CHESTERTOWN — The Upper Shore Regional Council, in partnership with Bay Crossing Consulting, is hosting a series of focus groups across Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties to engage directly with local business owners and stakeholders about their experiences accessing business financing.
The first meeting is in Chestertown on Thursday, May 22 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Kent County Commissioners’ hearing room of the R. Clayton Mitchell Jr. Kent County Government Center, 400 High St.
Business owners and stakeholders who wish to attend must pre-register by emailing kentecondev@kentgov.org.
According to a news release, the focus groups aim to uncover the challenges businesses face when seeking traditional funding and to explore how nontraditional financing options are currently being used across the region.
“With a diverse business community comes a wide range of needs,” USRC Executive Director Susan O’Neill said in the news release. “To provide meaningful support, we need to engage directly with the people building and running businesses in our communities. These conversations are essential to help the Upper Shore Regional Council, along with our partners at the economic development offices, design programs that reflect the real challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs across the Upper Shore.”
This initiative presents an opportunity for business owners to share their experiences, discuss the types of capital their businesses need and help shape future small business financing solutions.
Input gathered during the focus groups will directly inform the development of potential new resources to reflect the needs of the Upper Shore’s business community, according to the news release.
“Access to the right kind of capital at the right time can be transformational for a small business,” said Shelly Gross-Wade, principal consultant and CEO of Bay Crossing Consulting. “This collaboration with the Upper Shore Regional Council is about aligning resources with real-world business needs, whether it’s scaling up, stabilizing operations, or seizing new opportunities.”
Gross-Wade added, “By grounding our approach in the lived experiences of business owners in Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties, we can help ensure local economies are positioned for long-term success.”
Business owners and stakeholders are encouraged to attend the focus group in their county and share their perspectives on the kinds of financing and support that would help them grow and thrive.
“By participating in these focus groups, participants can help shape responsive financing programs that support small business growth and long-term economic vitality throughout the region,” the news release states.
The Cecil County focus group will be held on Wednesday, June 4 from 8 to 9:15 a.m. at Cecil College’s Technology Center (Building D), Room 208, located at One Seahawk Drive in North East. Those interested in participating are encouraged to register using the provided online form, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8DYH8DS.
Information for Queen Anne’s County’s focus group will be announced soon. Interested participants are encouraged to continue checking the USRC website [https://usrcmd.org/] for updates on scheduling and registration.
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Since 2003, the Upper Shore Regional Council has fostered planning and development in Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties. The USRC affords federal, state, county and local governments a regional forum to identify issues and opportunities.
The Upper Shore Regional Council has an office at 122 N. Cross St., Chestertown. The telephone number is 410-810-2126.