(3/10) Thurmont Economic Development Manager Vickie Grinder briefed the commissioners at the board’s March 9 meeting on the town’s economic development for 2020.
Regarding her office’s assistance to local businesses in general, Grinder stated that she had spent April 2020 and up to the present time … providing local entrepreneurs with guidance regarding accessing funding-sources to help alleviate them of the duress under which they have been subjected during the COVID pandemic.
Different agencies offered various forms of financial assistance, including the Small Business Association’s Payroll Protection program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, and the state’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.
Applying for any of those, she said, "was not fun … even banks didn’t know what was going on (with available funding sources)," adding that Mayor John Kinnaird had referred to the myriad of aid-programs as a "moving target," due to the various deadlines and conditions that had to be met in order to qualify to apply.
The manager said she also helped businesses with applying for assistance from the Frederick County Jump Start Program, and the Restaurant and Food Service Relief Grant Program – whose staff responded quickly to her inquiries - and was also successful in supplying town restaurants with KN-95 masks for their front-line employees.
She said Economic Development established the Thurmont Emergency Micro Grant, with support from the mayor and commissioners, and assistance from Chief Administrative Officer James Humerick, which contributed $1,000 to needful businesses. Grinder said when various businesses were presented with the $1,000 from the town, or any of the monetary aid she was able to secure from other sources, "People cried … I was listening to people literally in tears … constantly."
Grinder reported she was successful with securing county use and occupancy permits, in spite of the county office that processes the applications being closed due to COVID, and also managed to hold several ribbon-cuttings at the opening of new businesses, including Blacks Funeral Home, Tracie’s House of Hair, Thurmont Veterinary Clinic, and Beautiful You Saloon & Spa.
The manager also discussed how her program handled advertising local tourist attractions, also as part of aiding local businesses, in which she stressed that Thurmont was a safe place to visit, especially with its area’s out-of-door parks, sights and resources.
Mayor Kinnaird stated, "I was totally astounded and impressed by how successful our restaurants have been, and a lot of it is due to your actions … we have not seen the loss of small business like a lot of other communities have, and I credit you with a lot of that - and I thank you for that.
Grinder also briefed the commissioners on the efforts to establish local YMCA programs, which could commence in May or June.
Three main areas of focus for the Thurmont ‘Y Without Walls’ program will be arts and humanities, a teen program, and health and wellness.
The arts and humanities program would be launched with a child and parent art program, wherein children four-years-of-age and up could work on art projects with their parents, according to Anthony Brock, director of Arts & Humanities, Frederick YMCA.
Evan Bates, teen coordinator, Frederick YMCA, said surveys indicated that residents in the North County region want programs that are more engaging for teenagers, noting that the YMCA already commenced with a Thurmont Leaders Club for teens in January.
