MEDA (Maryland Economic Development Association)

Our MEDA Awards Committee Co-chair and the Senior Program Officer of Economic Development at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Destiny M., shared more about her journey to leadership on our Board of Directors and her growth as a MEDA Member. Read more below! Destiny got involved with MEDA in 2018 and immediately felt connected to our community and commitment to advancing economic development in Maryland. Her introduction came through the four-day MEDA Chesapeake Basic Economic Development Course, where she formed connections she attributes as vital to her professional growth. “Economic development thrives on relationships, and MEDA plays a key role in fostering them,” Destiny shares. “My time with MEDA has included serving on the membership committee, young leaders committee, and as an annual awards reviewer, and now I’m co-chair of the awards committee. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the field, especially as I’ve transitioned from local economic development to national initiatives through LISC.” Read more about becoming a leader at MEDA here: https://lnkd.in/e-U8evSC

Submit your nominations for the 2025 MEDA Awards before it’s too late! 🚨 Award categories include Economic Development Project, Economic Development Program, Economic Development Marketing Initiative, Volunteer of the Year, MEDA Hall of Fame, and Rising Star. The submission deadline is October 18, 2024, but the sooner you submit, the better! Visit https://lnkd.in/eHFxSkx for more information on the 2025 MEDA Awards. #EconDev #EconomicDevelopment #Maryland #MEDA

Yesterday evening, the 2024 Main Street Maryland Conference kicked off in style as attendees gathered in the heart of downtown Frederick for a pre-conference Welcome Party brimming with creativity, connection, and inspiration under the stars! Hosted by the Downtown Frederick Partnership, this incredible event offered an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Partnership’s latest placemaking initiatives. The evening buzzed with energy as attendees mingled over delicious food and drinks, rolled up their sleeves for a hands-on placemaking project, participated in a double-decker bus tour, and set an exciting, collaborative tone for the conference ahead. Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) 📸 Disco Garage Image Credit: Amber Schlossnagle of the Downtown Sykesville Connection

The 2024 Maryland Main Street Conference had an incredible start today with a series of pre-conference tours across Frederick County! Main Street Middletown attendees explored how the organization met its design goals with insight from Main Street Manager Becky Axilbund. They got the scoop on completed projects and how funding made it all possible! The Brunswick Main Street tour saw the amazing transformation of Brunswick’s Newberry and Kaplon Buildings, learning how creative funding and partnerships drive economic revitalization. Thurmont tour participants discovered how the Trolley Trail and downtown murals attract locals and hikers alike, showcasing the power of promotion in boosting foot traffic. Emmitsburg participants witnessed the town’s progress as it works toward full Main Street designation, with new shops bringing fresh energy to the historic downtown. Check out these photos from the tours!

Register for the 8th annual Tech at the Gap event on October 16, 2024, from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM at Rocky Gap Casino Resort. This one-day conference is specifically designed for web developers, digital marketers, network and security specialists, managers, and other tech professionals. Tech at the Gap is presented by the Western Maryland IT Center of Excellence, with support from the EARN Maryland Grant Program. Head over to https://lnkd.in/eYhb_HqY for Tech at the Gap: Breaking Barriers 2024 registration, the full conference schedule, and accommodation details!

MEDA’s 2024 Economic Development Week in Maryland is just around the corner—taking place from October 21-25, 2024! This week-long celebration highlights the vital role economic development plays in enhancing the State’s business climate, fostering job creation, strengthening the tax base, and improving the overall quality of life in Maryland. Unite with other counties, cities, and towns across Maryland to collectively recognize the hard work of economic developers! There’s still time to participate in 2024 Economic Development Week in Maryland! We invite you to explore our EDW Toolkit, Proclamation Template, and more resources on our website to get involved: https://lnkd.in/dqDe3JmE

Reminder: the 2024 MEDA Fall Conference: The Economy is International is happening later this month on October 28th! The end of October will be here before you know it, so register for the 2024 MEDA Fall Conference TODAY. This year’s conference will begin with remarks from Maryland’s economic leaders, followed by a keynote from Jasjit Singh, Executive Director of SelectUSA, who will provide insight into how economic developers can harness international opportunities to drive regional growth. Panels throughout the day will explore foreign investment, business retention and expansion programs, and more! Visit https://lnkd.in/d3uBGWDv for more information and to register. We hope to see you there on October 28, 2024!

Each year, MEDA awards the Volunteer of the Year to honor an individual who has shown exceptional leadership and significantly impacted Maryland’s economic development community. This award celebrates volunteers who have advanced economic development in our State through dedicated service over the past year or sustained involvement with an EDO. The deadline for submissions is Friday, October 18, 2024! Submit your nomination today at https://lnkd.in/eB9wXzeP and help MEDA celebrate the leaders who help drive Maryland’s economic growth!

The 2024 Main Street Maryland Conference would not be possible without our incredible sponsors! We extend our sincere thanks to the organizations shown in the image below who are supporting this valuable event on October 8, 2024. Your commitment to advancing economic development and community revitalization across the State of Maryland plays a critical role in the success of the conference. We aim to build stronger communities and empower Maryland's Main Streets to thrive, so we are thankful to collaborate with you and work toward these goals. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and MEDA teams are looking forward to next week, and we can’t wait to see you all in Frederick, MD for the 2024 Main Street Maryland Conference!

Learn more about Denise Beaver, CEcD, the MEDA Membership Co-Chair and Director of Carroll County Department of Economic Development! “My MEDA involvement has encouraged me to achieve and maintain my CEcD certification. It has also emphasized how important it is to continue to educate and communicate with all stakeholders to be successful in the long run,” Denise remarks about the influence MEDA has had on her career in economic development. Aside from supporting Denise’s journey to becoming a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), she enjoys being part of MEDA because she is able to meet more people and learn more about MEDA’s mission and impact in the State of Maryland. Denise has also learned a lot from other members’ best practices and says it is “always inspirational” to attend MEDA’s meetings and bring different ideas back to her community in Carroll County!