She’s proposing funding to help local non-profits, food banks.
Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announcing actions she is taking to deal with the federal government shutdown.
Frederick, Md (KM) Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater is taking steps to address the impacts of the federal government shutdown. During a briefing on Friday, Fitzwater said she is asking the County Council to approve $1.5 million in one-time funding to support local non-profits dealing with the affects of the shutdown. The money will provide HEART grants to local non-profits. HEART stands for Helping Empower Area Resources Together.
“HEART will provide grants of up to $50,000 to support our non-profit community,” she said. “These grants will go directly to organizations that are providing those direct services to our residents. Once the funding is approved, we will reach out to our non-profit partners to help them through the grant process.”
The County Executive says these non-profits have been hit hard by the federal government shutdown. “These critical community partners have seen a drop in revenues as federal priorities have changed and, at the same, more people need their services, draining on already scarce resources as a result of the shutdown.”
The federal government shutdown began on October 1st, 2025, and is going on record as the longest shutdown in US History.
Fitzwater is also proposing an additional $1 million in emergency funds to help local food banks. “Food security is vital to our community and our food banks have been strained by the increased demand as a result of the shutdown,” she says. “We have a list of food banks across the county mapped on our website to help residents find these resources. This map can be found at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/food.”
About 12,000 Frederick County residents work for the federal government.
For more information on food banks, go to www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/food. For other resources, go on line to www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/Federal.
By Kevin McManus