(Sept. 1, 2016) Improving the local economy is a tall order for any person, and has proven especially difficult to balance here because of a divide that exists somewhere to the south of Berlin — where, currently, the tourism/hospitality market falls away and the agricultural aspects take precedence.
Yet those are the responsibilities vested in the economic development department, an office that has been as volatile in the past as the weather that rules the county’s major economic drivers: tourism and agriculture.
The previous occupant, Bill Badger, tended his resignation after almost four years during this time last year. His deputy and protégé, Merry Mears, was named director shortly after he left. A few months after that, the County Commissioners named John Azzolini the deputy director of the department.
In the meantime, Badger said he’s done some project-based consulting in Baltimore, Annapolis and Delaware on “projects that found him” from his long history in the industry and state. In 2014, Badger was inducted into the Maryland Economic Development Association Hall of Fame.
“I am pleased they picked Merry. I saw the end coming and worked hard to get her ready,” he said. “Part of my mission was to build on our strengths – hospitality and agriculture – but to diversify our economy.”
Badger said he would have preferred that diversification to occur in the high-tech sector.
He was also keeping tabs on some projects that started during his tenure, the proposed sports arena and excursion train linking Berlin and Snow Hill.
“The hockey arena is going to be a challenge, because there’s usually some form of government investment, but the commissioners had no taste for it,” he said.
Competition might also be a problem, Badger continued, due to the end of alcohol prohibition at the nearby Wicomico Youth and Civic Center, which, like the proposed arena, is dependent on state funds.
The fear is the state won’t invest the money it’ll take to build an arena because of the money it’s already spent on the WYCC, thereby competing against itself.
The excursion train also began on Badger’s watch, and although he said he regrets not being able to see it through he said he was glad to see the project continuing.
“I think you can expect to hear something on the train by the end of the year,” Mears said.
Currently, she said, there are five entities with skin in the game, though not all have been identified. The towns of Berlin and Snow Hill are both involved, as is the railroad. Nondisclosure agreements limit what Mears is able to discuss.
“It’s an ongoing conversation and it’s going to take a bit of time,” she said.
The sports arena is also progressing, and Mears said she expects the results of the phase-one feasibility study, conducted by the Maryland Stadium Authority, to be delivered by November.
“It’s going to tell us some basic information — not business plan information, but basic feasibility and whether or not we should proceed to phase two,” she said.
How many people are likely to utilize the proposed facility, along with projected locations for the arena, are also likely to be included with the study, Mears said.
“Bill and I did a lot of work on defining what a diverse economy in Worcester County would be,” she said. “We have tourism and hospitality, and both agriculture and healthcare are kind of tied for third. We also have some manufacturing towards the south end,” she said. “The aerospace industry, through Wallops Island, remains on the plate.”
Not necessarily recommending homebrew aerospace solutions themselves, Mears said, but small businesses that develop products or services used by that industry could find a place in Pocomoke’s small business incubator.
Earlier this year, the Baltimore Business Journal named the Worcester County Small Business and Technology Incubator as one of the top 20 in the state, offering low rent and high-speed internet access, along with a host of other services to fledgling companies.
“I’m also interested in renewable energy — offshore wind is one to keep your eye on, but it’s mostly sitting at the state level for now,” she said.
Putting the county to work is bigger than any one person, industry or director, so finding that balance in order to improve conditions across Worcester is a continuing goal of the economic development office.
Yet those are the responsibilities vested in the economic development department, an office that has been as volatile in the past as the weather that rules the county’s major economic drivers: tourism and agriculture.
The previous occupant, Bill Badger, tended his resignation after almost four years during this time last year. His deputy and protégé, Merry Mears, was named director shortly after he left. A few months after that, the County Commissioners named John Azzolini the deputy director of the department.
In the meantime, Badger said he’s done some project-based consulting in Baltimore, Annapolis and Delaware on “projects that found him” from his long history in the industry and state. In 2014, Badger was inducted into the Maryland Economic Development Association Hall of Fame.
“I am pleased they picked Merry. I saw the end coming and worked hard to get her ready,” he said. “Part of my mission was to build on our strengths – hospitality and agriculture – but to diversify our economy.”
Badger said he would have preferred that diversification to occur in the high-tech sector.
He was also keeping tabs on some projects that started during his tenure, the proposed sports arena and excursion train linking Berlin and Snow Hill.
“The hockey arena is going to be a challenge, because there’s usually some form of government investment, but the commissioners had no taste for it,” he said.
Competition might also be a problem, Badger continued, due to the end of alcohol prohibition at the nearby Wicomico Youth and Civic Center, which, like the proposed arena, is dependent on state funds.
The fear is the state won’t invest the money it’ll take to build an arena because of the money it’s already spent on the WYCC, thereby competing against itself.
The excursion train also began on Badger’s watch, and although he said he regrets not being able to see it through he said he was glad to see the project continuing.
“I think you can expect to hear something on the train by the end of the year,” Mears said.
Currently, she said, there are five entities with skin in the game, though not all have been identified. The towns of Berlin and Snow Hill are both involved, as is the railroad. Nondisclosure agreements limit what Mears is able to discuss.
“It’s an ongoing conversation and it’s going to take a bit of time,” she said.
The sports arena is also progressing, and Mears said she expects the results of the phase-one feasibility study, conducted by the Maryland Stadium Authority, to be delivered by November.
“It’s going to tell us some basic information — not business plan information, but basic feasibility and whether or not we should proceed to phase two,” she said.
How many people are likely to utilize the proposed facility, along with projected locations for the arena, are also likely to be included with the study, Mears said.
“Bill and I did a lot of work on defining what a diverse economy in Worcester County would be,” she said. “We have tourism and hospitality, and both agriculture and healthcare are kind of tied for third. We also have some manufacturing towards the south end,” she said. “The aerospace industry, through Wallops Island, remains on the plate.”
Not necessarily recommending homebrew aerospace solutions themselves, Mears said, but small businesses that develop products or services used by that industry could find a place in Pocomoke’s small business incubator.
Earlier this year, the Baltimore Business Journal named the Worcester County Small Business and Technology Incubator as one of the top 20 in the state, offering low rent and high-speed internet access, along with a host of other services to fledgling companies.
“I’m also interested in renewable energy — offshore wind is one to keep your eye on, but it’s mostly sitting at the state level for now,” she said.
Putting the county to work is bigger than any one person, industry or director, so finding that balance in order to improve conditions across Worcester is a continuing goal of the economic development office.