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MD Comptroller Visits AMT School at SBY

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 21:59:16 GMT

SWED was pleased to host Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman for a tour and visit to the recently opened Aviation Maintenance Technician School at the Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport. The school, operated by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, is a 12 month, FAA Part 147 Certified school that prepares students for Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification, a highly valued and respected credential in the aviation industry.

Event Photo Gallery

Transportation as an Economic Catalyst

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:04:52 GMT

'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.

Event Photo Gallery

Economic Impact: Port of Salisbury

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 03:57:07 GMT

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

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:07:59 GMT

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.

Video Summary

Event Photo Gallery

Annual Report 2024-2025

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 13:54:50 GMT

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

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.

MD Secretary of Ag Visits Wicomico County

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 23:55:11 GMT

SWED hosted Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks recently as he and his team visited Wicomico County. Dani Winters, principal of Winters Farm Florals began the day with a tour of her fresh cut flower business in Hebron. A Roundtable discussion followed at Green Hill and we finished the day with pie and ice cream (plus meaningful conversation) at Wright’s Market in Mardela Springs. The event provided the opportunity for collaboration and dialogue among Wicomico’s Ag Community and the State Department of Agriculture.

Economic Impact Study Underway

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 20:33:13 GMT

Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development (SWED) has engaged BEACON at Salisbury University to conduct an economic impact study of the Port of Salisbury on our region's economy. Among other data sets, the analysis will include the value of shipments, jobs related to the port and the estimated efficiencies water commerce provides versus alternative transportation methods. The study will include the direct, indirect and induced economic impact of the port.

SWED's Executive Director David Ryan said 'I think most people understand the importance and value of waterborne commerce to our economy as a whole and our supply chain specifically. This study will quantify that value and highlight the critical role the port plays in our economy'.

The report is expected to be complete in early fall, 2025.

HopFlyt Locates to UAS Innovation Center

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 23:31:10 GMT

HopFlyt is dedicated to developing and commercializing next generation Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft and has located to the Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico County Regional Airport’s (SBY) Unmanned Autonomous Innovation Center. The center is a new and purpose built facility designed as a hub to accelerate commercial UAS adoption in this unique geographical environment. HopFlyt will continue to development and test their electric and hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft product line.

UMES Receives FAA Certification for Aviation Maintenance Technician School at SBY

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 22:00:00 GMT

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) recently received its FAA Part 147 Certification to operate an Aviation Maintenance Technician school at the Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY). Students completing the 1900 hour, one-year program will receive a Certificate and be eligible to sit for both an Airframe and Powerplant certification test. Passing these tests grants the student A&P Mechanic certification, a highly sought after and valued recognition in the aviation industry. Credits accumulated through the program can be transferred toward a four-year degree at UMES at the option of the student. While some training is specific to the aviation sector, much of the training (hydraulics, electronics, etc.) is applicable to multiple economic sectors. Students therefore are not limited to the aviation or aeronautical sectors for meaningful careers. The program will begin with a maximum cohort of twenty-five students. SWED was proud to lead the effort for the program and recognizes success could not have occurred without many partners including Wicomico County, the State of Maryland, UMES, Piedmont Airlines and the Tri-County Council. The program will begin in August, 2025. For more information, please visit: https://wwwcp.umes.edu/amt/

Richmond Fed Chief Keynotes SWED's 56th Annual Meeting

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 02:56:10 GMT

Approximately one hundred members and guests attended SWED's 56th Annual Meeting recently at Green Hill Yacht and Country Club.

The meeting featured a year in review by David Ryan and a keynote presentation by Tom Barkin, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee. A special thank you to all of our sponsors!

First Shore Federal Savings & Loan

Wicomico County, Maryland

BBSI

Piedmont Airlines

Delmarva Veteran Builders

Trinity Sterile

Hebron Savings Bank

City of Salisbury, MD

Perdue School of Business

Pohanka of Salisbury

Saltwater Storage

GMB Architects & Engineers

Maryland Department of Commerce

TidalHealth

SVN Miller Commercial Real Estate

LINKBANK

Avery Hall

PKS & Company P.A.

Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce

SWED Manufacturing Roundtable Visits Wor-Wic Community College

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 19:00:05 GMT

Wor-Wic Community College recently hosted SWED’s Manufacturing Roundtable at the recently completed Guerrieri Technology Center.

Discussion centered around AI, data driven metrics in manufacturing and workforce development. After the Roundtable, the group toured the many aspects of the technology center. SWED’s Manufacturing Roundtable is designed to encourage collaboration, learning and advocacy among manufacturers and community partners.

New Flex / R&D Space

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 14:18:04 GMT

St. John Properties recently acquired a sixteen acre site in Salisbury's Westwood Commerce Park.

More than 107,000 sf of speculative construction of flex and R&D space is anticipated over the next year. Westwood Commerce Park serves as a gateway into Salisbury and a launching point for future development activities in Wicomico County. Founded in 1971, St. John Properties is one of the nation's largest and most successful privately held real estate firms.

Annual Report 2023-2024

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 02:59:24 GMT

YEAR IN REVIEW

As of this writing, we are midway through FAA Certification of our Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician school at the Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport. To help fill the need for more mechanics and fill existing job openings, SWED and our partners are establishing the program funded through the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund. The anticipated start date is January 2025 for an initial cohort of 25 students. Teaming with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), the State Maryland, Wicomico County and Piedmont Airlines, the 12-month Aviation Maintenance Technician initiative will create a pipeline of mechanics and enhance the aviation and aeronautics sector for our region.

SWED is further enhancing commerce at SBY through the development of a strategic plan and shovel-ready sites. The strategic plan seeks to capitalize on the school for new development opportunities while shovel-ready sites will allow for faster construction cycles, leading to more jobs and commerce at the airport.

With a regional airline headquartered at SBY along with UMES’ aviation science degree, pilot training and aviation mechanic programs, it’s a robust offering unparalleled anywhere in the nation.

SITE READINESS

Lacking large, vacant industrial properties in a very competitive market hinders our collective ability to attract new firms to our community and accommodate resident firms in their expansion plans. Windows of opportunity are short and those communities with the infrastructure in place for quick build-out will be those communities that will take advantage of new opportunities.

We closed this past year on our first ‘Shovel-Ready’ site with our partner, Westwood Development LLC. This program includes a design of a 100,000 sf facility, expandable to 200,000 sf, on twenty acres within Westwood Commerce Park. Designing such a facility and addressing permitting issues associated with site approval allows for a quicker construction cycle. This process and initiative can mitigate the time to construction by eliminating the twelve to eighteen months of the site approval process and allow us to better compete for large-scale economic development projects.

More information about the program can be found at www.swed.org/projects .

We were pleased to initiate our SWED Ag Grant Fund with a goal of fostering growth in Wicomico’s emerging agriculture and resource-based industries. Partnering with the Maryland Agriculture and Resource Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO), we executed our first grant to The Elf Enchanted Garden. The startup firm will use funds for the purchase of a shipping container used for grow space. The company supplies area restaurants with locally-grown microgreens.

Marvel Road LLC began site work for its new manufacturing plant in Northwood Industrial Park. The holding company will lease the facility to a sister entity for distribution of fragrances to other businesses and consumers. SWED was also pleased to work with St. John Properties as the company is acquiring significant acreage in the Greater Salisbury area for commercial and industrial development. Progress on Marvel Road and St. John’s will be seen in the latter part of 2024 and into 2025.

We continued our long standing practice of calling on resident businesses, inclusive of those firms with offices outside of Wicomico’s jurisdictional border. Calling on our existing customers allows us to better understand the needs of our business community and to tailor programs and services to meet those needs. At the same time, we recognize that attrition will occur and attraction of new businesses and jobs to our community is an important component to our program.

Our 55th Annual Meeting was held at EVO with featured guest, Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary, Kevin Anderson.

Our Strategy Forward

Targeted Economic Sectors

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

Infrastructure Investments

Entrepreneurship

Industry Diversification

Strengthened Partnerships

Download a PDF file of the 2023-2024 SWED Annual Report.

Aviation Maintenance Technician Program

matt@mattswinehart.com (MATTHEW SWINEHART) — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 07:15:11 GMT

AMT - On behalf of Wicomico County, SWED applied for and received a $3.298 million grant from the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund to establish an Aviation Maintenance Technician program at the Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY).

Teaming with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), the state Maryland, Wicomico County and Piedmont Airlines, the 12-month Aviation Maintenance Technician program will create a pipeline of mechanics and enhance the aviation and aeronautics sector for our region. Beginning with an initial cohort of twenty-five students, the program is expected to begin in the spring of 2024 with the first graduating class in 2025. SWED is brokering all transactions associated with establishing this program.

SWED Shovel Ready Sites

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 07:19:32 GMT

The purpose of the SWED Shovel Ready Site program is to better compete for large scale economic development projects by encouraging shovel-ready sites through upfront and creative financing.

General terms and conditions include:

Minimum of ten acres or ability to support a minimum of 100,000 sf facility (ideally expandable to 200,000 sf)
All utilities exist and are at site (electric, natural gas, municipal water/sewer, fiber/internet)
All utilities have capacity to accommodate a significant new development
Transportation network exists with capacity to accommodate significant new development
Zoning is light industrial, heavy industrial, industrial park or planned development district
Applicant must evidence legal site control
Proposed site improvements must be offered for lease or sale
Targeted economic sectors include manufacturing, logistics or other industrial
Targeted minimum number of jobs = 100
Targeted number of users = 1

Download Program Information Sheet

Contact SWED at 410-749-1251 or info@swed.org to further discuss specific projects and opportunities.

SWED Ag Grant Fund

matt@mattswinehart.com (MATTHEW SWINEHART) — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 07:09:39 GMT

The SWED Ag Grant Fund is capitalized through a partnership between Wicomico County, PNC Bank and the Maryland Agricultural & Resource Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) through MARBIDCO’s Local Government Agriculture & Resource Based Industry Project Cost Share Program.

The goal of the program is to help foster growth in Wicomico’s emerging agriculture and resource-based industries. General terms and conditions include:

For profit existing and emerging agricultural and resource-based businesses headquartered and located in Wicomico County, Maryland
Business must be registered and in Good Standing with State of Maryland and Wicomico County
Any project co-funded by SWED and MARBICO should assist in some fashion Wicomico County’s farming, forestry or seafood industries (including agritourism businesses); Businesses that facilitate in the production of foodstuffs or other goods that grow in the soil or water, the packaging, processing, or marketing of such products are generally also eligible
The applicant is required to make a financial contribution to the project of at least 50% of project cost
All applications must be submitted by SWED to MARBIDCO. Final approval is at the sole discretion of SWED and MARBIDCO.

Important Links & Files:

Application

W-9 Form

SWED Ag Grant Fund FAQ’s

SWED Ag Grant Agreement

Annual Report 2022-2023

matt@mattswinehart.com (MATTHEW SWINEHART) — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 23:24:07 GMT

On behalf of Wicomico County and early in our fiscal year, we applied for and received a $3.298 million grant from the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund to establish an Aviation Maintenance Technician program at the Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY), create a strategic plan for SBY and work toward shovel-ready sites at the airport.

The strategic plan seeks to capitalize on the AMT program, the planned runway extension from 6,400’ to 7,600’ and infrastructure at SBY. In addition, the plan will explore new challenges and opportunities within the aviation and aeronautics industry.

Shovel-ready sites at the airport make it easier and quicker for interested prospects and airport tenants to construct a facility.

With a regional airline headquartered at SBY along with UMES’ aviation management degree, pilot training and aviation mechanic programs, it’s a robust offering unparalleled anywhere in the nation.

Site Readiness

Our shovel-ready site program seeks to design a facility (or facilities) for specific sites and address all permitting issues associated with site approval. By doing so, we can mitigate the time to construction by eliminating the twelve to eighteen month site approval process.

As mentioned earlier in this report, SWED is working toward shovel-ready sites at our regional airport. SWED is also interested in working with private developers and landowners wishing to market their property as ‘shovel-ready’.

More information about the program can be found at www.swed.org/shovelready.

We were pleased to initiate and support the extension of natural gas to the airport and specifically to the industrial park at SBY. Completion of the project is expected in the next several months. Having infrastructure in place to support development equals new investments and jobs for our community. Special thanks to Wicomico County and the Maryland Energy Administration for funding this project.

Maryland Governor Moore and Senate President Ferguson visited SBY to learn more about the AMT program.

Shovel-ready sites at the airport make it easier and quicker for interested prospects and airport tenants to construct a facility.

We were pleased to support Chesapeake Shipbuilding in the company’s grant application to the Maritime Administration’s Small Shipyard Grant program. The successful initiative, along with funds from the company, helped secure new equipment to help maintain competitiveness against European vessels entering the U.S. market. The company announced the addition of a hundred new jobs over the next several years.

We received funding for a new program targeting new businesses within the agriculture and resource-based industries. The goal of this initiative is to foster growth in Wicomico’s emerging agriculture and resource-based businesses by partnering in a cost-share grant initiative with the Maryland Agricultural and Resource Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO). Grant applications are expected to be available near the end of calendar year 2023.

To that point, we assisted Marvel Road LLC in its acquisition of a facility in Northwood Industrial Park. The holding company will lease the facility to a sister entity for distribution of fragrances to other businesses and consumers, construct a new facility for manufacture of fragrance at the same site and create approximately twenty-five new jobs. Progress will be seen in the coming year.

SWED was pleased to once again work closely with Wicomico County and its bond counsel in preparing and presenting to credit rating agencies. This past year, both Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings visited Wicomico for a community tour followed by credit presentations.

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, Perdue Agribusiness, the Maryland Economic Development Association’s Fall Conference at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Greater Salisbury’s Transformational Community Leadership cohort. Our 54th Annual Meeting was held in October, 2022 at Bordeleau Vineyard & Winery.

Our Strategy Forward

Targeted Economic Sectors
Agribusiness, Health Care
Higher Education, Manufacturing
Infrastructure Investments
Entrepreneurship
Industry Diversification
Strengthened Partnerships

Download a PDF file of the 2022-2023 SWED Annual Report.

Pandemic Assistance

matt@mattswinehart.com (MATTHEW SWINEHART) — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 04:17:11 GMT

With staff of two and many great partners in both public and private sectors, we deployed nearly $14 million to over twelve hundred small businesses throughout all corners of Wicomico County to help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We especially appreciate and thank our small business community for their support and participation in our programs. Throughout the pandemic, we witnessed neighbors helping neighbors and even competitors helping competitors. We heard individual and family stories of the trials and tribulations of running a business. We were invited into your businesses and in some cases, your homes. The resilience of our business community, positivity during uncertain and challenging times was remarkable and creates that fabric of community which makes our county so special

swedwww

MD Comptroller Visits AMT School at SBY

Event Photo Gallery

Transportation as an Economic Catalyst

Event Photo Gallery

Economic Impact: Port of Salisbury

FAA Certified Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician School Opens at SBY

Video Summary

Event Photo Gallery

Annual Report 2024-2025

YEAR IN REVIEW

Our Strategy Forward

2024 Annual Meeting ﻿

MD Secretary of Ag Visits Wicomico County

Economic Impact Study Underway

HopFlyt Locates to UAS Innovation Center

UMES Receives FAA Certification for Aviation Maintenance Technician School at SBY

Richmond Fed Chief Keynotes SWED's 56th Annual Meeting

Approximately one hundred members and guests attended SWED's 56th Annual Meeting recently at Green Hill Yacht and Country Club.

SWED Manufacturing Roundtable Visits Wor-Wic Community College

Wor-Wic Community College recently hosted SWED’s Manufacturing Roundtable at the recently completed Guerrieri Technology Center.

New Flex / R&D Space

St. John Properties recently acquired a sixteen acre site in Salisbury's Westwood Commerce Park.

Annual Report 2023-2024

YEAR IN REVIEW

SITE READINESS

Our Strategy Forward

Aviation Maintenance Technician Program

AMT - On behalf of Wicomico County, SWED applied for and received a $3.298 million grant from the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund to establish an Aviation Maintenance Technician program at the Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY).

SWED Shovel Ready Sites

The purpose of the SWED Shovel Ready Site program is to better compete for large scale economic development projects by encouraging shovel-ready sites through upfront and creative financing. ﻿

SWED Ag Grant Fund

The SWED Ag Grant Fund is capitalized through a partnership between Wicomico County, PNC Bank and the Maryland Agricultural & Resource Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) through MARBIDCO’s Local Government Agriculture & Resource Based Industry Project Cost Share Program.

Important Links & Files:

Annual Report 2022-2023

Site Readiness

Our Strategy Forward

Pandemic Assistance

2024 Annual Meeting

The purpose of the SWED Shovel Ready Site program is to better compete for large scale economic development projects by encouraging shovel-ready sites through upfront and creative financing.