Talbot County’s work to help local entrepreneurs build stronger businesses has earned international recognition.
The International Economic Development Council has honored Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism for its Talbot Works Business Academy as part of the 2026 Excellence in Economic Development Awards. The Academy was recognized in IEDC’s Entrepreneurial & Small Business Development category.
The award recognizes a program built around a straightforward economic development strategy: Give established local entrepreneurs access to sophisticated business training, and their growth strengthens the larger Talbot County economy.
“Being instrumental in the development of the Business Academy in Talbot County is about more than creating a program—it is about creating pathways to opportunity,” said Talbot County Councilmember Keasha Haythe, CEcD. “I believe our local entrepreneurs, aspiring business owners, and young people deserve access to the knowledge, resources, mentorship, and connections necessary to turn their ideas into thriving businesses.
“The Business Academy is an investment in the economic future of Talbot County,” she says, “and I am proud to help build an initiative that empowers residents, strengthens our local economy, and creates opportunities for generations to come.”
Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism created the Talbot Works Business Academy to address a gap facing established small and minority-owned businesses. Many entrepreneurs have customers, revenue, and momentum but lack access to advanced training in financial management, pricing, operations, human resources, marketing, and growth planning.
The intensive, eight-week program helps owners shift their focus from working primarily in their businesses to strategically working on their businesses.
Results demonstrate the Academy’s impact. Fifty business owners have graduated through four cohorts.
Graduates have opened six new businesses and created 15 jobs, while eight have added contractual employees. Participants have reported more than $600,000 in capital investment for growth, equipment, and expansion.
Four graduates secured the largest contracts in their companies’ histories after participating in the program, including one contract valued at nearly $1 million.
“The numbers matter because successful businesses need owners who understand their numbers,” said Will Holmes, founder of Will Holmes Consulting and facilitator of the Talbot Works Business Academy.
“We work with entrepreneurs on pricing, cash flow, revenue goals, hiring capacity, customer acquisition, and profitability using their own businesses as the classroom,” Holmes says. “They leave with practical tools they can use immediately and a clearer understanding of where they want their businesses to go.”
Unlike many entrepreneurship programs centered on start-ups, the Talbot Works Business Academy focuses on established businesses ready for their next stage of growth. Participants generally have operated for at least two years and generate revenue but need stronger systems, financial discipline, or professional support to scale.
The virtual, interactive format also removes travel and scheduling barriers for working entrepreneurs while connecting participants with mentors and professionals in accounting, banking, law, insurance, human resources, marketing, and business operations.
Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism serves as the Academy’s host, convener, recruiter, and primary advocate. Will Holmes Consulting develops the curriculum and facilitates the training.
The Mid-Shore Regional Council provides funding through the Rural Maryland Council’s Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund, allowing participants to attend at no cost. The Maryland Rural Economic Development Fund supported the program’s first two cohorts. The Maryland Small Business Development Center and Talbot County Chamber of Commerce also serve as referral partners.
The Academy supports priorities identified in Talbot County’s Economic Development and Tourism Strategic Plan, including cultivating a strong small-business ecosystem and supporting business retention, expansion, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth.
IEDC’s recognition also places Talbot County’s approach within a broader conversation about rural economic development. The Academy demonstrates how communities outside major metropolitan areas can bring high-level business expertise directly to entrepreneurs through regional partnerships, accessible programming, and sustained local support.
Talbot Works plans to welcome another Business Academy cohort this winter and encourages interested Talbot County business owners and entrepreneurs to sign up for program announcements at www.TalbotWorks.org/BusinessAcademy.
Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism works to strengthen Talbot County’s economy by supporting business retention and expansion, entrepreneurship, workforce development, investment, and a vibrant visitor economy. Through Talbot Works, the department connects businesses and entrepreneurs with resources, partnerships, training, and opportunities designed to support long-term economic vitality. More is at www.TalbotWorks.org.
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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