Press Release
Commerce Department Investment Helps Maryland's Eastern Shore Employ Technology
June 18, 2010
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085
in Pursuit of Job-Creating Economic Development Projects
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $129,000 grant to the Tri County Council of the Lower Eastern Shore, Snow Hill, and the Mid Shore Regional Council of Easton, Maryland to expand their capacity to employ Geographic Information System (GIS) and other technology used to plan and execute job-creating economic development projects.
"This EDA grant will bring new tech-based economic development tools to Maryland's Eastern Shore," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez. "The increased technological capacity will help local leaders make optimal decisions when planning and executing local economic development strategies that will benefit the region's consumers."
"This important EDA funding will allow the Tri County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland and the Mid Shore Regional Council Planning Districts to continue to plan and implement economic development projects that are providing a better standard of living for the region's citizens," said Mike Pennington, Executive Director, Tri County Council of Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.
The grant will produce high quality data for use in decision making by regional and state leaders on economic development issues in Maryland's Eastern Shore and it will further mature the unique collaboration formed with Salisbury University, the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative, and the two designated Regional Councils that will allow the sustainability of this capability beyond the life of the grant.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov):
This year, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) marks 45 years of public service, with a mission of leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that partners with distressed communities throughout the United States to foster job creation, collaboration and innovation.