LESMD
As the single entity in the State of Maryland charged with promoting economic development on a regional scale in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, the Tri-County Council is excited to support and promote the area with the LESMD platform.
ABOUT LESMD.NET
A Toolkit for the Lower Eastern Shore
LESMD.net is a regional economic development website conceptualized, designed and administered by the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. The purpose of LESMD.net is to assist and support the efforts of economic development professionals in the three Lower Shore counties of Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester by serving as a regional clearinghouse of information and by serving as a resource for regional branding and marketing efforts.
The effectiveness of LESMD.net is measured by the timeliness of its information and its ability to paint the “big picture”. The Tri-County Council believes this is best accomplished by clearly and simply displaying the nexus between various economic development assets, specific economic engines, or sectors, entrepreneurial opportunities and the educational continuum within the entire LESMD Region.
The Tri-County Council is committed to regular, consistent and targeted updating of LESMD.net through close interaction with the stakeholders whose cooperation made it possible. The Tri-County Council continues to utilize the information gathering methodology developed during the design and content creation stages. In addition, the Tri-County Council hosts a regular quarterly meeting of its Regional Branding and Marketing Committee to review the web analytics of the previous 90 days and to make recommendations for improvement to LESMD.net. The membership of this committee is the same as the Tri-County Council CEDS Committee.
The LESMD LOGO – What is it and may I use it?
The LESMD logo was conceived in 2019 by combining elements of the Tri-County Council logo (tri-color blue silhouette of the three counties), a clear reference to the historical and formal founding of the LESMD Region (est. 1666 in vintage font) and contemporary imagery evoking forward movement. The Tri-County Council encourages its regional partners to use the LESMD logo and brand assets in presentations, promotional material, and on social media in accordance with the established brand guidelines.
About the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland
2001
The Tri‐County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland (TCCLES) is formed by the Maryland legislature. Enabling legislation specifically states the TCCLES is a cooperative planning and development unit charged with fostering the physical, economic and social development of the three counties of the Lower Shore Region.
2003
The Tri-County Council submits its first Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Report for the Region (CEDS)
2009
The Tri-County Council is designated as an Economic Development District (EDD) by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the United States Department of Commerce. This allows the Council (on behalf of the Counties) to apply directly to the EDA for funding.
2012
In January 2012 the Tri-County Council successfully consolidated the operations of the three‐county transit system, the regional workforce development board, and a regional economic development function into an 86,000 sq. ft. multi‐purpose center located on its 26‐acre campus in Salisbury, MD.
The Council works closely with the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the United States Department of Commerce and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development. In addition, the Council partners with the Maryland Department of Commerce, Maryland Transit Authority, Federal Transit Authority, Maryland Department of Labor, US Department of Labor, the Rural Maryland Council (Maryland Department of Agriculture), the three Lower Shore Counties and municipalities, as well as the other rural Regional Councils in the State of Maryland.
Resources and Board Memberships
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)
A CEDS, or Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, is a roadmap to understanding the regional economy and serves as a useful guide to local decision making. It is a comprehensive planning document that acts as a blueprint to the economic development activities of a region and is a requirement for receiving federal infrastructure funds through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the US Department of Commerce. It is required as a prerequisite to receiving an Economic Development District designation by EDA.
A well-developed CEDS has a purpose not served by single-jurisdiction planning documents. By its very nature the CEDS process leverages the resources and input of all entities within a multi-jurisdictional unit, in this case Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties and their municipalities. More important, the CEDS is the result of a locally based, “regionally owned” planning process. Despite the requirement of EDA that there be a CEDS, the document and the process are not created or dictated by EDA. The regional priorities outlined in the CEDS are the result of deliberation by the CEDS stakeholder committees comprised of individuals and organizations who live or are located in the region and who have specific knowledge and experience rooted in the region and its communities.
Delmarva Index
Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland and the The Mid-Shore Regional Council, with support from the Rural Maryland Council (RMC) through the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF), have partnered with the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative of Salisbury University to create the Delmarva Index. Its Economic Dashboard, Healthcare Dashboard, Education Dashboard and Delmarva Workforce Infographics are tools and resources custom-built for the residents, businesses, and community organizations on the Delmarva Peninsula. Project partners recognize and offer solutions to meet the challenges facing the Delmarva region due to its unique geography and political boundaries. The Delmarva Index is a recent example that lends a new and much-needed regional perspective to planning and decision making.
Rural Maryland Council (RMC)
The Rural Maryland Council, an independent State agency, brings together rural leaders, government officials at all levels, and representatives of the nonprofit and for-profit sectors to identify and craft solutions to the challenges facing rural Maryland. Ultimately, the mission of RMC is to improve quality of life while preserving the cultural heritage of Maryland’s rural communities. A representative from each of the five Regional Councils, which includes the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore, sits on the executive committee of the RMC.
Maryland Broadband Cooperative
Maryland Broadband Cooperative is a not-for-profit (501c12) charged with offering, through our members, expanded and world-class network services around the state. Its mission is to drive network capacity & connectivity through universal, open access to broadband services via a fiber-optic network that serves rural Maryland by building an advanced, world-class broadband network across the rural communities of Eastern Shore, Southern, and Western Maryland supported by its Members who provide Last Mile service.
A representative from each of the five Regional Councils, which includes the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore, sits on the Board of Directors of Maryland Broadband Cooperative.