1912-1919

April 22, 1912
President Taft holds a well-attended conference of Commercial Associations promoting the creation of the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Among the 700 in attendance are Captain John Markey, E.E. Osborne, S. Lewis Motter, and Holms D. Baker of the Frederick Board of Trade

April 23, 1912
The Board of Trade wires in an application to the newly-formed Chamber of Commerce. Captain D. John Markey is named the organization's first president.

1920-1929

The Frederick Board of Trade changes its name to the Frederick Chamber of Commerce, expanding to include the entire county. The Chamber adopts the slogan "If Frederick is worth living in, it is worth working for!"

For the first time, women are allowed membership in the Chamber; membership soars to 500 individuals.

1930-1939

In accordance with the U.S. Chamber, the Frederick Chamber advocated for Federal work programs.

1938
The Chamber organizes the Community Chest, known today as the United Way of Frederick County.

1940-1949

The Chamber supports the sale of government war bonds to help the World War II efforts. By the end of the war, Frederick County enjoyed a thriving business community.

April 1947
The Chamber celebrates its 35th anniversary with its keynote address delivered by U.S. Chamber President Earl Owen Shreve.

1950-1959

Late 1950s
The Chamber creates the Economic Development Committee, which later becomes the Frederick County Economic and Community Development Commission, as well as the Arts Council for Frederick County.

1960-1969

1963
The Chamber creates the Tourist Development Committee, which launches the first Bell and History Days open house in 1968. In 1976, this committee becomes an independent organization under the name "The Tourism Council of Frederick County".

1969
The Chamber collaborates with the Frederick Chapter of the NAACP to establish the People's Opportunity and Information Center. 

Additionally, the official name of the Chamber is changed to the "Frederick County Chamber of Commerce".

1970-1979

The Chamber welcomes Kathryn "Kitty" Mercer Reed as its first female executive director.

1980-1989

The Chamber founds Leadership Frederick County, an annual community leadership program that now has over 1,200 graduates.
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2000-2009

2007
The Frederick County Business Roundtable for Education holds its first Future Link conference.

2008
The Chamber hosts the first annual Frederick New Media & Technology Conference. #FredNMT

2010-Present

2012
The Chamber celebrates 100 years of serving the business community.

2017
After more than a decade, the Chamber returns its headquarters into Downtown Frederick, leveraging a variety of partnerships in the public and private sector to create the Frederick County Business Cultivation Center at 118 N. Market Street. Partners include the Frederick County Office of Economic Development, Maryland Department of Commerce, Fort Detrick Technology Transfer Office, and the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc.​

"Our investment in Chamber membership is an investment in relationships in the community beyond our own industry. It gives us a place to call, people to reach out to and information that is invaluable to our day to day operations. Chamber membership makes our community smaller and larger all at the same time. We love it!" - Elin Ross, Executive Director, Federated Charities

UPCOMING EVENTS

NEW MEMBERS