Worcester County Secures $150,000 to Advance Economic Growth in Southern Worcester
Snow Hill, MD – Worcester County Tourism and Economic Development (WCTED), in partnership with the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore (TCC) is launching a comprehensive economic development project to identify opportunities for industry growth, private investment, and job creation in southern Worcester County.
This initiative, entitled Opportunities for Economic Growth and Industry Diversification in Worcester County, Maryland, will be funded by a $75,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and a $75,000 match from the TCC. The study will outline practical steps to improve essential infrastructure, prepare workers for new job opportunities, attract and support businesses, and expand the types of industries operating in Worcester County. These efforts will help create a stronger, more resilient economy in Worcester County and across the Lower Eastern Shore.
“Southern Worcester County has tremendous assets and opportunities that we can build on,” Commissioner Caryn Abbott said. “This funding will allow us to take a close look at what businesses need to grow and thrive, where new opportunities exist, and what investments can be made now and going forward to convert that potential into good jobs and ongoing economic growth for our communities.”
The study will explore ways to expand manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and technology industries, particularly in Pocomoke City. Pocomoke offers several advantages for business growth, including the 175-acre Pocomoke Industrial Park, access to U.S. Routes 13 and 113, freight rail service, natural gas, and Pocomoke River access. Pocomoke has also secured Enterprise Zone, HUBZone, and Opportunity Zone designations, which provide tax benefits, investment incentives, and access to certain federal contracting opportunities that can help existing businesses grow and encourage new employers to locate there. Pocomoke’s proximity to NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility creates further opportunities to attract companies that supply or support the region’s growing aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, and technology industries.
To build on these advantages, the study will determine whether local water and wastewater systems, electricity, broadband, roads, rail service, river access, and industrial sites can support new and expanding businesses, like Hardwire, while also identifying opportunities to attract suppliers supporting NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Rocket Lab, and other regional employers. It will also identify needed improvements, examine the types of workers employers are seeking, and recommend ways to prepare local residents for specialized, well-paying jobs.
“The resulting roadmap will identify infrastructure investments, workforce development needs, business recruitment opportunities, and implementation steps to strengthen the local economy and position southern Worcester County for future investment,” WCTED Director Melanie Pursel said.
Recent growth at Pocomoke-based Hardwire, LLC, which secured a $99 million contract award, provides a timely example of the economic potential already taking shape in southern Worcester County.
“The time is right for a comprehensive look at Pocomoke City,” TCC Executive Director Greg Padgham said. “Its unique geographical location combined with existing and planned assets and infrastructure make Pocomoke City an up-and-coming hub for the Lower Eastern Shore. This contributes to the region’s economic diversification and resiliency and is one of the reasons the Tri-County Council and its partners in the Philadelphia office of EDA were happy to fund the study.”
Ultimately, the initiative will provide Worcester County and its partners with a data-driven strategy to expand manufacturing, attract private investment, create quality year-round jobs, strengthen the commercial tax base, and position southern Worcester County as a regional center for innovation and technology-driven economic growth.
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