Talbot County business and nonprofit leaders can help inform local policies and build business support tools by sharing their views online as part of the Eastern Shore Business Sentiment Survey. This survey gives a localized view of the business community and helps policymakers understand their concerns and expectations for the coming year.
Every six months, Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism partners with Salisbury University’s Business Economic and Community Outreach Network (BEACON) and other economic development professionals across the Eastern Shore for the semi-annual survey. Responses can be made online before the August 1, 2025, deadline.
The survey gauges the opinions of local businesses on current and future economic conditions, with the results providing focus areas that are most important to area businesses and nonprofits.
“The insights we gather from this survey are critical—they guide our decisions and shape the economic development strategies tailored to each county,” says Cassandra Vanhooser, director of the Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism. “To stay in step with the evolving needs of our business and nonprofit communities, it’s essential we align our initiatives with the real-world dynamics they face.”
Survey partners include the economic development offices in each of the nine counties on the Eastern Shore, as well as the Mid-Shore Regional Council, Upper Shore Regional Council, and Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.
“Most of the data we have access to—especially in a smaller region like ours—comes from national or, at best, regional studies,” said John Hickman, director of BEACON. “This project changes that. It gives our economic development leaders, and the government officials they advise, a true picture of what’s happening right here on Delmarva.”
“These leaders need to plan how best to support their local businesses,” he says. “Whether through incentives, relief funding, workforce development or other programs, they need reliable, local insight to understand what challenges matter most to the businesses they serve.”
Survey results are reported by BEACON and available to the public on the Delmarva Index. A copy of the latest report summary is available at recovery.delmarvaindex.org/pages/business-survey.
Local businesses are encouraged to complete the June 2025 Eastern Shore Sentiment Survey online at bit.ly/sentimentjuly25.
The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s mission 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 department’s vision for Talbot County is built on the principles of strong communities, empowered businesses, and innovative solutions.
Business owners and managers are encouraged to receive the department’s Talbot Works newsletter and breaking business news by subscribing at www.talbotworks.org. The department can also be reached at 410-770-8058 or by visiting their office at 215 Bay Street, Easton, Md.
About Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s mission 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 department’s vision for Talbot County is built on the principles of strong communities, empowered businesses, and innovative solutions.
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