M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal — Financial Digest— Economic Development — January 22 - February 18, 2021 — 19A E conomic D evelopment By Jamie Williams, CEcD, Kent County, Maryland Kent County is Open for Business
www.marej.com
K
ent County is a scenic peninsula on Mary- land’s Upper Eastern
YMCA currently under con- struction. A Gigabit County Kent County has completed the backbone implementation of a 110-mile fiber optic back - bone throughout the county. The county has entered into a public-private partnership with Kent Fiber Optic Systems to provide public institutions with high-speed reliable internet ac- cess. KentFOS’ open access net- work allows Internet Services Providers the ability to offer 1G service to businesses and residences. The primary goal was to enhance the infrastruc- ture needed to support new and
existing businesses and orga- nizations in Kent County, par- ticularly affordable, robust, and high capacity internet access. By taking this action, the county is expanding the competitive capability of local businesses and organizations and providing more jobs and opportunities for residents. The infrastructure improves the ability to attract new residents and businesses to the County. If you could work from any- where… you would live here. Jamie Williams, CEcD is director of economic & tourism development for Kent County, MD. MAREJ
Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, situated less than a two-hour drive from Philadelphia, Wash- ington D.C., Baltimore, An- napolis, Dover and Northern Virginia. It is home to two des- ignated Main Streets, an Arts & Entertainment District, several worldwide manufacturers, his- toric Washington College, and one of the largest marina com- munities in Maryland. Kent County is Open for Business Kent County is actively pro- viding incentives and workforce development tools to help busi- nesses grow. The County is de- veloping broadband infrastruc- ture and has implemented an 110-mile fiber optic broadband network for high-speed gigabit connectivity. Portions of the County are located within Com- merce Zones, an Opportunity Zone, an Enterprise Zone, and a HUBZone. The department of Economic and TourismDevelop- ment works with businesses to identify the tax credits they are entitled to for locating to, and growing within, those desig- nated zones. The County offers access to programs including the Maryland Commercial Prop- erty Assessed Clean Energy (MD-PACE) Program, theMary- land Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MDMEP), and the ExportMD Program. Business Overview Kent County is home to a wide variety of businesses in industries including manufac- turing, aquaculture, agricul- ture, health services, education, maritime, culinary and profes- sional services. Several of the major employers are world-wide manufacturers and the county is home to several business parks, and growth areas, including the 301 Interstate and Worton Industrial Area. The region has access to a workforce close to 300,000 within a 30-minute drive and the unemployment rate continues to be below the national average. County busi- nesses benefit from no county personal property tax, low per- sonal income tax, and a variety of tax credits making it a profit - able place to do business. Chestertown Business Campus The Chestertown Business Campus is one of the larg- est economic development projects in recent history. The 80-acre site will be home
Dixon Valve & Coupling’s new headquarters photo compliments of Shore Studios www.shorestudios.com
to Dixon Valve & Coupling’s new distribution facility, new corporate headquarters, a new manufacturing facility, and a new facility for the grow- ing YMCA. The site has also been approved for commercial speculative space for other
businesses to locate in Ches- tertown, the County seat. The campus includes the 188,000 s/f distribution facility and the 60,0000 s/f headquarters recently completed, and the 100,000 s/f manufacturing building and the 50,000 s/f
400 High Street, 3rd Floor Chestertown, MD 21620 410-810-2169 office 410-778-7482 fax econdev@kentgov.org Live ● Learn ● Work ● Connect
WE HAVE WHAT YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS TO SUCCEED Tax Incentives
Designated Growth Areas 19 Million People Within 100 Miles 5 Sustainable Communities Educated and Trained Workforce Access to 3 International Airports and 3 Major Seaports
Business Resources Fiber Connectivity Interstate Access Business Associations Access to Higher Education
Visit: www.kentcounty.com/business
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