Kent County officials to join Bayways destination assessments in Annapolis; USDA grant funds workshop

County staff told the Kent County Economic Development Commission that Kent County will send three teams — including county staff and local partners — to Annapolis for a Bayways destination assessment funded in part by a USDA grant.

Staff said the National Park Service, Visit Annapolis and Preservation Maryland are partners in the Bayways program, which uses outside reviewers and team inventories to identify what each waterfront community has, what needs improvement, and what new amenities might attract visitors arriving by water or private boats. The consultant teams will spend three days in Annapolis on the assessments; county staff said the effort has required significant staff time because Kent County is fielding three separate teams (for Chestertown, Betterton and Rock Hall).

The audits are intended as a planning and capacity‑building exercise rather than a direct funding award. County staff said the assessment materials and findings can be used to support later grant applications and to help towns prioritize investments such as restroom facilities, benches and other visitor amenities.

Staff said teams should include five to seven participants; county examples given were Chestertown (4–5 members) and Rock Hall (6). The teams will prepare short presentations and work with outside reviewers to develop recommendations that each town can use to pursue grants or project funding later.

Commissioners discussed how the Bayways work relates to the county’s separate ferry feasibility study; staff said the assessment is broader than any single ferry stop and could support planning whether the county pursues ferry service or just water‑based visitation by private boats.

Ending: Staff will continue to coordinate team inventories and bring the assessment results back to local communities so each town can seek appropriate funding and implement recommendations.