Business Support

Kent County’s Economic Development Office both leads and participates in activities designed to assist local and prospective businesses in achieving their company’s goals and objectives. The Economic Development Office strives to provide a centralized problem solving location for county, state, federal and private resources designed to continually improve the county’s business climate and living and working environment.

The mission of the Kent County Economic Development Office is to help our residents and businesses by providing better opportunities to live and work in an economic environment where they can prosper in comfort and security, and where the quality of their economic life mirrors the quality of their physical environment.

The Economic Development Office is supported by the Kent County Economic Development Advisory Board, a seven-member Board appointed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners as an advisory body to the Commissioners. The purpose of the Board is to review general economic development issues which affect the county, and to recommend strategies or courses of action, as appropriate, to the County Board of Commissioners.

The current Advisory Board members are: Jim Gillespie,Chairman, Stuart “Mickey” Elsberg, Carrie M. Anderson, Thomas K. Beckett, Sr., Jeff Grafton, C. Breck Debnam, Libby Patnovic, Victoria E. Weitzel, Washington College Student Representative, and Jack Steinmetz (Economic Development Office Director and ex-officio member).

The Economic Development Office is also supported by the Kent County Loan Advisory Review Committee, a five-member Committee appointed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners as a review and recommendation body to the Commissioners. The purpose of the Committee is to thoroughly review all applications for loans under the Kent County Revolving Loan Fund, and recommend approval or denial to the Board of Commissioners for final action.

The Revolving Loan Fund program is intended to provide individuals and businesses with financing which would not be available through normal bank lending programs. This low-cost loan program could be a stand-alone loan or could participate with a traditional bank loan to provide all of the funds necessary to complete the businesses’ planned operation or expansion. Loans may be used for real estate purchase, start up, working capital or fixed asset acquisition. Please click onto the Loan Fund section of our website for complete information and an application form.

The current Loan Review Committee members are: Susanne Hayman, Chairman, Pat Merritt, Jim Gillespie, Raymond Tarrach, Darlene Wilson, and Jack Steinmetz (Economic Development Office Director and ex-officio member).

1. The Kent County Economic Development Hotline (Ms. Augustine Cook, Administrative Aide, at 410.778.5188) was established to facilitate local and prospective businesses with existing and new business expansion.
2. The Kent County Business Park at Worton is a newly formed and county-owned industrial business park consisting of four sites of approximately two acres each. Inquiries on site availability may be directed to Ms. Augustine Cook in the Economic Development Office at 410.778.5188.
3. The Kent County Chamber of Commerce (Ms. Cindy Gentherl, Executive Director at 410.810.2968) works to promote and enhance the growing business climate in the county.
4. The Kent County Tourism Development Office (Ms. Bernadette Van Pelt, Director at 410.778.0416) has information and assistance on every facet of visiting and living in Kent County.
5. Washington College (800.422.1782 or 410.778.2800), located in Chestertown, and the 10th oldest college in the nation, is a private 4-year liberal arts college founded in 1782, and has provided a high level of business support and cultural enhancement to Kent County since its inception.
6. Chesapeake College (410.822.5400), located in Wye Mills, was founded in 1965 as Maryland’s first 5-county community college. The school provides a curriculum of 2-year studies in liberal arts and the sciences and has provided strong business support through various specific courses. In addition Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees are offered at the Higher Education Center through partnerships with Salisbury University and The University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
7. SCORE, “Counselors to America’s Small Business” (410.810.0021) is a non-profit association which provides entrepreneurs no-cost, confidential face-to-face and email counseling.
8. The Small Business Development Center (410.827.5304), located at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, provides no-cost counseling and low-cost training programs to entrepreneurs of existing and developing businesses.
9. The Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development (DBED), is a major partner with Kent County in attracting new businesses and retaining and expanding existing businesses. DBED publicizes Maryland’s attributes, and markets local products at home and abroad to stimulate economic development, international trade, tourism and promote film production in Maryland.