by Kelly Schulz

It is rare to read the news these days without learning of a new technological breakthrough that could change our businesses, our economy, or our lives. Artificial intelligence, cell-based cancer treatments, and drones monitoring crop health are just a few examples taking root here in Maryland. 

As CEO of the Frederick-based Maryland Tech Council, I am often asked: Can Frederick County compete in an economy changing so fast?

The answer is a resounding yes. In fact, we already are. Some of the most innovative and high-paying industries in the world are planting roots and creating jobs in Frederick County.

Here are some examples of how Frederick County is adapting its economy to compete and win in the 21st century.

Making Frederick a Data Economy Leader

Quantum Loophole, a digital economy pioneer, is developing a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly data center campus at the old Eastalco smelting plant site in Buckeystown.

Data centers are the backbone of our digital economy. Every email we send, every mobile app we click, and every movie we stream depends on a data center. If Quantum Loophole secures the necessary permits, it would put Frederick County on the map of America’s digital economy.

The Maryland Tech Council commissioned a third-party study of the campus’s economic impact and found that construction would support approximately 3,000 direct and secondary jobs per year, $3.1 billion in local labor income, and $25.8 million in county tax revenues.

Once fully operational, the campus will support 6,300 jobs in the county annually, including 1,700 on the campus and $65,000 in average annual per-worker wages. The U.S. Census Bureau lists Frederick County’s per-capita income as $46,615, meaning Quantum Loophole’s jobs will pay 39% more than average. The county would also receive an estimated $41 million in tax revenues annually. Our report is available at www.mdtechcouncil.com.

Quantum Frederick is a once-in-a-generation chance to revitalize an abandoned industrial site into a digital campus that powers the paychecks of our local workforce. It will also help fund local schools and public safety.

I am optimistic that state and county leaders can work with Quantum Loophole to find solutions that get this project permitted and shovels in the ground soon.

Building Frederick’s Biotech Ecosystem

Frederick County is rapidly becoming a destination of choice for the world’s top life sciences companies, including AstraZeneca and Kite, a Gilead company. New therapies for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and respiratory problems are produced here in Frederick. It’s no exaggeration to say that patients worldwide depend on Frederick County workers for their treatment. Emerging biotech companies are making their mark, too. Frederick-based Theradaptive recently earned FDA approval for a highly innovative spinal fusion clinical trial.

Frederick County leaders deserve credit for prioritizing the life sciences industry. The key to expanding our leadership in this industry will be developing a strong pipeline of workers with relevant skills. 

Fixing our Labor Shortage

Not all economic indicators in Maryland are strong. A report from Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman found that our economic growth and wage growth lag the national average, and we’re experiencing a population outflow to Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina — the same states we compete with for technology and life sciences jobs. Further, declining labor force participation has made it harder for Maryland firms to grow. Frederick County is not immune to these challenges.

That’s why the Maryland Tech Council launched BioHub Maryland, a skills training initiative to equip military Veterans and Marylanders in Frederick County and beyond with the skills they need to compete for life sciences careers.

 Recent studies show that one out of every three life sciences job openings in Maryland does not require a  bachelor’s degree, making it an ideal industry for residents who do not go to college but seek to add value to the workplace and the world. Additionally, life sciences incomes average $128,800 in Maryland, almost nearly double the statewide average for all industries ($68,900).

We have partnered with Frederick-based Platoon 22 to introduce military veterans to BioHub Maryland’s skills training program, and we are proud to have graduated our first cohort of veterans in the Fall of 2023. BioHub Maryland aims to be operating a state-of-the-art bioprocessing skills training facility to train new workers by the end of 2024. Learn more at biohubmaryland.com. 

Getting Economic Policy Right

If we don’t get economic policy right, we won’t get our economy right. That’s why the Maryland Tech Council serves as the voice of innovation in Annapolis and Washington. In the recently concluded legislative session, we advocated for or against or monitored nearly 70 pieces of legislation and are working to protect drug innovation as Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board considers drug price controls. We made tangible progress on data privacy legislation, sensible regulation of artificial intelligence, support for strategic industries like data centers, expanding workforce development solutions, and enhancing the state’s economic competitiveness.

As a former state legislator, I know how critical the business community’s voice can be in the halls of power. My message to the Frederick County business community is this: never underestimate your ability to improve economic development policy. But, we can only do it if we are engaged with policymakers in Frederick, Annapolis, and Washington.  

The Future is Bright for Frederick County

I am amazed at the economic transformation in Frederick County since I moved here 20 years ago. We are preserving and enhancing our proud agricultural heritage while adapting to the future by encouraging biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and data center development. Organizations like the Frederick Innovation Technology Center (FITCI) and the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research are enabling innovations that will have lasting impacts in the 21st century. But above all, our individual businesses make our economy grow. Frederick’s business community is a driving force toward a brighter future, and I encourage our business leaders to stay engaged - with your community and your elected representatives.