City World Market Receives Maryland Economic Development Association Award
Posted 6/15/2007

The Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) presented the City of Gaithersburg with an Economic Development Award in the Project/Program Category at its Annual Conference on June 4, 2007 at Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort Center in Allegany County.  The Association’s annual awards recognize people, projects, programs and activities and that have helped improve the economic climate in the State of Maryland.

On September 17, 2006 the City’s Human Services Division launched the City World Market, a collection of culturally diverse crafters exhibiting unique wares within the larger context of the Celebrate Gaithersburg in Olde Towne Street Festival.  This collaborative effort included business education, mentoring and marketing to develop a program that not only enhanced the 25th anniversary street festival but provided recent immigrants with an outlet for their creativity and an opportunity to become entrepreneurs in their adopted country.  The program is being repeated for the 26th Annual Festival, scheduled for Sunday, September 16, 2007.

This is the second major award that the City World Market has received.  On March 12, 2007 the National League of Cities presented Gaithersburg with one of only eight national awards for excellence in cultural diversity.

At the MEDA Annual Conference, the City of Annapolis received an award in the Redevelopment Project/Program category for its Inner West Street Gateway project, and Frederick County was presented a Marketing award for its 2006 Frederick County Farm Guide.  Individuals also received Life Member, Hall of Fame, and Volunteer of the Year awards.

For more information on the City World Market please contact the Gaithersburg Human Services Division at 301-258-6395 or visit www.gaithersburgmd.gov/celebrate.  For more information on Maryland Economic Development Association please visit www.medamd.com