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Economic development seeks farm‑market staffing, ag/seafood branding and steady tourism support from accommodations tax
Summary
Economic Development requested extra hours for a market manager, proposed a $40,000 advertising budget for an ag & seafood brand, and Visit St. Mary's requested the county match a 38% split of increased accommodations taxes under existing agreements.
Economic Development Director Chris Casalinas presented requests focused on agricultural markets, a proposed county ag & seafood brand and tourism funding.
Barnes at Newmarket manager hours: Casalinas asked to increase a part‑time manager at the Barnes at Newmarket from 20 to 30 hours per week for approximately $14,000 to support vendor coordination and event activities. Commissioners asked whether vendor fees could be adjusted or an RFP for an outside operator pursued to make the market closer to break‑even; Casalinas said vendor fees are higher than historic library venues but that a revisit of fee structure and an RFP are viable next steps.
Ag & seafood brand: Casalinas said stakeholders requested a county ag/seafood/forestry brand to identify products made or grown in St. Mary’s County. He proposed up to $40,000 for brand promotion to raise product recognition and support local producers; commissioners noted Charles and Calvert counties have similar programs and asked whether Tri‑County or regional partners could be involved. Casalinas said the brand criteria would require products to be produced or value‑added in St. Mary’s County.
Visit St. Mary’s (tourism): Liz Miltenstein, Visit St. Mary’s, asked commissioners to allow the annual allocation to match 38% of accommodations tax receipts per the county’s ten‑year memorandum-of‑agreement; the amount would rise with actual accommodations tax revenue. Commissioners expressed support but also concern about possible decline in travel; Miltenstein said recent anecdotal business‑travel increases justify investment in marketing to avoid a larger downward trend.
Ending: Economic Development will return with revised vendor‑fee options for the Barnes market, a more detailed scope for the proposed brand project and possible funding sources for brand startup costs (including fund‑balance or partner support). Visit St. Mary’s and county staff will monitor accommodations‑tax trends and return with contract language aligning annual awards to actual tax receipts.
