Maryland Secretary Kelly Schulz delivers keynote address at the 11th Annual Business Appreciation Breakfast
Kelly Schulz, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce, spent a day in Talbot County, her first stop on a statewide tour where she will be visiting all 24 jurisdictions.
Schulz delivered a keynote address to 225+ Talbot County business and community leaders at the 11th Annual Business Appreciation Breakfast on May 3. She discussed her role in tackling workforce development issues as Maryland’s Secretary of Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (recently renamed to Department of Labor).
“Now, as the secretary of commerce, I get to attack economic development in a different way. Commerce’s financing and incentive programs, for example, help businesses meet a slightly different set of needs.”
Schulz went on to highlight Maryland’s many economic development successes including adding 120,000 jobs during the first four years of Governor Hogan’s administration, the state’s unemployment rate dropping to 3.8%, and a manufacturing sector that has rebounded, ranking number two in percentage growth on the East Coast, behind South Carolina.
View photos of the Talbot County Business Appreciation Breakfast here.
Secretary’s Roundtable
After the Business Appreciation Breakfast, Secretary Schulz hosted a roundtable discussion with community stakeholders to talk more deeply about the unique opportunities Talbot County is leveraging to maintain and grow a prosperous economy as well as discussing some of the challenges businesses and residents are experiencing.
Secretary visits Talbot County Businesses
Secretary Schulz then visited two Talbot County businesses–the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels and The Whalen Company in Easton.
Secretary Schulz was joined by members of the Talbot County Council and Talbot County Economic Development Commission.
Kirsten Greenaway, President of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, gave a presentation of the Museum’s Master Plan. The plan includes the construction of a new exhibition building, a new visitor orientation center, a museum store, and an education building. The Secretary was then taken on a tour of the museum’s grounds and operation.
To learn more about the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Master Plan, click here.
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum President Kristen Greenaway (far right) discusses Maritime initiatives with Maryland Secretary Kelly Schulz
Craig Wanner, President and CEO of The Whalen Company in Easton, toured Secretary Schulz and guests around their manufacturing plant.
The Whalen Company is one of America’s most innovative leaders in the commercial heating and air conditioning industry. One of Talbot county’s largest employers, The Whalen Company designs, manufactures, and distributes vertical stack fan coils and heat pumps for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.
Learn more about The Whalen Company by clicking here.
Craig Wanner, President and CEO of The Whalen Company, tours Secretary Kelly Schulz and guests around their manufacturing plant
View additional photos of the Secretary’s tour here.
About Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
The Office of Economic Development and the Office of Tourism were merged in 2016 by the Talbot County County Council to fully leverage the synergy and common interest of the two offices. The mission of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism is to enhance and promote a business-friendly environment for current and prospective enterprises and to advocate for policies that support and strengthen the economic vitality of Talbot County. The vision the department sees for Talbot County is simple: Strong Communities. Empowered Businesses. Innovative Solutions.
If you own or operate a business here in Talbot County, or want to start one, you are encouraged to contact the Department of Economic Development and Tourism at 410-770-8058 or visit their office at 215 Bay Street, Suite 5, Easton, MD.