FrostburgFirst’s August board meeting included a discussion regarding the creation of and Arts and Entertainment District in Frostburg. Andy Vick, Director of the Allegany Arts Council, attended to help answer questions and offer support. This official designation has been a very successful component for the revitalization of Downtown Cumberland. The program, which is a statewide, designates areas for tax incentives to help revitalize neighborhoods by attracting developers to build and renovate, as well as artists who will reside and create. This helps to stimulate business activity and provide educational opportunities within the arts community. Other such districts, like Cumberland, offer a unique blend of galleries, performing arts centers, sculptures, musical venues, restaurants and public art that every visitor will enjoy.

There will be a meeting Thursday, August 23rd at 6:30 PM at City Place to address Frostburg’s potential as an A & E District. Due to the great interest in the creation of an A & E District, FrostburgFirst has decided to move the location of this meeting from the Main Street conference room to City Place. We invite anyone who is interested in being a part of this exciting process to attend. Items to be discussed will be what our A & E District might look like, determining the boundaries of this district, and what we need to do to get started. Andy Vick will be there to guide us, answer questions, and explain the benefits of the program.

Since its inception, Frostburg’s Main Street Program has achieved established a Business Assistance Fund, created a commercial building inventory for the downtown district, promoted dozens of local events, and successfully obtained thousands of dollars in facade grants for local businesses. The Arts and Entertainment designation would help to broaden the program’s ability to access grant funding that would generate a significant enhancement of the downtown streetscape, and stimulate economic development appropriate to our historic community.

If you have any questions regarding the August 23rd meeting or FrostburgFirst, please contact Jerilyn Jackson at (301)689-6900, or frostburgfirst@gmail.com.