulting, led by Ngoc Chau, earned first place in the Idea Stage category.

Ngoc Chau, NCE BIM Consulting

Idea Stage Winner: Ngoc Chau, NCE BIM Consulting

About NCE BIM Consulting: NCE BIM Consulting is a forward-thinking construction company that focuses on leveraging cutting-edge technology to excel in both commercial and residential building projects. The company’s expertise lies in the strategic application of 3D technologies, revolutionizing workflows and productivity, particularly in managing large-scale endeavors. Founded in 2020, NCE BIM Consulting enhances the construction process through innovative Building Information Modeling (BIM) solutions that elevate construction projects with confidence and precision.

Ngoc Chau, NCE BIM Consulting

Michelle Bryan, Sweet Maddie’s – Cookies on Demand

Growth Stage Winner: Michelle Bryan, Sweet Maddie’s – Cookies on Demand. Michelle also took home the People’s Choice Award, securing an additional $500.

About Sweet Maddie’s – Cookies on Demand: Sweet Maddie’s Bakery has created gourmet cookies, desserts, and from-scratch cakes for lovers of sweet things for over a decade. A family-run business, Sweet Maddie’s is dedicated to providing fresh-baked goods that are made with all-natural ingredients, free from preservatives and additives, with many ingredients sourced from small, local businesses whenever possible. Today, Sweet Maddie’s operates as a fully licensed online bakery, baking out of the commercial kitchen The Cutting Board.

Michelle Bryan, Sweet Maddie’s – Cookies on Demand

For the DED, continued support reflects a long-term commitment to cultivating diverse entrepreneurship and supporting businesses at phase.

A full recap of the event is available through the Frederick News-Post.

Photo credit: Acacia Bowens, AK’s GraFix & Photo

To connect about programs and resources supporting business growth and expansion, reach out to the City’s Economic Development team - businessinfrederick@cityoffrederickmd.gov

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Interim Report: ACCESS GRANTED Small Business Impact -

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Last year, the City of Frederick awarded $400,000 in competitive grants to 55 small businesses through its ACCESS GRANTED program. Recipients represented a broad mix of industries and neighborhoods across the city—including health and wellness providers, personal care services, retail shops, food and beverage ventures, tech startups, fitness studios, and creative enterprises.

As part of the grant process, awardees were required to submit interim reports detailing the impact of the ACCESS GRANTED funding on their businesses, with final reports due by December 31, 2025.

Here’s a look at some of their inspiring stories so far.

The diversity of the selected businesses—from industries to ownership backgrounds—not only reflects the vibrancy of Frederick’s entrepreneurial ecosystem but also aligns with the ACCESS GRANTED program’s mission to support inclusive economic growth. This strong demand and broad representation underscore the ongoing need for targeted support for small businesses.

ACCESS GRANTED was launched with a clear mission: to empower small, for-profit businesses with 25 or fewer employees—located within the City of Frederick. While this interim report highlights early outcomes and success stories, the city remains committed to evaluating the program's long-term impact and identifying additional ways to support small business growth and resilience.

We can’t wait for the final report from the remainder of the businesses!

Grant awardee impact - 88Visual: This Emmy-award winning video agency used the grant to upgrade to high-end video equipment, further solidifying its status as a leading creative media business in Frederick. With this investment, 88 Visual continues to produce high-quality content as it grows its reputation and client base across the region.

Unlocking Opportunity. Empowering Businesses.

If you'd like to learn more about economic development opportunities in Frederick, schedule a meeting with our DED team today at www.businessinfrederick.com.

To learn more about grant programs and other resources, visit the Department of Economic Development at www.businessinfrederick.com.

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Where SHE is Now: Rachel Anne Warren

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Where SHE is Now: Rachel Anne Warren

Year after year the program continues to not only empower entrepreneurs but also make a significant impact on our local economy. Since the program’s inception, we have proudly watched seven past SHE Pitch winners go on to launch or grow a business within The City of Frederick limits.

Below we catch up past-standout and current local business owner Rachel Anne Warren to find out ‘Where SHE is Now.’

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Where SHE is Now: Jenni Hoover

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Where SHE is Now: Jenni Hoover

Year after year the program continues to not only empower entrepreneurs but also make a significant impact on our local economy. Since the program’s inception, we have proudly watched seven past SHE Pitch winners go on to launch or grow a business within The City of Frederick limits.

Below we catch up past standout and current local business owner Jenni Hoover to find out ‘Where SHE is Now’

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Where SHE is Now: Tina Harper

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Where SHE is Now: Tina Harper

Year after year the program continues to not only empower entrepreneurs but also make a significant impact on our local economy. Since the program’s inception, we have proudly watched seven past SHE Pitch winners go on to launch or grow a business within The City of Frederick limits.

Below we catch up past standout and current local business owner Tina Harper to find out ‘Where SHE is Now’:

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Where SHE is Now: Hannah King

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Where SHE is Now: Hannah King

Year after year the program continues to not only empower new entrepreneurs but also make a significant impact on our local economy. Since the program’s inception, we have proudly watched seven past SHE Pitch winners go on to launch or grow a business within The City of Frederick limits.

Below we catch up past standout and current local business owner Hannah King to find out ‘Where SHE is Now’:

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Where SHE is Now: Kelly Kuzma

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Where SHE is Now: Kelly Kuzma

Year after year the program continues to not only empower entrepreneurs but also make a significant impact on our local economy. Since the program’s inception, we have proudly watched seven past SHE Pitch winners go on to launch or grow a business within The City of Frederick limits.

Below we catch up past standout and current local business owner Kelly Kuzma to find out ‘Where SHE is Now’:

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Where SHE is Now: Megan Donovan

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Where SHE is Now: Megan Donovan

Year after year the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce's SHE Pitch program continues to not only empower entrepreneurs but also make a significant impact on our local economy. Since the program’s inception, we have proudly watched seven past SHE Pitch winners go on to launch or grow a business within The City of Frederick limits.

Below we catch up past standout and current local business owner Megan Donovan to find out ‘Where SHE is Now’:

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Where SHE is Now: Allison Jachowski

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Where SHE is Now: Allison Jachowski

Year after year the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce's SHE Pitch program continues to not only empower entrepreneurs but also make a significant impact on our local economy. Since the program’s inception, we have proudly watched seven past SHE Pitch winners go on to launch or grow a business within The City of Frederick limits.

Below we catch up past standout and current local business owner Allison Jachowski to find out ‘Where SHE is Now’:

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Local Economic Impact from Key Bridge Collapse & Port Closure

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Local Economic Impact from Key Bridge Collapse & Port Closure

It has been a little over a week since the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which carries Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River, collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship. As a major transportation & shipping route, the disaster’s impact is far-reaching — including to our Frederick community.

Frederick’s Economic Development partners have begun reaching out to local businesses affected by the disruption at the port. We will continue to provide information and resources as it becomes available.

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Frederick's GROW Grant Awards of FY24

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Frederick's GROW Grant Awards of FY24

The Department of Economic Development’s GROW Grant Program is designed to encourage and financially-support small businesses making strategic improvements to commercial buildings within The City of Frederick.

This fiscal year, ten small businesses were supported by the program. Together, these GROW Grant awards supported a total private investment of just under 5 million dollars!

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Applications for the City Historic Preservation Property Tax Credit are Open through April 1, 2024

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Applications for the City Historic Preservation Property Tax Credit are Open through April 1, 2024

Tax-paying property owners may apply for a credit equal to 25% of the properly documented expenditures incurred during 2023 for exterior work that contributes to the restoration or preservation of a structure designated by the City of Frederick as a Historic Preservation Overlay zone.

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Community Promotion Grant | Grants that Continue to Give 

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Community Promotion Grant | Grants that Continue to Give 

Recognizing the unique impact of our giving community, The City of Frederick created the Community Promotion Grant in 2017 to uplift and support our local nonprofits. The Community Promotion Grant cycle begins every year in the fall, offering nonprofits an opportunity to fund existing initiatives or pilot something new.  

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6 Resources For Frederick's Non-Profit Community

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6 Resources For Frederick's Non-Profit Community

Operating a non-profit is much like running a business— success requires more than an idea and passion. There are countless logistics to manage, ranging from fundraising to marketing to human resources to legal & policy issues to program management, and beyond. It’s no small task!

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GROW in Frederick: The City's Small Business Grant Program

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GROW in Frederick: The City's Small Business Grant Program

The Department of Economic Development’s GROW Program is intended to encourage and financially-support small businesses making strategic improvements to commercial buildings within The City of Frederick. This fiscal year, three growing small businesses have been able to take advantage of the program.