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Greater Salisbury Committee proposes Salisbury Community Development Corporation to revitalize gateways
Summary
The Greater Salisbury Committee introduced a nonprofit Salisbury Community Development Corporation to coordinate visible improvements on key gateways, corridors and riverfront connectors; organizers said they will not ask the city for direct funding and are pursuing bank support and IRS nonprofit recognition.
Mike Dunn, president and CEO of the Greater Salisbury Committee, presented a proposal on June 22 to form the Salisbury Community Development Corporation (SCDC), a nonprofit modeled on Ocean City Development Corporation that would concentrate on visible improvements to gateways, corridors and the riverfront.
"The Salisbury Community Development Corporation is gonna focus on shared visible public places," Dunn said in his presentation, describing early priorities as the Fitzwater Gateway and Riverfront Connector and later work along Route 13 and Business 50. He said the SCDC has convened a task force, held board meetings, and plans to file for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.
Dunn emphasized the SCDC will not ask Salisbury for direct funding at start-up. Instead, he told the council the group is approaching local banks under Community Reinvestment Act obligations and has held multiple meetings with banking partners. He also said the SCDC intends to lead coordination, funding and long-term maintenance, and to establish community advisory boards for neighborhoods affected by proposed projects.
Council members asked how the SCDC will work with city departments and whether the city should have representation on the SCDC board. Dunn said he has kept the mayor informed and expects formalized coordination and city representatives on the board as the organization matures; he also noted the SCDC currently has "no money, no executive director, [and] no authority" while it completes filings and early governance steps.
The presentation concluded with the group inviting public input and pointing to a forthcoming website and materials for further information. The SCDC board chair will be Chris Eccleston, Dunn said, and the organization expects to hire a (likely part-time, initially) executive director once funding is in place.
