Downtown Frederick Partnership and its economic development partners are dedicated to supporting your small business. Unlock new opportunities, expand your network and gain expertise with the extensive range of training programs and resources available in Frederick County.
Classes, Workshops & Training
The Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides a variety of free and low cost trainings to assist entrepreneurs with all of their business needs. Classes are held year round and often meet virtually.
The Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC) helps advance small businesses with a variety of free workshops and seminars offered throughout the year. MWBC helps women (and men) gain the skills, connections and confidence necessary to navigate entrepreneurship.
Networking Opportunities
New to Downtown Frederick, or haven’t joined us in a while? The Partnership hosts an open meeting on the second Thursday of each month. Downtown business owners, managers and employees are encouraged to attend – no RSVP needed. These are a great way to meet your neighbors and stay in the loop about downtown news. Contact mainstreet@downtownfrederick.org to find out where our next meeting will be.
Frederick County’s EmPOWER Program offers monthly networking events focused on helping underrepresented businesses connect and grow. Hear from industry experts and business leaders on topics such as marketing, finance, development, community leadership and more.
The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce provides networking and learning opportunities for all of its members. Through its work, the Chamber creates a culture of innovation and collaboration for the Frederick County business community, big and small.
City Visit
Each spring, the Partnership hosts an annual City Visit to gather inspiration and ideas from a nearby community. City Visits are free to attend and open to small business owners and employees throughout Downtown Frederick.
This all-day tour is carefully curated with the host community to include meetings with small business owners and local economic development professionals, time to explore the downtown district, and a chance to learn about the events, promotions, projects and initiatives they’re working on to set their community apart.
Previous destinations include Annapolis, MD; Lancaster, PA; Alexandria, VA; and Baltimore, MD. Stay tuned for registration information and the announcement of our 2025 City Visit location!