First Annual Main Street Maryland Conference
Maryland-made goods shoppers, producers, and sellers aren’t the only ones who will Make It To Main Street this week. We’re off to the City of Frederick, Maryland for the first annual Main Street Maryland Conference, meeting up with State and local team members who operate Main Street programs across Maryland. The agenda for tomorrow kicks off with tours of Frederick County’s Middletown, Brunswick, and Thurmont Main Streets and Emmitsburg’s Main Street affiliate. The day culminates with networking over dinner in the heart of Downtown Frederick.
Tuesday features morning meditation, coffee with DHCD Secretary Jack Day and Mary Means, founder and “Mother of Main Street,” and a welcome from the Honorable Jessica Fitzwater, County Executive, Frederick County. Professional development sessions follow throughout the day, including, “Hot Sauce & Handbag Businesses are All the Rage on Main Street: What Does it Mean for You?” by Ilana Press, Founder and CEO, Recast City LLC. “The recent national Main Street small business survey showed that about one third of all Main Street businesses are makers and small-scale manufacturers….This session will share the recent research and steps Main Street leaders can take to thrive in this key business sector.”
The conference is organized by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)and the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) The conference wraps up their remarks from Kiki Wilson, CEO OUT40, and Christine McPherson, State Coordinator of the Main Street Maryland Program, DHCD.
The Buy Maryland Directory was made possible through collaboration between The Project Resource Group – Home of Maryland With Pride, the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland, and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.