PRESS | Greater Crisfield Action Coalition

Community Foundation Grant

GCAC Press Release CFES Grant April 2023

The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition, Inc. (GCAC) is pleased to announce the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES), through their John T. and Hannah Handy Crisfield Improvement Fund, has awarded to GCAC a $10,000 Community Improvement grant to be used to help fund the costs associated with a marketing campaign targeted to investors, developers and builders. “By investing in community growth, we hope to benefit the overall socioeconomic welfare of Somerset County residents,” states Community Foundation President Erica Joseph.

May 3, 2021 — The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition is releasing the results of its consumer survey. GCAC solicited the input of Crisfield residents, property owners and visitors.

The survey was made available to the public through social and print media and was available for 30 days ending April 8, 2021.

The intent of the survey was to determine what was important to people who live and play in Crisfield when it comes to topics such as dining, retail stores, recreational activities, accommodations and services. The findings will be used to help support any revitalization and economic development efforts in Crisfield. “GCAC is sharing the information so that all those engaged in helping Crisfield thrive have the voice of the consumers and businesses in mind. GCAC fully intends to use this information in our strategic plans and when soliciting investors and developers to the area. Hearing from the people who live here and vacation here is important to both the consumers and the businesses who are already here or thinking about coming here”, says Frances Martinez Myers, GCAC’s board president.

“We found some of the results clearly echoed already expressed desires and comments and we also saw some surprises too, especially in how they were prioritized. We thought the respondents were very straight forward and clear about the things they wanted. The best part, many of the things identified are really not that difficult to accomplish and it is our intent to bring forward these ideas and concepts”, says Donnie Drewer, GCAC board vice president. Download Survey Results now.

The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) Community Development Corporation, located in the City of Crisfield, MD. The organization was formed in 2015 through the efforts of the Crisfield business community and local residents seeking to help promote economic development to help transform the City into a thriving and vibrant community. We are committed to working and collaborating together with the City, County and State government to make it happen. To learn more about GCAC go to www.greatercrisfieldmd.org

Contact: Frances Martinez Myers | Board President

Greater Crisfield Action Coalition, Inc. | Cell: 610-505-4416

April 28, 2021 — The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition (GCAC) is proud to announce the launch of the Youth Entrepreneur Program (YEP) taking place from June 21st to July 15th

To deliver this program GCAC is partnering with the Crisfield High School, the UMES 4-H Somerset Extension, and the Eastern Shore Entrepreneur Center to create the Youth Entrepreneur Program: STEM / Vocation, a summer learning initiative intended to introduce youth to vocational sciences. A second course centered around entrepreneurialism is to be coordinated with Salisbury’s Small Business Development Center and will premier later this fall.

One of the three legs of the GCAC Business Plan is educational development. GCAC believes strongly that we as a community must increase educational attainment through the promotion of skill building in the areas of entrepreneurialism, trade related careers, STEM instruction and increased participation in higher learning and educational pursuits.

Applications for this program may be found at GreaterCrisfieldMD.org/YEP-Program. Please submit questions or application materials to the program email provided below.

Contact Info:

Frances Martinez Myers
Board President
Greater Crisfield Action Coalition, Inc.
Program Email: GreaterCrisfieldYEP@gmail.com

3.31.21 GCAC Announces Job Fair – Read Here

Should an elected official’s personal view impact decisions for Crisfield?

What’s at stake on upcoming vote for reuse of former Carvel Hall property

READ ARTICLE HERE >>> https://baytobaynews.com/somerset/stories/should-an-elected-officials-personal-view-impact-decisions-for-crisfield,41829

Posted Wednesday, March 3, 2021 1:51 pm

By Frances Martinez Myers

Should any municipality be allowed to prevent an endeavor from doing business in a city simply because some of its elected officials don’t like the product they sell?

The answer to that question is NO.

To allow such behavior puts at risk any individual or entity’s right to start a business because they are subjected to the likes and dislikes of current sitting elected officials. This is not about specific individuals but more a general questions about municipal leaders having such power. How would such power impact entrepreneurism in a community starving for business development capital?

Obviously, the only criteria with merit to disqualify a business should be whether or not the business proposition is legal in the State of Maryland and the business has the financial ability and experience to launch.

Specific to medical cannabis there seems be lots of conflicting information and questions; whether it uniformly helps people with medical issues, is it addictive and can it be a gateway drug? All good questions and valid concerns. Will recreational use someday be legal in Maryland? The answer is, probably. Is that today’s question and is it relevant? I think not.

The process utilized by the State of Maryland to evaluate and grant licenses for the production of medical cannabis is a very thorough and intensive process. These licenses are not granted on a willy-nilly basis. The fact is, Element MD has already been granted a processing license and sanctioned by the State of Maryland. This is the license they will be using to operate the facility in Princess Anne, currently under construction. They will be here in Somerset County, only 20 miles north from Carvel Hall. This is NOT going to change.

The Carvel Hall facility will not be a retail store and their business will be a business to business operation. If recreational marijuana ever gets approved by the Maryland Legislature, they will dictate the terms associated with granting such retail licenses. This may or may not affect this location.

Addiction has many forms and types. Opioid addiction is a big problem here and throughout the U.S. Yet no one has stopped the manufacture of this drug. It continues to be prescribed by doctors, albeit at a much reduced rate. Alcohol and tobacco addiction has existed forever and the government has not stopped manufacture or sale of these products.

All the conversation about the actual medical merits of cannabis are also irrelevant. There are as many arguments for cannabis’ positive merits as there are against it. Like with all medicines, some are more helpful to some folks than others. Some people have allergic reactions to medicines that force them to seek alternatives. It is not the job of a municipality to consider the merits of any product.

Given Element MD will not be a retail operation, it seems a waste of time to be talking about the merits of a product sold to other businesses.

In addition there are misleading pieces of information out there regarding Element MD’s license. They have been granted a license to process which is the license necessary to operate the Princess Anne location. They initially ranked in the top 10 license applications to the State of Maryland and ultimately made the cut, winning one of the licenses issued. It is my understanding, they have a one out of 3 chance to win the cultivation license and their offer to purchase is not contingent on the granting of that license.

This is a pure business decision, it cannot be an emotional decision. Crisfield should not miss out on selling the Carvel Hall property to a legitimate buyer who met all the RFP requirements and was the leading bid. Can the City afford to walk away from the tax revenue it will generate?

So what’s at stake?

This is what Crisfield walks away from if they turn down the offer from Element MD.

Element MD made a purchase offer which is said to be at or close to fair market Currently the property is considered a brownfield which has limited its salability and therefore its value.
Element MD’s financial information was solid
Element MD will remediate the brownfield
Element MD will begin to make an initial investment of $12 million within 30 days of receiving their cultivation
Element MD expects to create 50 entry level jobs (no experience required, minimum pay of $30K per year) including free day care which is a huge financial saving for a
Element MD will install solar panels and will provide the excess energy to the city so as to reduce the cost of power for city
Element MD expects to generate $28 million dollar annually in gross

Are Crisfield residents aware of any company who has come to Crisfield in the last 20 years with such an offering? Should we throw away the bird in hand? Our success rate of attracting employers to the area is not very high. However, making a deal with Element MD will help jump start our economic development efforts here in Crisfield.

We would have one new employer to point to, showing we are moving in the right direction and open for business.

Turning down Element MD and restarting the RFP process will delay the existence of a fully operational business significantly beyond [Crisfield City Councilman] Dr. Atkins’ prediction of 2022, primarily because it is a brownfield, requiring remediation.

Giving any elected officials the right to insert the use of their personal beliefs and ideology to make business decisions is a very slippery slope. I am not sure Crisfield is in such a financial state that it can afford to walk away from solid business endeavors.

— Frances Martinez Myers is president of the Greater Crisfield Action Coalition, Inc.

Press Release – February 13, 2021

The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition, Inc. (GCAC) is pleased to announce a FREE real estate and mortgage lending professionals virtual training program. This program will kick off a series of events focused on growing the homeownership rate among first time homebuyers in the Greater Crisfield Area and throughout the local region. Why is this so important? Sustainable homeownership is the easiest way to build wealth in this country. The US Census shows wealth inequality between homeowners and renters is striking with homeowners having a median net worth 80 times higher than a renter, which is likely to be higher given the current state of affairs due to COVID19. With the poverty level in the Greater Crisfield area approaching 40% we feel it is extremely important that we begin to educate consumers, who have the financial capability, regarding the important role homeownership plays in achieving long term financial stability. This begins, of course, with educating those professionals about the tools currently available to make homeownership possible for many in this region.

Next, GCAC, as part of Financial Literacy Month in April will launch a series of first time homebuyer seminars, educating consumers about available programs, the home buying process and how to access the many programs available. They will be able to assess the benefits of homeownership versus renting, including learning the responsibilities associated with homeownership. We know that so many people discount their ability to be a homeowner simply because they are unaware of the benefits of owning a home and the many programs available to them to access the Dream of Homeownership. GCAC hopes to drive the changes necessary to help people grow their net worth and achieve financial stability.

CONTACT:
FRANCES MARTINEZ MYERS
PRESIDENT, GREATER CRISFIELD ACTION COALITION 610-505-4416

Press Release – October 15, 2020:

GCAC Announces its Board for 2021 and its new 3 year Business Plan

The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition, Inc. has announced changes to its Board of Directors and introduced the GCAC Business Plan 2021-2024.

Board Members:

Officers & Executive Committee Members:

- Frances Martinez Myers, President, Principal of HIMW Consulting LLC, former corporate executive and 38 year veteran in the real estate related corporate relocation and asset management businesses both domestically and internationally.

- Donnie Drewer, Vice President, retired district engineer, State Highway Administration for MD in the four lower counties of the Eastern Shore.

- Linda Singh, Secretary, Owner of The Bay Gift Vault in Crisfield, MD, founder of Sitara Collections, former senior marketing director for Coty, Inc. in NYC

- Jay Tawes, Treasurer, Owner of Tawes Insurance and several other businesses in Crisfield, successful community leader instrumental in establishing the Alice B. Tawes Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and the Chesapeake Cove Assisted Living Facility, President of the Crisfield Heritage Foundation

- Eric Banks, Executive Committee, Business Owner Banks Construction, Fire Wagon Barbeque and catering services and other business in Crisfield, Board member of the Crisfield Chamber and current City Council Member for the City of Crisfield.

Darlene Taylor, Executive Committee, Executive Director of It Takes a Village in Crisfield, 20 year career in the defense industry in DC, advocate for the underserved and under-educated in the community.

Board Members

- Phil Riggin, former executive at U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs in Washington DC & local leader in economic development.

- Darlene Taylor, community leader with youth & adults; Founder, It Takes a Village; former manager with defense contractor in Washington, D.C.

Melissa Laird, Owner of Laird & Associates Realtors

Reverend Ervin Wallace, Jr., Local Crisfield Pastor, former officer Marine Corp JROTC Dept, degree in political science and public policy.

Steve Flaherty, Business Owner Agralarm, Inc. in Salisbury, MD

GCAC Business Plan 2021-2024

The established three comprehensive goals:

1. Economic Development – Identify and procure opportunities that will support tourism; encourage small business creation; attract businesses centric to our natural resources as well as new industries capable of bringing new skills, expertise and job opportunities.

1. Educational Development – Increase educational attainment through the promotion of skills building in the areas of entrepreneurialism, trade related careers, STEM learning and increased participation in higher learning and educational pursuits.

Homeownership Development – Homeownership is the greatest wealth building tool in the United States and increasing the number of homeowners amongst our current residents will build wealth over time and increase the tax revenue for the City and County. Attracting retirees and second home owners to the area will also support endeavors to increase tax revenues and support to local businesses.

Press Release – January 18, 2017:

GCAC Expands Board, Adds Advisors

The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition, Inc. has announced the expansion of its Board of Directors to 13 members and the creation of an Advisor Network of professionals to assist the Board in their specific areas of expertise. The new Board was introduced on Monday, January 9th at its 2017 reorganizational meeting held at the Crisfield Public Library. Corporate officers, comprising the GCAC Executive Committee, were elected for 2017.

New Board Members include:

Tim Boston, Vice President, Business Development, Hebron Savings Bank; he has agreed to serve as Chair of the GCAC Development Committee
Phil Riggin, former executive at U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs in Washington DC & local leader in economic development.
Andre Collins, former pro basketball player from Crisfield High School, coach, and leader in sports and training programs on the Eastern Shore
Dan Nelson, owner of Water’s Edge Cafe and Rock Around the Dock restaurant
Adam Thompson, North & South American Sales Manager for satellite communications company, SatCom Global, Inc.
Rick Pollitt, City Manager, City of Crisfield (ex officio member)
Tom Schisler, Executive Director, Somers Cove Marina (ex officio member)

These professionals join existing GCAC Board members:

Charlotte Scott, community leader; President, East Coast Consulting; Founder, Business Navigation Forum; and Crisfield City Council Member
Paul Regester, expert in marketing & sales, former Group Vice-President, Constellation Brands
Darlene Taylor, community leader with youth & adults; Founder, It Takes a Village; former manager with defense contractor in Washington, D.C.
Jay Tawes, entrepreneur with multiple businesses in Crisfield and recipient of the Jefferson Award for service to the community
Angenette Stewart, community leader, previously the elected resident representative to the Crisfield Housing Authority
Keith Campbell, workforce development and strategic planning consultant, retired executive with The Hershey Company

Officers elected for one year terms were Charlotte Scott, President; Dan Nelson, Vice President; Darlene Taylor, Secretary; Jay Tawes, Treasurer; and Keith Campbell, Director of Workforce Development. These persons form the Executive Committee for GCAC.

The Board, which provides strategic direction for GCAC, will hold six regular meetings per year on the second Monday of odd-numbered months. The Executive Committee, which handles the day-to-day affairs of GCAC until such time as paid staff can be put in place, will continue to meet at least twice per month.

Charlotte Scott, President of GCAC, said, “I am excited and appreciative of the community leaders who have stepped up to help guide the Greater Crisfield Action Coalition to success by serving on the Board of Directors. This new board adds to our diversity, bringing new ideas, new professional skills, and new community representation within the Greater Crisfield Area. In addition, the Advisor Network gives us direct access to specialized professional skills that can be employed toward achieving the goals of our Action Plan. I am confident we will be able to make great strides for Crisfield in 2017 as we work together for the good of our community, its people and its future vitality.”

GCAC is holding open a positions on its Board for an appointment by Somerset County, pending formal endorsement of GCAC and its mission by the City and County government entities.

The GCAC Advisor Network is a new initiative which is expected to grow over time. Members of this network bring specific expertise to matters of importance in the GCAC Action Plan and will advise the Board and chair committees or partnerships of citizens to accomplish specific tasks. Members of the Network include:

Isabelle Regester, trained tourism professional & Chair of Proudly Crisfield Program, a new program which will recognize residences and businesses that take pride in their property.
Phillip C. Huber, organizational consultant, Disaster Response Coordinator for MD and DE, Lutheran Disaster Response Chair
Kathy Berezosky, co-owner of Watermen’s Inn & Chair, Crisfield Hospitality Industry Partnership
Ruth E. Baker, Dean of Continuing Education & Workforce Development, Wor-Wic Community College
David Carlin King, advisor on development & fundraising, Founder & Senior Producer, The Carlin Company & Owner of Kingsbay Mansion Executive B&B in Marion
Jesse Drewer, youth advisor studying Business and Economics at Salisbury University
Frances Myers, advisor for real estate and human resource issues

Board Member Keith Campbell commented, “The willingness of all of these busy people to serve as Board members or Advisors to GCAC is testimony to the credibility that GCAC has established over the past year and a half, and to the importance that the community places upon executing the GCAC Action Plan.”

Crisfield City Manager Rick Pollitt added, “I am grateful and excited to be given the opportunity to help build a bridge between City Hall and the Greater Crisfield Action Coalition. Citizen involvement at all levels of society builds stronger communities and if we can all agree to focus on a common mission, our success is assured.”

GCAC is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit community and economic development corporation whose mission is to transform Crisfield into a vibrant and thriving community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed in an outstanding and meaningful way. More information is available on the corporation’s website – www.GreaterCrisfieldMD.org – and Facebook page – www.facebook.com/greatercrisfield.

Below is the latest news article entitled “GCAC and the CIty” from the December 7th County Times that tells where things stand with the City. Since then, according to City Manager, Rick Pollitt, Salisbury attorney Dirk Widdowson has contacted the members of the Crisfield Ethics Commission to set the first meeting. Mr. Pollitt and City solicitor Michael Sullivan anticipate that now that the process has begun, things should go quickly. They anticipate 3 meetings to reach a ruling on the questions raised, which Mr. Pollitt hopes could be done in two weeks. That lines us up with a fresh start in the New Year. Let us look forward to *new beginnings* and all that lies ahead.

December 7, 2016 – Where things stand with the City: county-times-gcac-and-the-city-december-7-2016

Press Release – November 30, 2016:

What a community development corporation is and is not.

How is the Greater Crisfield Action Coalition (GCAC) like other CDCs in the country? First of all, like GCAC, “Community Development Corporations (CDCs) are nonprofit, community-based organizations focused on revitalizing the areas in which they are located, typically low-income, underserved neighborhoods that have experienced significant disinvestment,” according to Community-Wealth.org.

How many CDCs are there in the U.S. and who starts them? The National Congress for Community Economic Development has estimated there are at least 4,600. In fact, they operate in every state and region, including on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, with 90% launched by individuals or small groups and run by a professional staff, as GCAC is proposing.

Carol Steinbach, author of Enterprising Communities: Community-Based Development in America, says “The median CDC budget ranges from $200,000 to $400,000 annually. The staff generally includes a director and one or two people working on development, community building and support activities…” They are funded by federal, state, and local grants and also by community donations, and by contributions from foundations, banks, and local businesses. In comparison, GCAC’s proposed operating budget is $245,000 and includes hiring an Executive Director, an Administrative Assistant, plus funds for rent and utilities, phones, computers, copier and supplies, as well as professional services including accounting, legal, and grant writing. All hiring and professional services would be advertised, and every effort would be made to hire and buy locally, if possible. Of course, Board members and their families would be excluded from any compensated work.

Steinbach’s research also shows that CDCs have fared well “as an enhancement to government and markets.” In fact, there are many new sources of funding because “the CDC record of accomplishment is solid.” She states further, “Their chief contribution has been to pioneer an innovative approach to fighting poverty – stressing local action, flexibility, alliances with public and private sector institutions, and interventions on multiple fronts to attack distress.” They are now “widely viewed as the nation’s best strategy for revitalizing poor areas.”

Let’s look at a CDC in our area. In 2000, leaders in Ocean City, a City of 7,000, formed the Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC) to focus on revitalizing the downtown area from 4th Street to the Inlet. They hired a fulltime Executive Director and Administrative Assistant and funded their $300,000 operating budget with $100,000 from the City, $100,000 from the County, and $100,000 from state grants and other fundraising. Sixteen years later, the results are impressive. After 175 facade projects from 2000 to 2015, the revitalization of the downtown has resulted in a 90% increase in property values. Furthermore, the incremental increase currently generates a total of $2,684,614 in new tax revenue annually: $900,523 for Ocean City; $1,573,090 for the County; and $211,001 for the state. As you can see, the City and the County get a great return on their $100,000 annual investment.

Interestingly, it is not uncommon for elected leaders to serve on community development boards. In fact, the People’s Law Library says this about Community Development Corporations in Maryland and their Boards: “These individuals may be from the city and county government, community, churches, public charities, or an established group within the organization forming the CDC.” For example, the CDC in Easton has the Mayor and a councilman on its Board. The Lake County, Montana CDC website shows that the CDC includes a county commissioner. As a final example, the Lehigh Valley EDC Board in Pennsylvania includes elected county and city officials.

As you can see, GCAC is modeled after the thousands of other CDCs in the country: It has a volunteer Board of experienced and dedicated local leaders, including elected officials, whose plan is to seek funds for the proposed operating budget to hire an Executive Director and an Administrative Assistant to carry out the mission and vision as defined in the Action Plan. GCAC is also in some ways modeled after the Somerset County Long-Term Recovery Committee whose operations were carried out by a paid fulltime staff of 7, most of whom held college degrees.

To be clear: CDCs are not Chambers of Commerce. Ocean City has a Chamber of Commerce AND a CDC. Easton has a Chamber of Commerce AND a CDC, as many other places do. Also, CDCs are not loose associations of volunteers like some community groups here. And CDCs do not operate without funding. CDCs require the skill of a professional staff because the CDC is a corporation designated by the IRS to do community development. Further, although CDCs are “widely viewed as the nation’s best strategy for revitalizing poor areas,” they do require the support of the City along with funding for staff and operations in order to be successful, just as GCAC is seeking. For more information, see: www.GreaterCrisfieldMD.org.

Recent Developments

Click here for County Times letter to the editor by Tina Swift on August 31, 2016: Letter to the Editor by Tina Swift

Click here for: County Times August 31, 2016

Click here for County Times letter by Paul Regester on September 14, 2016: county-times-letter-to-the-editor-september-14-2016

Click here for County Times letter by Darlene Taylor on September 21, 2016: county-times-letter-to-the-editor-september-21-2016

Click here for Main Street rendering: main-street-rendering

Click here for County Times letter by Paula Green on September 28, 2016: county-times-letter-to-the-editor-paula-green-september-28-2016

Click here for County Times letter by Vicki Conner on September 28, 2016: letter-to-the-editor-vicki-conner

Click here for County Times article on October 5, 2016: county-times-why-crisfield-needs-a-plan-october-5-2016

Click here for County Times article on October 12, 2016: county-times-why-have-a-cedc-october-12-2016

Click here for feedback from GCAC supporters: for feedback-from-gcac-supporters

Click here for County Times article on Comprehensive Action Plan – October 19, 2016: county-times-october-19-2016

Click here for County Times article on Branding & Marketing – October 26, 2016: county-times-branding-october-26-2016

Click here for County Times article on Business Building – November 2, 2016: county-times-business-building-november-2-2016

Click here for County Times letter of support in Sound Off! – November 2, 2016: county-times-sound-off-november-2-2016

Click here for County Times article on Workforce Development – November 9, 2016: county-times-workforce-development-november-9-2016

Click here for County Times article on Homes & Home Ownership – November 16, 2016: county-times-homes-home-ownership-november-16-2016

Click here for County Times update about scheduling Work Session – November 16, 2016: county-times-work-session-november-16-2016

Channel 47 News before the August 24th meeting:

http://www.wmdt.com/news/more-local-news/Crisfield-group-requests-endorsement-from-the-city/41333158

WBOC News the day after the August 24th meeting:

http://www.wboc.com/story/32845509/greater-crisfield-action-coalition-stalled-after-vote

Coalition Celebrates First Year’s Accomplishments

Thanks community for its support

The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition, Inc. celebrated its first year’s anniversary with a report to the community on its accomplishments and challenges; and with an expression of thanks to all of the individuals and organizations who have supported their efforts thus far. The all-volunteer non-profit group, which started meeting on May 18, 2015, has made significant progress towards its stated mission “to transform Crisfield into a vibrant and thriving community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed in an outstanding and meaningful way”.

This newspaper has been reporting regularly on GCAC’s activities during the past twelve months, including its two public meetings and the release of its 116 page Five-Year Action Plan in March of this year. Among the accomplishments of the group are the following:

Recruited a Board of Directors reflecting the diversity of the community and bringing a range of business, government, and community development skills.
Prepared bylaws as well as organized and obtained approval as a Maryland community and economic development corporation.
Obtained IRS approval as a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity.
Prepared and published guiding documents including Mission, Vision, Core Values and Strategies.
Established a professionally developed website – www.greatercrisfieldmd.org — Facebook and Fundly pages, and YouTube video to keep the community informed.
Regularly issued information to the press and completed four television news interviews.
After completing a plan framework with the assistance of a consultant, held two public meetings, obtained written feedback through surveys, and published results.
Created two brands and registered the Uniquely Crisfield™ and White Boot Hospitality™ trademarks with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Raised over $30,000 from generous contributions of the community.
Sponsored a program for youth and provided gift bags to elderly Housing Authority residents over the Christmas season.
Prepared and released the first ever community Action Plan containing 200 steps focused upon Branding & Marketing, Business Building, Workforce Development, Homes & Home Ownership, and Youth & Recreation. The plan was announced via a 4 page newspaper pullout and is available for download from the GCAC website or for review at the public library.
Presented and explained the plan to government officials including: the Mayor and City Council; the Somerset County Administrator; the President of the Somerset County Commissioners; Senator Jim Mathias; Delegate Charles Otto; the Executive Director of the Somerset County Economic Development Commission; the Executive Director of the Tri-County Council; the Director of the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance; staff at Wor-Wic Community College; staff at the J. M. Tawes Technologyl and Career Center; and others.
Completed presentations or discussions on the plan with community groups or their leaders including: Somers Cove Marina; Somers Cove Yacht Club; Janes Island State Park; Crisfield American Legion; Crisfield Area Chamber of Commerce; Smith Island United; Somerset County Tourism Commission; and Friends of Crisfield.
Developed a working partnership with the Long Term Recovery Committee with three GCAC Board Members serving with this group.
Supported the city with the passage of the Crisfield Golf Cart Bill.
Supported the city and marina with identification of rental vehicle and courtesy vehicle options.
Developed a latticed, stackable credential model for White Boot Hospitality™ training with ongoing support from the National Restaurant Association’s Chicago office.
Obtained support from the Maryland Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation for participation in an EARN grant for White Boot Hospitality™ (WBH) training.
Initiated formation of a Hospitality Industry Partnership for the greater Crisfield area to work with Wor-Wic Community College to develop customized WBH training.
Recruited both incumbent workers and unemployed to participate in food safety and bar management classes sponsored by Somerset County and conducted by the J.M. Tawes Technology & Career Center.
Recruited local restaurant workers to participate in a Hospitality Boot Camp in Ocean City.
Initiated the first 20 hour WBH customized training program for Crisfield area workers and unemployed taught by Wor-Wic Community College at the Crisfield Elks, who donated use of their restaurant facilities.
Engaged Mayor Lawson to teach a history of Crisfield segment as part of WBH training.
Engaged a GCAC Board Member to teach wine service classes as part of WBH.
Obtained website addresses for GCAC trademarks and set up www.UniquelyCrisfield.org site to measure traffic generated as a result of marketing efforts.
Initiated an email marketing campaign for Crisfield and Smith Island to 435,000 targeted individuals with cooperation from Smith Island United and the contribution of a professional marketing and promotion organization.
Identified a series of volunteer committees to pursue additional actions based on the Action Plan. Of the nearly 200 steps stated in the plan, one third are either completed or underway, with progress shown in all five action areas.

Having completed all of these tasks in the space of 12 months, the Coalition’s greatest ongoing need is to obtain funding sufficient to hire a full time Executive Director and Executive Assistant to move the plan’s action steps forward in a professional manner and at an accelerated pace. GCAC is seeking both private and corporate contributions and has engaged professional assistance to pursue private foundation and government funding for this purpose as well.

GCAC Board Members report that they have seen ample evidence of support for the Coalition and its plan from virtually all segments of the community. The group also fully understands the need to expand and modify the plan based upon additional community input and changing conditions. Those wishing to submit comments, contribute or volunteer may do so by visiting the GCAC website at www.greatercrisfieldmd.org or by contacting any board member.

Press Release: April 27, 2016: Job Training for Crisfield People

Results of Business Community Survey – January 5, 2016

Results of Community Survey – November 20, 2015

Press Release – Greater Crisfield Action Coalition Launch

Press Release – From recovery to rejuvenation

County Times – September 2, 2015

County Times – September 30, 2015

County Times article on Community Meeting – December 2, 2015

County Times – December 23, 2015

Somerset Herald – January 27, 2016

President Scott chats with WBOC News in November 2015:

http://www.wboc.com/story/30563483/crisfield-welcomes-a-new-plan-for-the-future