Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

The Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland is an attractive region for both businesses and residents. The region must welcome new businesses and provide strong support for the expansion of existing businesses in order to strengthen the health of the local economy. A business‐friendly environment creates a region that attracts and retains talented employees and provides quality jobs for local residents. Support for entrepreneurship continues to grow with organizations such as the Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery Competition and the Rommel Center for Entrepreneurship. 

Healthcare innovation offers one area for entrepreneurial focus in the region. With strong and growing healthcare systems in the region and a growing aging population there are ample opportunities for the growth of healthcare innovation.

Agriculture and agribusiness has long been one of the mainstays of the local economy. New opportunities for diversification of crops should continue to be explored. Thoughtful consideration should be given to land use policies that impact the access to productive farmland while also protecting the region’s substantial and varied environmental assets.

Regional tourism ranges from the large summer resort town of Ocean City to a growing number of sports tourism opportunities, including the Salisbury Marathon and the USSSA East tournaments. Regional events also include a long list of natural, cultural and historical tourism activities.

A growing aerospace/aeronautics industry cluster continues to develop in the region. Assets such as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Salisbury University, the Salisbury/Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY) and the region's close proximity to Wallops Flight Facility help provide a nexus for industry innovation. 

The Lower Eastern Shore boasts a strong education continuum that includes workforce development and training. The region is home to three institutions of higher education including Wor‐Wic Community College, Salisbury University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Three technical high schools combining CTE programs, paid internships, summer career camps and other programs that include middle school students add an additional layer of workforce development to the region. Though a broader spectrum of coordinated and managed internships, apprenticeships, and on‐the‐job training programs have been made available in recent years, affordability and accessibility remain the key to providing opportunities to individuals of all socio‐economic classes.

The Maryland EARN program and the Maryland Department of Labor Apprenticeship programs are examples of such programs that can be further utilized and serve as a model for local workforce programs. To bolster the success of economic and workforce development programs, case management and support services must also be available and accessible. Similarly, employer driven Skill Acquisition/Skill Development programs and activities can be further enhanced with strategic public subsidies and incentives to further develop the local workforce.

Investing in public education remains the best and fastest way to improve the economy of a region. Such investments also yield some of the highest ROIs among public expenditures. To meet the needs of all age cohorts, adequate opportunities for the aging population to remain engaged in the community through educational, workforce, and volunteer opportunities should remain a priority. The presence of a competitive workforce is critical to the region’s ability to attract and sustain existing and emerging sectors of the economy and serves as a key factor in achieving Goal 1: Health Economy.

The region’s transportation infrastructure includes a network of roads, rail, water, and air. Efforts to enhance and grow the current infrastructure of the region will make a healthy economy and thriving region possible.

Additions to the transportation network that connect the current activity nodes will further integrate the region and help to manage sprawl. More transit options will allow residents greater access to employment and leisure opportunities while also reducing the environmental impact that results from the transport of a growing population.

The existing railway system is in need of a funding mechanism to help ensure its viability into the future. Because a substantial portion lies directly parallel to the North/South US13 transportation corridor, with its existing broadband, electric power transmission and natural gas pipeline infrastructure, the rail system has great potential for an expanding role in the economic viability of the region. 

Waterway infrastructure includes the Port of Salisbury and the West Ocean City Harbor. The city-owned Port of Salisbury, Maryland’s second largest port by tonnage, has benefited from recent revitalization efforts and plans for continued development are underway. Maintaining proper dredging of the commercial waterways is essential to the long‐term viability of commercial water transport and the related industries. Federal funding for dredging is tied to the amount of tonnage going through the port on an annual basis. In 2021 the City of Salisbury concluded a feasibility study to explore growth opportunities for the port (see https://salisbury.md/port-of-salisbury-study ). 

In the case of West Ocean City, the current infrastructure supports a substantial commercial and sport fishing industry. The planned installation and operation of two offshore wind farms will increase the use and importance of the harbor and the channels. As with the Port of Salisbury, consistent dredging is crucial to continued use of the port.  In 2023 dredging commenced using funds from the Maryland Department of Commerce. 

The region should continue to strive to maximize the potential of tier-1 regional infrastructure assets like the Salisbury‐Ocean City‐Wicomico Airport (SBY), home to American Airlines subsidiary Piedmont Airlines. In addition, FedEx continues to operate flights from its facility at SBY. Recent investments in runway extension, municipal water extension, broadband extension, natural gas line extension and business/aviation park development have helped position SBY as an important factor in the future growth and economic resiliency of the region. Further substantial investment in FY23-24 includes the establishment of a FAA Part 147 Certified Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) program at SBY in partnership with the aviation department of HBCU University of Maryland Eastern Shore, as well as the implementation of shovel-ready business park site development as part of an overall strategic plan.  Reliance on a single commercial carrier remains a major concern. 

Broadband internet access is a key component of the region’s ability to create, attract, and retain job‐creating businesses and institutions. Access improves the productivity and competitiveness of local business and provides additional teleworking opportunities for residents. It also provides better access to local government agencies, educational and telehealth resources. The recent creation of the Office of Statewide Broadband within the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has led to a more streamlined process of funding implementation and improved coordination between local county governments, ISP's and state/federal agencies.  While broadband access in the region has grown significantly over the past decade, challenges still remain with regard to building out last mile infrastructure to reach currently unserved and underserved populations.

Ensuring appropriate soft infrastructure, including healthcare, education, and government facilities, are in place is necessary to fulfill the current needs and support the future growth of the local population and business base. Existing facilities should be continuously monitored in order to plan for growing capacity needs. School facilities should be upgraded, where necessary, to ensure students are provided with the optimum environment for learning in an increasingly digital era.

Renewable energy investments such as solar farms and two offshore wind farms planned to be installed off the coast of Ocean City are movements toward a more diversified energy base for the region. The vast majority of electricity consumed is generated by nuclear, coal and natural gas powered sources outside the region. The region has a major transmission line deficit, with a single major line north to south. Capacity concerns during very cold and very hot days and a general inability of industrial, commercial, and residential users to reduce daily usage are ongoing issues. It is hoped that the expanding natural gas infrastructure will help alleviate some of these concerns. Additional resiliency in the regional transportation and energy infrastructure is an important consideration for the overall health of the local economy. This issue is discussed further in the resiliency section of this document.

In the transportation industry, roughly 22% of residents in Somerset County arrive to work by driving, carpooling, using public transportation, or by walking less than 10 minutes. Only roughly 17% and 16% of Wicomico County and Worcester County residents respectively arrive to work in less than 10 minutes. Yet, in all three counties, only roughly 6% of residents take longer than 60 minutes to get to work. These findings seem to indicate that a majority of Lower Eastern Shore residents work within the state.

Lastly, the human capital of the region is an asset that cannot be overlooked when examining the local infrastructure needs. A trained and trainable workforce is a necessary component of the region’s ability to support and grow its economic base. Efforts to address the human capital component can be found in Goal 2 above.

The Lower Eastern Shore boasts abundant natural beauty, significant historical assets and a vibrant cultural heritage. The unique geography encompasses vast open lands and a network of rivers nestled between the beautiful Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Historic downtown areas and attractions provide a strong connection to the past that built the region.

Balancing the needs for growth to accommodate a strong and healthy economy with the conservation of cultural and natural resources is a key priority for the region. Preserving the coastline and protecting the health of the waterways on which generations have built their living is key to not only ensuring the environmental health and sustainability of the region but also for providing heritage and eco‐tourism opportunities that allow residents and visitors to enjoy these natural assets. Similarly, development growth must be balanced with the need to safeguard productive farmland in support of one of the largest industries in the region.

“Quality‐of‐life” is a phrase often used to describe what residents love about the area although the exact definition is difficult to pinpoint. The close access to metropolitan areas including Baltimore, Washington D.C., Annapolis, New York City, and Richmond without the experience of the day‐to‐day congestion is one of the competitive advantages the region has to offer to both businesses, individuals and families. Access to a large array of music, art, and cultural amenities allows residents to enjoy experiences that speak to their interests.

Initiatives to improve air and water quality and innovate in ways that enhance sustainability while reducing environmental impacts will benefit not only the economy but the natural assets that contribute to the quality‐of‐life and attract future residents and visitors. It is incumbent upon all stakeholders, including major industries, to augment Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts by reducing their impact. By the same token planners must think strategically regarding the impact of sprawl on the region’s waterways.

The region has long been an active retirement destination for individuals over the age of 60 and this population continues to grow. Providing the amenities and infrastructure necessary to allow residents to age in place is an important consideration in providing this segment of the population with continued access to the vibrant communities that brought or kept them here in the first place.