City approves agreements for community center
Published by the Frederick News Post
Date: September 20, 2024
Author: Ryan Marshall
The city of Frederick moved one step closer Thursday night to creating a youth center along the city’s Jefferson Street corridor, with the approval of several agreements to move the project forward.
The city’s aldermen unanimously approved an agreement with Frederick County to acquire a building at 300 Scotty’s Bus Lane in Frederick, as well as two agreements and a lease with the Ausherman Family Foundation.
The county donated the surplus building along Scotty’s Bus Lane, across from McCurdy Field, to the city. The city will have six years to open the center.
The Ausherman Family Foundation is leading the building’s renovation and has secured more than $6 million of the expected $6.8 million cost of the renovation so far, according to a report prepared by the city staff.
The city’s Department of Housing and Human Services will operate the center once it opens.
More than 30 organizations have expressed an interest in offering programs or services at the center, according to the staff report.
Authorities hope the facility would create a space for a wide variety of programs and services working with young people and families, including behavioral health and other other services.
The programs at the site will focus on young people ages 14 to 24.
They will look for ways to increase collaboration between different organizations and streamline services, and help provide training in areas such as life skills, education services, food security, workforce development, social activities, and physical wellness.
Kathryn Vicere, director of community projects for the Ausherman Family Foundation, told the mayor and aldermen Thursday that the votes were the latest step in several years of working toward the goal of getting the center open.
“Thank you very much, and we’re all very excited to get started,” she said.