Mayor Chris Cerino announced today that the Town of Chestertown has been designated by the State of Maryland as an Arts and Entertainment District. The 51acre A&E District includes the waterfront from High Street to Wilmer Park and extends north to Mill Street, encompassing the downtown core.
“Designation of the Town’s A&E District is a major step in the planned revitalization of Chestertown’s downtown and waterfront,” said Cerino. “The downtown arts scene in Chestertown has grown by leaps and bounds in the past decade, thanks in large part to local institutions such as RiverArts and the Garfield Center for the Arts. The.State’s designation validates what many of us already know- that Chestertown is fast becoming a regional arts destination.”
A&E District designation qualifies artists for a Maryland State income tax subtraction for work produced and sold in a District, and property owners with an exemption from the increase in property taxes resulting from renovations for an arts related purpose. The tax incentives have the goal of encouraging arts-related businesses to move to Chestertown and are valid for ten years.
One ofthe most important features of the designation is the planned hiring of an economic development coordinator. The Mayor and Council authorized partial funding for the position earlier this year, and the non-profit SFW Foundation has promised additional funding to make the position full time.
Representing the Greater Chestertown Initiative, Lani Seikaly lobbied the Mayor and Council to pursue designation and was one of many local stakeholders who met with representatives from the State to discuss the proposed District. “Arts and Entertainment District designation is a vital part of the solution to our economic development challenge,” said Seikaly. “Tourism is important, but we also need to figure out how to create jobs that attract and retain young people who will raise their families here. Research shows us that the arts can help us realize this vision while also making Kent County a more exciting and vibrant place to live.”
The designation will become effective July 1. Tax benefits will become effective January 1, 2016.
william short says
I look forward to the positive outcome that this will have on the Town and the County and would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this happen..
Like many other positive things happening for all Kent County it’s great to see us moving forward to make this a better place to work, play and live.
Commissioner Bill Short
Carol Brown says
Kudos to our wonderful town and the great people who live and work here and help guide this special place!
Robbi Behr says
Thanks to Lani, Mayor Cerino, the Town Council and everyone who worked so hard to make this happen!! What great news for Chestertown! Woot!
Frank Ogens says
While I applaud the mayor and all those who diligently worked so hard on this endeavor, it is once again short sighted for the long term future benefit of the town and surrounding areas. As a resident many years ago, I loved the town and still do to this day. However, this is another example of not creating any viable employment opportunities for those that are graduates from KCHS and Washington College in addition to giving tax breaks to those that open a designated business. I realize the benefits of drawing in tourists but the service industries are notoriously lacking in a livable wage for its workers.
Again, I believe this is a good thing for the town but falls short in long range planning.
TM Griggs says
Yes – a good draw for tourism and commendable efforts to see the process through.
The entire eastern shore struggles with job opportunities in bio tech, artificial intelligence, cyber security, health care – industries of the future -and other opps that require a highly educated and highly skilled and trained workforce. I am curious whether efforts are in progress to attract and establish these type of industries here – it would also be beneficial for the state to implement policy that would brand the state as “business friendly” – a reputation it has not historically enjoyed.