BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES
June 22, 2016
Board Members Present:
Bill Stoops, Chairman
Eric Hoffman, Secretary
Bill Tumulty, Treasurer
Helen Bennett
Steve Donovan
Don Gross
Kate Gray
Royce Herman
Jeremy Reynolds
Board Member Absent:
Ed Vitalos, Vice Chairman
Vicki Paulas
Liaisons and Guests Present:
Linda Friday, QAC Chamber of Commerce
Tom Rider, Dept. of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Deborah Bowden, State of Maryland Department of Commerce
Gigi Windley, Executive Director, Kent Narrows Development Foundation
Mike Bowdell, Commissioner, Town of Queenstown
Kenny Scott, Atlantic Broadband
Renee Stephens, Delmarva Power, Senior Public Affair Manager
Staff Present:
Jamie Gilbert, Executive Director, Department of Economic Development
Jean Fabi, Business and Economic Development Liaison
Faith Elliott–Rossing, Director of Community Affairs
Ashley Chenault, Department of Community Affairs, Tourism
I.
Call to Order:
Chairman Stoops called the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. at the Chesapeake Heritage and Visitor
Center, 425 Piney Narrows Road, Chester, MD 21619. A motion to approve the agenda was made
by Mrs. Bennett seconded by Mr. Tumulty, and unanimously carried by the Board members present.
II.
Secretary’s Report:
A motion to approve the minutes from the December 16, 2015 meeting was made by Mrs. Gray
seconded by Mr. Tumulty, and unanimously carried by the Board members present.
III.
Treasurer’s Report:
The current balance of the account is $4, 268.38 in the Chesapeake Charities account, as reported
by Jean Fabi.
EDC Minutes for the
June 22, 2016 Meeting
Page 2
IV.
Economic Development Director Report
Jamie Gilbert, Executive Director, provided an update on the following topics:
A. Business Retention and Expansion:
1. Compass Regional Hospice and Powertrain Products expansion projects were
unanimously approved by the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners at the last meeting
for EDIF funding. EDIF performance/ loan grant agreements have been signed with
both companies.
2. Signtex expansion is still in the development process as the plans have been
resubmitted to the Planning & Zoning Department.
3. Kent Manor Inn filed bankruptcy the day before auction. An EDIF award was approved
but not disbursed for $100,000 funds of grant money. The business will need to comply
with grant stipulations (obtain required permits and approvals) by October to receive
funding.
4. Debbie Bowden and Jean Fabi attended Harbor Sales VIP Expo on June 10th to network
and promote the county. The event included vendors covering a 5 state region and was
attended by nearly 900 people.
5. Mr. Gilbert accompanied Troy Wilkins, President of the Queen Anne’s County
Watermen’s Association to watch the oysters that were being harvested in tanks at
Harris Seafood Company, be released into Wells Cove. Over a 3 year period this oyster
replenishment effort will yield 6.5 million oysters.
6. The County will be following up with businesses advertising job openings in the Queen
Anne’s County booth at the Chestertown Tea Party Festival, in Kent County to measure
effectiveness.
B. Business Recruitment:
1. The Solar Farm project and PILOT has been placed on hold, as there is confusion
among the county and various state agencies as to the property tax specifications in
Maryland State tax code. Steve Donovan advised, Gilbert reach out to Peter Franchot’s
office for assistance.
2. Assisted living facility project of Centreville is moving forward. Gilbert expects to
complete BRIDGE application for this project before his departure.
3. Boatel is still in the permitting process, it is however supported by critical area. Gigi
Windley, Director of Kent Narrows Development Foundation advised that project
passed conditional use and height variance regulations. The project is presumed to
create 15 new fulltime jobs.
4. Baltimore interior construction company is close to entering a contract of purchase for a
Thompson Creek Road property in Stevensville. This company would bring 15 new
jobs with good salaries. Gilbert will be following up with this company this week.
5. Gilbert, Linda Friday and Commissioner Jack Wilson went to Vanishing Point Race
Cars in Queen Anne’s to welcome the business to the county. The business has
currently created about 6 new jobs. They are currently working on obtaining
promotional signage to help with visibility.
C. Queen Anne’s County Chamber of Commerce and State Business Incentives: On June 15th,
the Chamber of Commerce hosted “Creating Opportunities” program. The EDIF Board,
Economic Development and PACE representatives participated to provide information on all
the incentives available for businesses.
EDC Minutes for the
June 22, 2016 Meeting
Page 3
D. Queen Anne’s County Enterprise Zone:
Jamie met with MDOC on June 21st. MDOC supported the Economic Development
Department’s recommendations for the census tract and supported additions including
Matapeake Professional Park and Chesapeake Bay Business Park. The map designating the
geographic area of the zone is being revised to include additional area and the application will
be continually worked on and ready to submit in October. Mr. Donovan proposed that the EDC
write a letter of support to the County Commissioners on the enterprise zone creation. The
EDC agreed to have a special meeting on June 29th to discuss the EZ and to make
recommendations on local standards and the geographic location of the designation.
E. Kent Narrows TIF Study Update:
Mr. Gilbert, Jean Fabi, Steve Cahoon of Public Works, Jody Schulz (KNDF Chairman) and
Gigi Windley met with Mears Point Marina to gather information on infrastructure projects and
estimated costs for improvements to measure feasibility.
F. Broadband Task Force Committee Update:
Faith Elliott Rossing advised County Commissioners created a broadband task force and
included a requirement that 3 county citizens from different areas in the county be represented.
The taskforce has now met 3 times, most recently the taskforce met with Kent County to
collect information on their internet infrastructure and how they achieved county wide
connectivity.
G. Economic Development moving Forward:
Gilbert explained that he has accepted the position of Economic Development Director for
Lancaster County, South Carolina. His resignation is effective July 8th. He will be working
with the County Commissioners to review and update Economic Development Director job
description. The job posting is expected to be posted in the next few days. Gilbert advises the
new permeant employee expected to be hired by the end of August and that he will be assisting
in recruiting the new director.
H. Renee Stephens, Senior Public Affair Manager of Delmarva Power introduced herself and
stated the following: Delmarva Power parent company was absorbed by Exelon, however, the
name Delmarva power will remain the same. She advised the business is still doing very well
compared to the other companies absorbed and outages maps areas are decreasing. Ms.
Stephens informed the board to please let her know if she can ever be of assistance.
V. Roundtable Liaison Reports
A. Chamber of Commerce: Linda Friday advised the Queen Anne’s County Chamber of Commerce
had a Google Workshop seminar at Chesapeake College. The purpose of the seminar was to
educate businesses on how to update their google listings. Next mixer will be on July 21st at
Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center. The Business &Home Expo will be held on October 20th
at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club.
B. Kent Narrows Development Foundation: Gigi Windley reported that a live broadcast with
Channel 5 WTTG will occur in front of Bridges Restaurant from 7:00AM to 11:00AM on July 1st.
The broadcast will effectively market the Kent Narrows area. The foundation is still awaiting
results of the Maryland Heritage Application Grant, which if approved will complete a project
called the Watermen’s Heritage Trail.
EDC Minutes for the
June 22, 2016 Meeting
Page 4
C. Business Queen Anne’s: Steve Donovan advised that both the Mears Point and 4 Seasons project
are moving forward. Kathy Szeliga will be here on June 23rd for election fundraisers and Governor
Larry Hogan will be at Red Eyes Restaurant and Dock Bar on July 25th.
D. Department of Community Affairs, Tourism: Faith Elliott Rossing reported the fireworks will
occur at the Chesapeake Heritage and Visitor Center June 30th with a rain date of July 3rd.
Centreville’s fireworks will occur July 2nd with a rain date of July 5th at Queen Anne’s County
High School. The Queen Anne’s County internet survey has been closed; of the 18,000 surveys
sent 800 residents participated. The survey measured resident accessibility to internet connectivity,
resident location and satisfaction and resident’s preference on receiving information from the
County. The department is still working on reviewing and analyzing this information.
E. Department of Commerce: Debbie Bowden reported that Pete O’Neill, Department of
Commerce Director of Strategic Industries has been learning a lot about the business of agriculture
and working closely to insure the Department of Commerce’s efforts and polices align with
Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Department of Agriculture. There are two grants
now open from Rural Maryland Council including Maerdaf (economic development grant for rural
areas in Maryland) and the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund has been funded after
many years. Compass Regional Hospice’s fundraiser for New Dawn grief Camp will be at
Fisherman’s Inn Crab Deck on June 30th.
F. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation: Tom Rider, Field Representative, advised he
will be attending an apprenticeship program meeting next week.
G. Town Liaisons: Mike Bowdell, Queenstown Liaison, advised the town of Queenstown new sewer
and water plant has been completed and has 0% pollution and has the capability of supplying
600,000 gallons per day. The old plant has been destroyed. The town’s 2017 budget is now in
place and one of the main projects is replacing some of the waterlines.
Royce Herman advised he is the Director of the Equestrian Tuckahoe Center and has devised a
long term plan (20 years) to expand the facility and program. This project will rely on grant
funding for completion.
VI.
Old Business
Jean Fabi will correspond with Dr. Diriker on the Strategic Plan and has sent him the revised
mission statement. Information will be provided to the board members. We are hoping that Dr.
Diriker will be able to attend the next business meeting with draft of the plan.
VII. New Busisess
Mr. Donovan proposed a question, asking when the letter should be drafted to the County
Comissioners and Secretary of DOC, Steven Gill, on behalf of the EDC support to the conceptual
enterprise trade zone. After discussion, Mr. Gilbert advised a special informative EDC meeting be
called June 29, 2016, 8:30AM to discuss the concepts of the enterprise trade zone, this idea was
unanimously agreed on by all members present.
VIII. Adjournment
A motion made by Mr. Donovan and seconded by Mr. Tumulty, the meeting was adjourned at
10:05 AM.
Submitted by: Jean Fabi, Business and Economic Development Liaison
Ashley Chenault, Administrative Specialist, Community Affairs