Officials say Chestertown Enterprise Zone remains eligible; public hearing set for April
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Summary
County economic development staff said Chestertown remains eligible for enterprise-zone redesignation based on Maryland Department of Commerce data; application is due April 15 and a joint public hearing is planned for April 7.
County economic-development staff updated the board on the Chestertown Enterprise Zone redesignation timetable and eligibility.
Katie Abbott, economic development manager, said the Maryland Department of Commerce provided data showing Chestertown remains eligible for redesignation, which must occur every 10 years. Abbott said eligibility is driven by census-tract poverty rates; tract 9503’s poverty rate stands at 13.6% for 2026 (she contrasted that with 20.3% in 2016 and lower rates in intervening years), and the application is due April 15. A joint public hearing with the town is planned for April 7; staff will publish a hearing notice and make related documents available online.
Abbott explained how the enterprise-zone incentives work: a property tax credit on the increased assessed value from capital investment (the county set a $25,000 investment threshold earlier) and an employer income-tax credit administered through the state comptroller’s office. She said residential properties do not qualify and that any tax-credit award requires a resolution by the county or town for the specific property. The county staff requested permission to proceed with the public hearing process and commissioners acknowledged the update; no vote was required at the meeting.
