How Beer Will Make Frederick Better
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Frederick Extra has invited Frederick city candidates to share their views on city-related issues in up to three op-eds each month through August. The Frederick Extra will not be taking any paid political advertisements.
Have you noticed the many craft breweries (and distilleries) that are popping up all over the city? It's not just beer. It's the creative, eclectic, and authentic collection of entrepreneurs who are making up our city's unique artisanal and homegrown business scene.
This is great for Frederick. According to an article in The Atlantic, James Fallows cites Eleven Signs a City Will Succeed, including having a vibrant craft beer scene. He states, “A town that has craft breweries also has a certain kind of entrepreneur, and a critical mass of mainly young customers. You may think I’m joking, but just try to find an exception.”
Frederick has a great story to tell
The City’s Economic Development Priorities & Work Plan has outlined solid priorities including providing more good job opportunities for residents. But does the Department of Economic Development have all the resources they need to promote our city and support these priorities effectively? There are currently only 4 staff positions with a budget of ½ of 1% of the overall city operating budget.
On the plus side, it has a lot of good things to work with: Frederick is a short distance away from two major metropolitan areas. The city has a highly educated workforce and we have 2 colleges, a thriving downtown and creative arts community. As we all know Frederick is a great place to live with good schools, great neighborhoods, and many desirable urban and natural amenities.
We need to proactively work to increase all our quality of life amenities. One recent survey of entrepreneurs reveals that low tax rates or business-friendly regulations are at the bottom of the list of reasons why businesses choose a city. Rather it is access to the talent and the “quality of life that the educated and ambitious have come to expect – not the low-tax, favorable-regulation approach that many state and local governments tout.
Frederick can dream bigger
There's a lot of talk about increasing the minimum wage but what about being more ambitious:
1) How can we increase the number of “Middle-Skill” jobs in the city?, and, 2) How can we support individuals looking to move from a minimum and into a middle-income family supporting work opportunity?
There are employment opportunities that require some training but not a bachelor’s degree. Middle-skill jobs require education beyond high school but not a four-year degree. These jobs are the fastest growing segment of the job market.
Our city can do more
It is ultimately the role of the city to address the unique business opportunities in our community. Federal and state policy can support our approaches, but success is dependent upon our city officials' abilities to effectively set goals, measure success and failure, and reach out to target populations in ways that provide new jobs for residents and skilled hires for attractive businesses. Here’s what we can do:
*Identify ways to support our existing restaurants, shops, distilleries and breweries so they continue to thrive which in turn will help attract the small and mid-size businesses that provide more middle and higher skilled jobs to the city.
*Review current rules and regulations to address any barriers to entry for small and mid-size businesses.
*Work with our local colleges to provide training programs in these middle skills jobs.
*Evaluate the budget and provide the Department of Economic Development the resources they need to not only attract new businesses, but also support our existing businesses that will provide the jobs and the tax base that will keep our local economy thriving. All of us will benefit from the work being done by the Department of Economic Development.
Good jobs and great businesses are beneficial to all Frederick residents–especially to those of us who want to work where we live and to advocates who want to provide more creative opportunities or better community services. So let’s raise a craft beer and toast to the fact that Frederick has all the elements it needs to thrive, we just need to make sure the City is doing all it can to keep it that way.
Todd Anderson is a candidate for the Board of Aldermen in this year’s city election. He is a 9-year resident of Frederick and works as the Director of Management Consulting for HeiTech Services, a federal contracting firm. www.andersonforfrederick.com
