Annual Report 2024-2025

YEAR IN REVIEW


Aviation Maintenance Technician School at SBY


Our collective FAA Part 147 Certified Aviation Maintenance Technician school at SBY officially opened its doors. Operated by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the school will offer students the opportunity to attain Airframe and Power Plant (A&P) certification, a highly valued credential in the aviation industry. Teaming with the State Maryland, Wicomico County and Piedmont Airlines, the 12-month program will create a pipeline of mechanics for the aviation industry, offer great jobs and enhance the aviation and aeronautics sector for our region for years to come.


Site Readiness


SWED began the process of developing five ‘Shovel-Ready’ sites this past year. Two of the sites are located in Westwood Commerce Park with planned industrial buildings of 200,000 sf each. Three sites are located on the grounds of the Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport. The process of addressing permitting requirements upfront can mitigate the time to construction by eliminating the twelve to eighteen months of the site approval process. Ultimately, this allows us to better compete for large-scale economic development projects.

SWED was successful in applying for and receiving $450,000 and $10,000 in grant form for MEDCO’s Site Improvement and Site Characterization grants, respectively. The Site Improvement grant is to assist Wicomico County in relocating two small hangars at SBY to make space for a larger hangar complex. The Site Characterization grant is to assist SWED in identifying additional infrastructure and associated costs to reach a full-service, 232-acre industrial park at SBY.

Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport


Breeze Airways, HopFlyt and Azure Flight Support began or located operations at SBY this past year. Breeze, beginning in October 2025 will offer scheduled airline service to Orlando (MCO).


HopFlyt located operations to the Autonomous Innovation Hangar at SBY. The company operates within the rapidly evolving Advanced Air Mobility industry and designs and manufactures eVTOL’s (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles). HopFlyt has both unmanned and manned models.


Azure Flight Support began as SBY’s new Fixed Based Operator. The company has seasoned aviation personnel, a strong business plan and a keen desire to grow both the corporate and general aviation sectors. Azure will offer fueling services, flight instruction, maintenance, aircraft sales and much more in the coming years.

SWED was pleased to further assist SBY in renewing several leases including those with Piedmont Airlines, Perdue Farms and the Maryland State Police.

New Industry


Both Amazon and St. John Properties began construction on new facilities in Westwood Commerce Park totaling 150,000 sf and representing an investment exceeding $70 million.

SWED was please to host Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks and Maryland Commerce Secretary Harry Coker during visits to Wicomico.

SWED


Public speaking engagements enhance collaboration among many partners throughout our region. We were pleased to present at this year’s Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce’ Economic Forecast event, Wicomico Rotary Club and SVN’s Annual Economic Summit and Conference.



Our 56th Annual Meeting was held at Green Hill Yacht & Country Club and featured Richmond Federal Reserve President Tom Barkin as the keynote speaker.

Our Strategy Forward

Our strategy for the coming year is to capitalize on our assets, develop additional and innovative programs to target job growth and work collaboratively with our many partners for the betterment of all.


Targeted Economic Sectors

Agribusiness, Health Care, Higher Education, Manufacturing, Aviation & Aeronautics, Distribution


Infrastructure Investments


Entrepreneurship


Industry Diversification


Strengthened Partnerships

2024 Annual Meeting

Download a PDF file of the 2024-2025 SWED Annual Report.

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Other Posts:

Transportation as an Economic Catalyst

November 11, 2025
'Transportation as an Economic Catalyst' was the theme at our 57th Annual Meeting held at the Wicomico County Youth & Civic Center. More than one hundred attendees networked and heard updates and strategies to drive economic growth from Tony Rudy (Director of Aviation at SBY Airport), Cliff Grunstra (Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Carload Express) and SWED Executive Director David Ryan (substituting for David Pierce of NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility due to the government shutdown). John Hickman and Ashley Panagakos of BEACON at Salisbury University provided results of an Economic Impact study of the Port of Salisbury.  The study found the Port has an overall annual economic and employment impact of $225 million and 600 jobs in Wicomico County, respectively.

Economic Impact: Port of Salisbury

November 6, 2025
Early in 2025 and with funding provided by the Tri-County Council of the Lower Eastern Shore and the Rural Maryland Council, SWED engaged BEACON at Salisbury University to conduct an Economic Impact Study on the Port of Salisbury.  The purpose was to highlight the importance and quantify the value of Maryland’s second largest port to our local economy. The Wicomico River and Port of Salisbury play a critical role in local supply chains, area industries, and overall economic activity. Review the Report Here.

FAA Certified Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician School Opens at SBY

September 19, 2025
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) cut the ribbon for the opening of its Part 147, FAA Certified Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) school at the Salisbury - Ocean City: Wicomico County Regional Airport. The program is the result of a collaborative partnership between Wicomico County, UMES, the State of Maryland and Piedmont Airlines. Piedmont and its parent company American Airlines, donated an Embraer 145 jet to the school. More than two hundred people attended the event.