St. Mary's County staff outline 'Shop Local' ads, business incentives survey and request up to $75,000 for tourism study

St. Mary's County Economic Development staff on Tuesday described a multi‑pronged effort to boost the local economy that includes a seasonal marketing push, a draft incentives policy informed by a recent survey of roughly 200 companies and requests to fund outside contracts for tourism and technology support.

Robin, speaking for the Department of Economic Development, presented a half‑page print ad template for a ‘Shop local, shop often’ campaign scheduled to run about three weeks in December in the Enterprise and the County Times, with each insert highlighting different parts of the county. "Shop local, shop often," Robin said when describing the creative concept.

Robin also summarized a 10‑question survey sent to about 200 firms listed in the county's technology handbook and presented preliminary results segmented by locally headquartered "homegrown" companies and non‑homegrown firms. She said non‑homegrown firms — including large defense contractors mentioned in the presentation — reported more frequent solicitation by other jurisdictions, while tax relief (waivers or deferrals) was the most common incentive other communities offered. Survey respondents also cited training grants, low‑interest financing and, in one response, shared‑salary or apprenticeship‑style arrangements as attractive incentives.

Robin said the department has drafted an incentives policy and will refine it with input from this advisory group before taking a recommendation to the newly seated county commissioners. "If incentives are offered," she said, "the trade‑off is that the company is delivering or retaining jobs."

On tourism and hospitality, staff reported issuing an expression of interest to the consulting industry and received proposals indicating a comprehensive tourism master plan for a county the size of St. Mary's would likely cost in the range of $65,000 to $75,000. Robin said staff will ask the commissioners for authority to fund the study up to $75,000 so the county can issue an RFP and solicit a consultant.

Staff also discussed the Southern Maryland Innovation Technology (SMIT) Initiative and a proposed short contract with the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) to provide adjunct staffing for technology commercialization and pre‑revenue company support. Robin said the TEDCO contract would cover roughly six months beginning in January to maintain momentum on startup support and technology transfer efforts.

Procedural actions taken at the start of the meeting included approval of the October 15 minutes (motion made and seconded; voice vote recorded as 'Aye') and, at the close, a motion to adjourn.

Next steps: staff will circulate the consultants' presentations and survey details electronically, return with a draft incentives policy for advisory review, seek funding authority for the tourism RFP from the commissioners and bring a TEDCO contract request to the board in December.