City of Frederick Unveils Initiatives to Support Youth and Celebrate Month of the Young Child

Mayor Michael O'Connor announced a series of initiatives aimed at supporting our youth and reaffirming our commitment to creating a community where every child feels supported, valued, and empowered. The announcements highlight how The City is continuing to support future opportunities for youth in our community.

Specific Initiatives and investments include:

• The Office of the Mayor will be launching a Shark Tank-style Pitch Competition for youth entrepreneurs. The winners will receive grants to help in expanding or implementing their business ideas. More information coming soon.
• A $10,000 Equity & Inclusion Splash Grant was awarded for techfederick to expand its "Day of Tech" exploratory experience showcasing many opportunities in the tech world such as gaming, virtual reality (VR), and more. This outreach aims to capture the interest of students who may not have previously considered the possibilities within the tech field.
• A $30,000 Equity & Inclusion Splash Grant was awarded to the Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County for the purchase of a new 15-passenger vehicle to provide transportation for their services and programs. According to the ALICE report, nearly half of city residents struggle to make ends meet, and transportation is the fifth most expensive basic need.
• A new Frederick Youth Council was formed. This effort was led by a dynamic network of youth service providers, community leaders, and local funders dedicated to improving outcomes for young and emerging adults aged 12 through 24 in Frederick County. The first-ever county-wide Frederick Youth Council aims to assist in the planning and development of youth opportunities in our community. Learn more at www.frederick12to24.org/youthcouncil/. 

"From the work to bring a youth center to Frederick to the launching of our apprenticeship program, we are setting the table for our youth to have access to the career and programming exploration that will allow them to find gainful and fulfilling employment as soon as they decide to enter the workforce," said Mayor O'Connor.

For more information, please contact Manager of CommunicationsAllen Etzler, at [email protected].