Business
Downtown Frederick Partnership receives grant from Truist Foundation to support launch of first Retail Incubator in Downtown Frederick, MD
Downtown Frederick Partnership has received a grant from Truist Foundation to launch a new Retail Incubator, providing unprecedented support for emerging entrepreneurs and expanding diversity in business ownership and opportunity in Downtown Frederick. Downtown Frederick Partnership will manage the program in partnership with SOUL Street, a Frederick-based collective of Black business owners and community leaders dedicated to fostering entrepreneurial success.
About this update from Truist Financial Corporation
[{"type":"text","content":"DOWNTOWN FREDERICK, Md., Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Downtown Frederick Partnership has received a grant from Truist Foundation to launch a new Retail Incubator, providing unprecedented support for emerging entrepreneurs and expanding diversity in business ownership and opportunity in Downtown Frederick. Downtown Frederick Partnership will manage the program in partnership with SOUL Street, a Frederick-based collective of Black business owners and community leaders dedicated to fostering entrepreneurial success.","length":519,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"image","alt":"Downtown Frederick Partnership","displaySize":"","headline":null,"caption":"Downtown Frederick Partnership","className":"","disableSlideshowImg":false,"size":{"original":{"width":400,"height":149,"url":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/a78b2963edae4c7464f8cbf0258fcb60"},"resized":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Dp4aJJIXdlwfWasoHOSCag--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTI2MztjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/a78b2963edae4c7464f8cbf0258fcb60","width":400,"height":149}},"href":"https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2865320/Downtown_Frederick_Partnership_Logo.html","hrefExternal":true,"rel":"nofollow"},{"type":"text","content":"This first-of-its-kind Retail Incubator will be located at 22 S Market St, inside the historic Federated Charities building. The incubator will host three participants at a time for up to 12 months, providing access to affordable retail space, shared operations, mentorship and hands-on business training. The program is designed to help emerging retail entrepreneurs test and grow their business concepts in a supportive, lower-risk environment.","length":446,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":""This incubator advances a key goal set by the Partnership's Business Development Committee – to cultivate new retail entrepreneurs from idea to implementation while diversifying ownership and offerings downtown," said Kara Norman, Executive Director of Downtown Frederick Partnership. "It fills a critical need for affordable, accessible pathways into brick-and-mortar retail, particularly for entrepreneurs who have historically been underrepresented in the downtown business community."","length":513,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Developed through collaboration with local businesses, economic...