St. Mary's County EDC reviews near-final strategic plan, schedules Dec. 13 presentation

At its Nov. 16 meeting, the St. Mary's County Economic Development Commission reviewed a near-final draft of the county strategic plan and set two dates for final review and presentation: a commission work session at 6 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Carter Building and a presentation to the County Commissioners on Dec. 13.

The commission’s staff said consultants on the tourism and hospitality master plan will submit a final report on Dec. 13 but cannot attend that hearing; they plan an oral presentation to the County Commissioners on Jan. 10. "We're 99% there," a staff member said of the draft but asked commissioners to attend the work session so the team can "put the bow on it and finish it up." (Staff reference: Robin; first discussed at the Nov. 16 meeting.)

Members pressed for clearer metrics and better visuals. Commissioners asked that percentages and loss figures tied to the hospitality sector specify what is being measured (occupancy, revenue or another metric) and flagged what appeared to be a misplaced decimal in the agricultural market‑value table. One commissioner requested moving a pie chart from page 29 into the main narrative and enlarging or replacing other small, grainy graphics so that the plan is readable by nontechnical audiences. "I think we either need to blow it up, make it a full page graphic, and really explain what it is," one participant said.

Committee members debated the plan’s emphasis on attracting millennials. Staff described "people and place" strategies that prioritize young professionals as one pathway to supporting entrepreneurship and advanced manufacturing, but several commissioners asked the draft to clarify that millennials are one of several target groups and to explain how that focus ties to other tactics. "That group is key to so many of the things that are in here," a commissioner said, urging an explicit sentence to that effect.

The commission sought stronger language and more concrete steps on dependence on Department of Defense spending at Naval Air Station Pax River. The draft calls out defense cuts and sequestration as a vulnerability; commissioners said the plan should both clarify risks and add options to position the county for potential base growth. Members who visited Huntsville emphasized the importance of cross‑agency alignment and an implementation tool so the plan does not become "a bottom drawer" document.

Stakeholders in aquaculture and the oyster industry pressed for more detail. Commissioners recommended outreach to local oyster growers and to the Potomac River Fisheries Commission and Maryland Department of Natural Resources to strengthen the aquaculture and oyster‑farming sections. Staff said they have met several oyster farmers and welcomed additional input to "put more meat on the bones" in that section.

Other editorial items to be addressed before Dec. 13 included: defining "traded clusters" more clearly; reconciling duplicate references to a proposed technology incubator (one entry at page 23, a fuller description on pages 25–26); clarifying how the plan’s front matter and action plan are organized (members recommended numbering the four recommended strategies); and ensuring reference markers (asterisks/footnotes) resolve to an accessible compendium.

Staff said another draft will be circulated ahead of the Nov. 30 work session. The commission approved the Oct. 19 minutes earlier in the meeting and adjourned at the close of this session.

Next steps: commissioners and staff will consolidate suggested edits, incorporate clearer graphics and numeric labels, solicit targeted input from oyster and aquaculture practitioners, and prepare a presentation package for the Dec. 13 County Commissioners meeting. The tourism consultant will make an oral presentation Jan. 10.