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Michael Pennington, executive director of the Tri-County Council welcomed the CEDS committee and gave a brief overview of the events leading to the meeting. He also indicated that the meeting will be followed by a public meeting. Two other public meetings are scheduled over the next two weeks in the other two counties that make up the Lower Eastern Shore. He then introduced Triad Associates, the consulting firm retained to develop the CEDS.
Triad Associates’ President Mike Zumpino introduced the team members present at the meeting and acknowledged the association with the EADS Group on this project. The EADS Group will be examining the engineering, planning and infrastructure issues.
The CEDS Committee members then introduced themselves. The meeting continued with a description of the CEDS and the process it includes. The strategy will include a series of projects (infrastructure, technical studies, capacity building). The strategy is based on consensus reached by the CEDS committee. It will help secure federal and other financial resources for the region.
The Triad Team then provided an overview of the statistical data (demographic and economic) that is included in the CEDS document. The data illustrates the current state of the region. It strongly indicates a large percentage of working population that has, however, low incomes, pointing to the need for skill level improvements.
Following the data presentation, the team described the SWOT exercise and the worksheets to be used for the exercise. The committee then participated in the exercise (summary of the worksheets are included in Appendix).
The meeting closed with a discussion of the next steps, particularly the next meeting to review the CEDS draft.
1 Introduction and Welcome
2 Introduction of CEDS Process – The goal is to identify projects (a broad spectrum of projects) – short-term, long- term and mid-term and to access funding.
| 1 |
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The strategy is a process, thus requires regular (semi-annual and/or quarterly) meetings of the Committee as part of the process, reflecting the ever-changing nature of CEDS. |
1 Timeline for completion of document and submission to USEDA
2 Comments period for the draft document
| 1 |
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Concern about language, page1, paragraph 1 |
| 2 |
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Define “relative decline” › in comparison to other industries agriculture has “lost share of output” -- industry reps present contended that since 1998, the poultry industry has been at steady rate. |
| 2 |
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Be sensitive to press getting it out of context. |
| 3 |
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Page 38 – core strategies – problem with language that it implies moving agriculture out of here. Response: 75% of committee stated that there is a transition. |
| 4 |
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New opportunities within existing industries:
- value-added in poultry;
- NASA Wallop job opportunities – should be strongly reflected in vision statement;
- opportunities of new and expanded industries and new development.
|
| 5 |
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Page 29, listing of major employers › obtained from MD DOL. Committee will submit a list of large employers that they know. |
1 Committee suggestions for projects
| 2 |
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Making Wallop Island like Cape Canaveral – a strategy for industrial and infrastructure to encourage growth of NASA.
- Possible need for interstate understanding (W/VA) -- MOA to create an entity to oversee this is in the works.
|
| 3 |
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|
| 2 |
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Energy, natural gas |
| 3 |
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Healthcare – unfulfilled jobs in the industry: Salisbury Hospital will have a cancer strategy › Medical Academy for the region (hygienists, nurses, EMTCs, radiologists); biggest need is the space for the training facility |
| 4 |
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Need for coordination between counties and agencies |
| 5 |
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Lack of information (regionally relevant) - out of date, not relevant – knowledge infrastructure – need start-up funding, not sustaining it. |
| 6 |
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Fast Ferry - Crisfield is at the bottom of all statistics
- Mrs. Paul Building will be converted into a convention hotel
- Salisbury University will do an impact study
- Three operators interested in 20-year lease
- Infrastructure need: paving of street, parking lot and some amenities
|
| Note: The CEDS Committee agreed that this was a priority project. |
| 1 |
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Tech Infrastructure – high speed internet and connectivity; tie-up with Wallop tech assistance funding for links. |
| 2 |
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Airport runway expansion: critical to Wallop development; existing sewer/water and some industrial park but nothing there. The University Center is providing a grant for feasibility study to be completed in Spring. (Current studies underway:
- Internet connectivity
- Rural utility connectivity (USDA)
- 2 studies:
1) TEDCO – where’s fiber in the state
2) UMES – who are the users and their locations
- Tri-County Council just issued RFP for point of presence and business model - Implementation would be a project.
|
| 1 |
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Barley to Ethanol manufacturing facility: supports local farmers without competing with poultry industry. Maryland Grain Utilization Board supports this. Question of the next steps? Proposal was also submitted to Mid-Shore; feasibility will be completed soon; will be able to do experiments in Spring. |
| 2 |
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Concept of ag-tech incubator |
| 2 |
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Water transportation - the second largest port, only imports, “barges leave Snow Hill empty”. |
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1 Introduction and Welcome
2 Agenda
1 Last meeting received input from Committee; draft was also reviewed by EDA.
2 CEDS serves to highlight where projects fit in the grand scheme of things.
2 Our approach is more regional rather than by County.
3 The document will include a projects matrix that will include budget and funding sources.
4 Today’s goal – look at projects and endorse the document.
1 Changes to the document
| 2 |
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More regional focus |
| 3 |
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Moved some of the data to the appendix |
| 2 |
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Keep in mind this is a process – ongoing |
| 3 |
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Overview of near-term projects- some projects also allow to build capacity.
- Ag-Tech Center
- invite new business and research
- link universities and existing agricultural base
- also related to the information infrastructure expansion
- Health Care
- ongoing and more focus on seniors in a proactive manner
- Information infrastructure
- start implementing existing studies by focusing on links
- make it more accessible and ability to make money from it
|
| 2 |
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Overview of long-term projects
- Wallops Island -making the link to the outside (business development as well as research); NASA has established facilities outside – credit union
- Ferry Connector - tourism and business potential – the latter should be better planned for and targeted, show the need to include Somerset County in the regional tourist economy.
- Airport -must look beyond visitor traffic to make it feasible
- Ethanol & Soy Diesel Generation Facility – need private investment
|
1 Comments
| • |
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Link the tourism - Wicomico and Worcester should also be included. |
| • |
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Move Ferry Connector to near-term. Somerset County will be allowed to negotiate a franchise – Ferry is in the VA CEDS and has EDA funding (Northern Neck Planning Commission) |
| • |
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Wicomico River - has the second largest port in Maryland
need for better definition of use; perhaps add later on in the process
existing master plan; this year’s budget includes money for dredging. |
| 1 |
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Include transportation projects in this document, especially between Routes 13 & 50 and in light of heritage and heritage tourism as many. |
1 Next steps
| 2 |
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EDA has requested that final document be submitted by March. |
| 2 |
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Tri-County executive director will go to Counties to get their endorsement |
| 3 |
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The CEDS Committee will meet quarterly. |
| 4 |
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Next meeting in 6 months. |
The Committee endorsed the document through a motion with the condition to include suggestions received today. .
Virgil Shockley, Chair, called the meeting of the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland CEDS Committee to order on Monday, December 15, 2003, at the Henson Center at UMES in Princess Anne, Maryland at 6:05 p.m.
In attendance: B.J. Corbin, Lower Shore Workforce Alliance; Nola Arnold, Wor-Wic Community College; Mary Ashanti, Wicomico County NAACP; Renee Stephens, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development; Brad Bellacicco, Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce; Rebecca Taylor-White, Wicomico County Citizen; Chip Dashiell, Wicomico County Council; Louise Gulyas, Worcester County Commissioner; Jerry Redden, Worcester County Economic Development; Dick Work, Conectiv Power Delivery; Bill Satterfield, Delmarva Poultry Industry; Sandy Coyman, Worcester County Planning; Thomas W. Davis, Worcester County EDAB; Judy Hunt-Harris, Mid Delmarva YMCA; Eroll A. Mattox, Wicomico County Citizen; Memo Diriker and Ruth Baker, BEACON at Salisbury University; Neal Noyes, USDOC/EDA; Sam Boston, Somerset County Commissioner; Mike McCready, Somerset County Commissioner; Danny Thompson, City of Crisfield; Fred Lankford, Lankford-Sysco Food Services; Delegate Page Elmore; Tony Sarbanes, Wicomico County Council; Rob Harris, Coastline Training & Development; Mike Pennington and Kristie Eberly, Tri-County Council.
Following introductions Chair Shockley turned the meeting over to Rob Harris of Coastline Training & Development. Mr. Harris explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review and update the CEDS document. He then introduced Memo Diriker and Ruth Baker from BEACON at Salisbury University who updated the Committee on Regional Visioning process.
Mr. Harris used the information presented during the Regional Visioning update to ask the Committee to what items should be enhanced or added to the CEDS document. The following areas were cited for consideration:
| 1 |
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Home healthcare for the increasing geriatric population
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| 2 |
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Changing Development Strategy B from “link the hospitals in Salisbury” to “link area hospitals” |
| 3 |
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Have more business incubator space to encourage relocation or expansion |
| 4 |
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Address transportation from two points of view:
- Public Transit
- Infrastructure
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| 2 |
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Add water/sewer into ongoing and longer term developmental projects |
| 2 |
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Add project to study housing as an economic development issue using:
- Affordability
- Availability
|
| 2 |
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Move Wallops Island area business incubator into near-term development projects |
The CEDS Committee chose the following three priority projects:
| 2 |
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|
| 3 |
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Healthcare |
| 4 |
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Spaceport (Wallops Island Business Incubator) |
As additional discussion and planning is needed on several of these projects, the CEDS Committee decided to meet again in February 2004.
There being no further business at this time, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
.
Project results from Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland CEDS Committee Meeting on Wednesday, March 24, 2004. This information will be included in the CEDS document revision due to be completed by June 2004.
Project Prioritization:
| 1 |
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Additions to Near-Term Projects
- Water/Sewer
- Education and Training Initiatives
- Wallops Island Business Incubator (Moved from Long-Term Projects)
- Home Healthcare for Geriatric Population (added to Healthcare Business and Training Initiative)
- Affordable and Available Housing
- Explore Avenues for Small Business Investment capital
|
| 2 |
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Prioritization of Near-Term Projects
|
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12 votes |
- Education and Training Initiatives
|
10 votes |
- Information Infrastructure Expansion
|
10 votes |
- Wallops Island Business Incubator
|
6 votes |
- Healthcare Business and Training Initiative
|
5 votes |
- Agriculture – Technology Business Incubator
|
3 votes |
- Somerset County Ferry Connector
|
3 votes |
|
3 votes |
- Affordable and Available Housing
|
2 votes |
- Explore Avenues for Small Business Investment Capital
|
2 votes |
|
- Targeted Marketing Effort
|
| 3 |
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Additions to Long-Term Projects
- Water/Sewer
- Address Transportation from Two Points of View (Added to Transportation Improvements)
- Additional Business Incubator Space
|
| 4 |
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Prioritization of Long-Term Projects
|
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18 votes |
- Transportation Improvements
|
14 votes |
- Additional Business Incubator Space
|
12 votes |
- Salisbury-Ocean City-Wicomico Airport
Improvement and Business Center
|
8 votes |
- Electric Energy Generation
|
1 vote |
- Port of Salisbury Technical Needs Study
|
1 vote |
Mike Pennington, Executive Director, called the meeting of the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland CEDS Committee to order on Thursday, October 28, 2004, at the Tri-County Council Offices in Snow Hill, Maryland at 5:30 p.m.
In attendance: T. Jan Wiseman, Greater Salisbury Committee; Mary Ashanti, Wicomico County NAACP; Dan Kuennen, Rural Development Center at UMES; Delegate Bennett Bozman; Nola Arnold, Wor-Wic Community College; Brad Bellacicco, Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce; Erroll Mattox, Wicomico County Citizen; Bill Satterfield, Delmarva Poultry Industry; Jason Dubow, Worcester County Comprehensive Planning; B.J. Corbin, Lower Shore Workforce Alliance; Renee Stephens, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development; Jerry Redden, Worcester County Economic Development; Danny Thompson, Somerset County EDC; Rob Harris, Coastline Training & Development; Mike Pennington and Kristie Eberly, Tri-County Council.
Following introductions Mr. Pennington turned the meeting over to Rob Harris of Coastline Training & Development. Mr. Harris explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review and update the CEDS document. He then asked Committee members to update the group on projects and anticipated projects in their areas in order to determine what near or long term projects may need to be changed.
Regional Updates:
| 1 |
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Delegate Bozman announced that natural gas is coming. (This may wind up as something that needs to go on either the near-term or long-term project list.)
|
| 2 |
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City of Crisfield is updating their Comprehensive Plan |
| 3 |
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Need for affordable housing in all three counties |
Near-Term Projects:
| 1 |
|
It appears much progress is being made on the near-term projects. (At the next meeting the committee may want to look at whether or not the projects should remain on the activity list or reprioritize them.) |
| 2 |
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Dan Kuennen talked about FARM, Farmer’s Access to Regional Markets. This is relative to the Ag-Tech Business Incubator project. USDA should be added as a funding source for this project. |
| 2 |
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The Somerset County Fast Ferry project is moving forward. As funding will be needed for infrastructure, they are working with the members of the U.S. Congress to source this funding. Possible additional funding sources are USDA, EDA and Department of Homeland Security. |
| 3 |
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Tourism Development could include low impact tourism and additional sports tournaments and festivals. A biking guide for Delmarva will be available soon. |
| 4 |
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Healthcare has a large effort underway for areas identified with shortfalls but the impact upon these needs is not being measured. UMES has added more healthcare classes and Wor-Wic’s healthcare classes are at capacity with waiting lists. |
| 5 |
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The cluster analysis for the region, which would support additional marketing efforts, is in progress. |
Possible Long-Term Projects:
| 1 |
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I was suggested to move the Wallops Island Business Incubator to the Near-Term list. This will be determined at the next meeting. |
| 2 |
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There was discussion about the runway extension at the Salisbury airport. The discussion noted that without a runway extension to accommodate jet traffic the likelihood of attracting another carrier is nonexistent. |
New Goals for consideration:
| 1 |
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The future of rail service as it relates to economic development |
| 2 |
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Insurance reform
- Wind damage insurance bundling to promote future development
- Impact of malpractice insurance on healthcare
|
| 3 |
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Education infrastructure
- Entrepreneurship taught in local curriculum
- Improve the business/education collaboration
|
| 4 |
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Housing affordability – where will workers live and how will they get to work |
| 5 |
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Natural gas access – recent inquiries about business relocation were stopped because of the unavailability of natural gas |
| 6 |
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Improving the waterway infrastructure to become more friendly to commercial traffic |
The CEDS Committee will reconvene in January 2005 to complete the CEDS review process.
Louise Gulyas, Chair, called the meeting of the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland CEDS Committee to order on Wednesday, February 23, 2005, at the Tri-County Council Offices in Snow Hill, Maryland at 5:30 p.m.
In attendance: Dan Kuennen, Rural Development Center at UMES; Mary Ashanti, Wicomico County NAACP; Rob Hart, Shore Transit; Ruth Baker, BEACON at Salisbury University; Erroll Mattox, Wicomico County Citizen; Virgil Shockey, Worcester County Commissioner; Danny Thompson, Somerset County EDC; Meredith Mears, Lower Shore Workforce Alliance; Renee Stephens, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development; Brad Bellacicco, Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce; Bill Satterfield, Delmarva Poultry Industry; Jerry Redden, Worcester County Economic Development; Derek Bland, CMG Studio; Jack Lenox, Wicomico County Planning; Deborah Travers, Ocean City Chamber of Commerce; Rev. Julius Thompson, United Community Ministries; Kenneth Ballard, Somerset County NAACP; Thomas W. Davis, Coastal Counties Resources Board; Rob Harris, Coastline Training & Development; Mike Pennington and Kristie Eberly, Tri-County Council.
Regional Updates:
Somerset
| 1 |
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2 different ferry studies have been done |
| 2 |
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considering having public piers at the ferry docks |
| 3 |
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next ferry study would be an economic impact study |
| 4 |
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still working out details with Walmart for distribution site
|
| 5 |
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possibility of yacht building company coming to Deal Island |
| 6 |
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will soon be doing Comprehensive Revitalization Plan for Crisfield area |
| 7 |
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Crisfield has asked the state to turn the running of the harbor over to the city rather than privatize it |
Worcester
| 1 |
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has done a RFP for broadband service for the entire county |
| 2 |
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need better workforce preparedness training for high school students |
| 3 |
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need to make students aware that trades (electrician, mason) are a good viable career choice |
| 4 |
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has an affordable housing study underway
|
Wicomico
| 1 |
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all the municipalities are growing; mainly because of their access to water and sewer |
| 2 |
|
project to expand water and sewer lines out to Wor-Wic Community College is complete |
| 3 |
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still looking for a redeveloper for the old Salisbury mall property |
| 4 |
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working on project for airport park
|
| 5 |
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working on revitalizing Wicomico River waterfront |
Near-Term Projects:
| 3 |
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Add TEDCO Technology Incubation Innovation Fund
|
Motion – Brad Bellacicco; 2nd – Tom Davis
|
| 2 |
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Add Foreign Trade Zone status project for areas of the Lower Shore
|
Motion – Dan Kuennen; 2nd – Tom Davis
|
| 1 |
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Refer affordable housing issue to Tri-County Council Executive Board |
Next Steps:
| 2 |
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Revise CEDS document next year through sub-committee and public hearing recommendations |
| 3 |
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Get airport’s and industry sector’s input on revised CEDS document |
CEDS Revision Sub-Committee Members:
| Ruth Baker |
Joan Kean |
Bill Satterfield |
| Ken Ballard |
Dan Kuennen |
Virgil Shockley |
| Derek Bland |
Jack Lennox |
Renee Stephens |
| Tom Cetola |
Erroll Mattox |
Danny Thompson |
| Sandy Coyman |
Merry Mears |
Debbie Travers |
| Dr. Memo Diriker |
Jerry Redden |
|
| Louise Gulyas |
Dave Ryan |
|
The CEDS Committee will reconvene in the fall of 2005. There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. |
