A. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) adoption

This CEDS has been adopted by formal action of the Counties of Wicomico, Somerset and Worcester. A copy of each Resolution is included in APPENDIX 1.

B. Letters of Endorsement

Letters of endorsement from entities that participated in the CEDS process and support its use in the regional planning efforts are attached in APPENDIX 2. 

C. Committee Membership

On January 23, 2002, the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development held a meeting with Mr. Michael Pennington, Executive Director of the Tri-County Council, Neal Noyes and Calvin Edgehill, both US Economic Development Administration officials, to review the grant the Department received on behalf of the Mid- and Lower Shore Councils. Following this meeting, Mr. Pennington began the process of creating a CEDS committee. He invited the Tri-County Council Executive Committee representing local elected officials to serve on the CEDS Committee. He also contacted key business and other community members of the community to serve on the committee. A list of the members and their affiliations, race, gender, and status is included in APPENDIX 3.

In addition to the creation of the CEDS Committee, the Tri-County Council (TCC) established GIS, Regional Healthcare, Telecommunications and Wastewater Committees to provide additional input for the CEDS process. These committees have been meeting on a regular basis. In anticipation of the start of the CEDS process, TCC partnered with Salisbury University, the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce and the Wicomico Partnership for Families and Children to host a regional forum on October 2, 2002 to develop a Community Vision. 

TCC is coordinating with both the Mid-Shore Council and the UMES Rural Development Center to ascertain that the Lower Shore CEDS is compatible with the goals of other EDA activities in the region.

D. Meeting Minutes

The minutes from the meetings of the CEDS Committee are included in APPENDIX 4. 

E. Funding Eligibility

A set of maps showing district boundaries and census incorporated places is included in APPENDIX 5. In determining eligibility for funding, this level of analysis may be necessary when considering individual projects.