[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6281273,"mediaKeyId","2607350-0007c254104e5e61aaf752d59451f843","parentId",2607350,"title","School officials report momentum on bill to increase state share for Kent County middle school","audioSeconds",90,"startMs",4357000,"endMs",4447000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2607350-0007c254104e5e61aaf752d59451f843&start=4357&end=4447","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2607350-0007c254104e5e61aaf752d59451f843/thumbnail_4357000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6281273/Kent-County/Maryland/School-officials-report-momentum-on-bill-to-increase-state-share-for-Kent-County-middle-school","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281273-0cc108291ab00720da0b5783d28b9275/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196759&Signature=RVLjAuHmdA42~t-4IDW-RJXM53YpbqOTDb3v6siGo5igwEVMj~UVTZl-LO8v0DaZG1hxh4KJS9SlnISWGITxT97v8LImi2lpVxfmc5EaULdpfa98-HyYhds7gr3z7yWHgK51HypKvmBAN5yqDV6iGbGfXd0MAqg~ObvaPjYjpM0JR3ByX~OEvWaUbhSJ108tdcjQFmrXN4pt29JkIrStMdvRphDXY~wHXW7JhC3Wi3lchHX~BvnvnUoyPDQNbw~vvspfU1E~JARF4~aMMLuJa6315sg10yZgIUx~C86ZKjSA3Wzmh1DKIrIo2dZhxNfI72Rt67GMfXI1RAd5xVR-dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kent County, MD","date","2025-03-13T08:23:56Z","article","Dan, a Kent County Public Schools official, told the Economic Development and Tourism Commission that the district is in the design phase for the new middle school and that the district has active legislation in the Maryland General Assembly to increase the state share of construction costs.

Dan said the bill had a positive hearing in the House Appropriations Committee in February and that the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee held recent questions; the superintendent and the district’s lead consultant met with the committee vice chair to address them. “We are feeling there is a lot of momentum this year behind the bill,” Dan said.

Dan identified sponsors he said were involved in the effort: Delegate Grice, Delegate Aarons and Delegate Jacobs in the House and Senator Hershey in the Senate. He said the district is seeking a larger state contribution to reduce the local share of construction costs and that the district is continuing design work while the bill moves through the legislature.

Why it matters: a higher state share would lower the county’s local capital obligation for a major school construction project and could affect related decisions about timing and debt service. Dan asked for the commission to be aware of the project; commissioners acknowledged the update and thanked the district for ongoing outreach.

Ending: The district said it will continue to track the legislation and report progress to county partners as committee work continues.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03.12.25 ETDC Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Kent County Public Schools representatives said a bill to increase the state share of construction costs for a new middle school received a favorable hearing in the House and follow-up questions in the Senate; staff described ongoing design work and said they feel positive about the bill's prospects.","taxTitle","Kent County, Maryland","taxId",69327,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6281278,"Kent County staff outlines business‑attraction tools; commission debates focus amid flat budget",722,3065000,3787000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2607350-0007c254104e5e61aaf752d59451f843&start=3065&end=3787","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2607350-0007c254104e5e61aaf752d59451f843/thumbnail_3065000.jpg","/articles/6281278/Kent-County/Maryland/Kent-County-staff-outlines-businessattraction-tools-commission-debates-focus-amid-flat-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281278-602f7d6d1a29a74a1db8c0b8d7dc986a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196759&Signature=E8Ery~GPkXFyVtTcepj9ZqI6yEaIB7L1G5nv~Emdx0unCnUL32Mu5Ckq8vnTMgePDXWdauINhchGQAAMyNS5PYiZkhgxqPT6lHW83kjrfTzRk46Ex0pXNFRCkcKp39jGdcVmAGXIuE~zni0krzOejkYP8K1poUNj9dTo4VQ6pcPmgFDyUfb1sCzo7gbA0qXWx1N8p9oSf~FZVfF6RmQoaeX8K~roWQDqX9DavdUP4adyMeSV87EhxPcN4s0FGZM6BbFffifxAToGWJGZrbAfAdlaemxibIIkjnurYxipR-pBLOwDKHE~cFNjL9mcKYhD1ByERBHmyQDH~EGXtVy5tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kent County economic development staff told the Economic Development and Tourism Commission that the department will roll out a business‑attraction website and implement ReSimplify, a commercial‑listings platform that also feeds listings to the State of Maryland site. Staff also described outreach on the Maryland Business Ready Sites program and a regional marketing effort funded through the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund.

Jamie (staff) said the new county site — scheduled to launch in the next fiscal year — and the ReSimplify listings tool are intended to improve the accuracy and timeliness of available‑site information used by site selectors. “Ninety percent of site selectors go online for site research and community information,” Jamie said, explaining the rationale for the upgrades.

Staff noted three streams of the Business Ready Sites initiative: a site‑readiness assessment (small grant), infrastructure improvements and a third component still to be detailed, with the program materials expected to be released in April. Staff said the program is available to public and private landowners and that the county is collecting developer contact information to flag potential sites for assistance.

Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund money that flowed to the Upper Shore regional council was described as having supported Millington wastewater expansion and related infrastructure for senior housing; staff also said $245,000 was available regionally for a business‑attraction marketing effort and that an RFP for that work had been circulated.

Why it matters: staff framed real estate inventory, utilities/infrastructure and workforce as the three top themes for business attraction in Kent County. Commissioners pressed staff for a clear, commission‑level vote on priorities after members submitted a compiled list of recommendations; several commissioners said earlier one‑on‑one discussions left them uncertain whether attraction activities would be funded given a flat FY2026 departmental budget submission.

Discussion and budget context:
- Budget constraints: Staff said the department had been instructed to submit a flat budget for FY2026. Commissioners objected that several proposed attraction expenditures were not carried forward and insisted that any new spending proposals be put before the commission as a formal recommendation to the county commissioners.
- Marketing costs: Staff described paid placements they use for outreach (industry trade publications, regional site‑selection journals and social media). A typical full‑page site‑selection ad can cost about $15,000; staff said the county seeks discounted placements and pairs buys with targeted themes when possible.
- Metrics and next steps: Staff said they are preparing a 2024 strategic‑plan activities report for the April meeting and asked the commission to vote on a focused list of priorities. Commissioners requested separate, topic‑by‑topic meetings and a formal motion at a future regular session to set the commission’s direction.

Ending: Staff said it will continue to advance the website launch, ReSimplify implementation and developer outreach, and commissioners said they will schedule future agenda items to vote on the commission’s priorities and potential marketing or site‑preparation proposals.","Staff described upcoming tools for marketing sites and listing commercial properties, a Maryland Business Ready Sites program and regional Rural Maryland funds. Commissioners debated whether to prioritize business attraction or retention given a fixed FY2026 budget submission.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6281282,"Kent County home sales steady as listings rise and days on market lengthen",2473,141000,2614000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2607350-0007c254104e5e61aaf752d59451f843&start=141&end=2614","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2607350-0007c254104e5e61aaf752d59451f843/thumbnail_141000.jpg","/articles/6281282/Kent-County/Maryland/Kent-County-home-sales-steady-as-listings-rise-and-days-on-market-lengthen","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281282-d88b8d07554d1830f936fbff96b3d1da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196759&Signature=HkPxB4l2ZpBxfV39hi-6c5kgZ9aj15Kcm6wBOtvzcnn-pGDVtLw~P4t0zBpg3khJEfesDbErB-lW9yPBLJh4WRS0TJ4A-AGvGwh7gnG83iEsu~XT6pKiPHvtN~sroA1Hag9i9Mob2hWhuhqLMWr9HnbjaBGjOdEzugF2FfEDD0arRrOzEyYRjLIDpHFRQF5y0eYeAKTLYlV3cMEFaiJCb1~Qh-RS1JeJZVCIXGHSZPaOKwOvqFSPeyXiX7P3ekTJOBRaoeU0qV5Wb4dm1HyxhTDTOhYcYwYYGL1OOOjrQGQniCGNQco8VJe7HAq~E~8SBcbz4KxZITMg2uWfuJsKzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cindy Genther, a broker with Rock Hall Properties and Maryland broker for the Flynn Company, told the Kent County Economic Development and Tourism Commission that unit sales in 2024 were largely flat while inventory and average days on market increased, signaling possible price pressure in 2025.

Genther said 315 residential units sold in Kent County in 2024, and that 71 homes were listed for sale at year-end versus 51 a year earlier. “The days on market in the last quarter of 2024 were up to almost 50 days on the market,” she said, adding that “we’re seeing properties stay on the market longer, and we’re seeing more properties come on the market.”

The presentation used sales data from Bright MLS and public assessment records from the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Genther said. She noted that 222 of the 315 homes sold in 2024 had sale prices under $300,000. Genther also said cash purchases remain significant: roughly 32% of buyers paid cash, 48% used conventional financing and 20% used FHA or VA-type financing.

Why it matters: local government and economic development officials said the trends influence workforce housing availability, municipal tax revenue and planning for infrastructure and schools. Genther and commissioners linked demand for walkable town neighborhoods to interest in Chestertown and Rock Hall and said that, while town inventories are flat, sales increased in unincorporated parts of the county.

Supporting details from the presentation:
- Location breakdowns: unit sales fell in Chestertown compared with prior years (partly explained by a build-out at The Village at Chestertown), and were flat in Rock Hall and Galena while rising elsewhere in the county. Genther reported that about 70% of buyers in the 21620 (Chestertown area) recorded the purchased property as their primary residence; roughly 60% were primary residents in the 21661 (Rock Hall) area, based on SDAT residency indicators she reviewed.
- New construction: Genther said townhouses at The Village at Chestertown sold in the roughly $250,000–$270,000 range, with the site’s average new-home sale at about $263,781. She reported roughly $7.5 million in new-home sales for the county and noted associated property-tax revenues (town + county + state) totaling “about $109,000” in the period referenced.
- Land and farm sales: Genther said five farm properties sold (one about 23 acres, others larger) and that sales ranged from about $1.7 million up to $5 million; buyers in those cases appear to be keeping the land in agricultural use.
- Commercial and rental market: 12 commercial properties sold in 2024 (versus 14 the prior year); Genther flagged continued interest in mixed-use retail properties when pricing allows investor returns. She said no multifamily properties sold in 2024 but three were on the market. The rental market, she said, remains tight with landlords receiving many applications for available units.
- Investor and short‑term rental activity: Genther said investor and short‑term rental buying decreased in 2024 as price increases reduced investment returns. She also said there has been greater scrutiny on short‑term rentals paying lodging taxes.
- Financing and interest rates: Genther noted mortgage rates approached 7% during the year and that the National Association of Realtors had recently reported seven straight weeks of declining mortgage rates, with rates moving toward about 6% at the time of the presentation. She said falling rates could bring sidelined buyers back into the market and might affect demand and price dynamics in 2025. “I think we’re gonna see flattening prices in 2025,” she said.
- Construction costs: Genther reported typical renovation/construction-for-existing-homes costs near $198 per square foot and new-home construction commonly in the $250–$300 per square-foot range, depending on finishes.

Commission members and staff asked clarifying questions about demographic impacts, school enrollment and first-time buyers. Genther and participants said school districts were already reporting upticks in elementary enrollment and that some new home buyers were families with children. On first-time buyers, lenders cited differing measures; Genther said her informal review suggested a meaningful share of buyers were “first-time Maryland homebuyers” or new-to-state buyers rather than never-before homeowners.

Ending: Commissioners said the market data will inform conversations about workforce housing, development priorities and county marketing efforts. Genther closed by saying she would return next year with an updated review when more 2025 data are available.","A March presentation to the Kent County Economic Development and Tourism Commission showed largely flat unit sales in 2024, rising listings and longer selling times, strong demand for lower-priced homes, and fewer investor or short-term rental purchases, according to broker Cindy Genther.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

School officials report momentum on bill to increase state share for Kent County middle school

Kent County staff outlines business‑attraction tools; commission debates focus amid flat budget

Kent County home sales steady as listings rise and days on market lengthen