FOR TOWN OFBUSINESS GUIDE

PRINCESS ANNEPrinted Guide for Doing Business

in Princess Anne.

Town of Princess AnneGetting Started

30489 Broad Street

Princess Anne, MD 21853

Town Administration Building

The goal is to provide a user friendly print guide that enables small business appli-cants to better under-stand the existing pro-cess in Princess Anne. As you move forward, always remember that the town staff is avail-able and more than happy to assist you. Doing it right from the start, saves everyone’s time.

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The target audience for this guide is Princess Anne’s small business community, which is the heart of “The Avenue” and neighbour-hood business districts. Unlike major chains, malls and lifestyle centers, your businesses are typically run by an individual and have 1 to 3 employees on average. Often, you do not retain legal counsel, and instead, you have to navigate the sometimes confus-ing process of permitting and licensing your own.

This guide is a tool for this small business community, which has been the traditional economic engine of “The Avenue.” It is part of an overall effort to continue to attract new businesses to “The Avenue” and neighbourhood business districts while also seeking to diversify the existing retail mix. Licenses and permits are required in Princess Anne because the Town must complete technical and regulatory reviews to ensure the health and safety of its citizens. However, as a small busi-ness, you will receive assistance and guidance as you go through the permitting processes, which will help ensure that the out-comes are clear and finalized as quickly as possible so you may open your business. Your success becomes the town’s success.

The Town of Princess Anne has created a printed guide for doing business in Princess Anne that can be distributed to small businesses to help them navigate the municipal process- including permit-ting, licensing and zoning-in an easy to read format.

GETTING STARTEDINTRODUCTION

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As the county seat, Princess Anne is the ideal starting point for day trips to the Lower Eastern Shore. History buffs and antique lovers will want to explore the town, and take advantage of the many unique shopping and dining experiences available.

Princess Anne offers the perfect place for your business in its current growing community of businesses. Princess Anne cares about your business, and offers support, guidance, and resources un-like any other town. Your success is our priority.

WELCOME TO PRINCESS ANNE

Established in: 1733, the town’s architectural heritage remains preserved.

Location: Somerset County, MD

Population: 3290

Home to:The University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the Teackle Mansion.

Town Statistics

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If you’re looking to establish meaningful relationships with loyal customers while yielding higher profits and undeniable growth, Princess Anne is the perfect place for your business. Our community supports local businesses and allows your organization to thrive and live up to its full potential. Our town is a historic attraction, that offers an intimate collaborative na-ture ensuring more for the typical business owner.

Perfect Place for a Perfect Business

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KEY CONTACTSAs you prepare to open your business, there are three places you should visit in Town Hall: The Economic Development Department, Planning and Zoning Office, and the Building Department. These offices will assist you as you embark on your new journey into the wonderful Princess Anne business community. Here are the key contacts:

Town Office Hours are Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Except on Holidays

The Chief Administrative building, functions as the

base of the town.

Chamber of Commerce:410-651-2961

County Office Complex, 11916 Somerset Ave.,

Princess Anne, MD 21853

Building Department’s primary responsibility is to assist people in the Town

of Princess Anne in complying with the busi-ness laws as they pertain to zoning and the state’s Uniform Building Code.

County Office Complex, Suite 211

11916 Somerset Ave., Princess Anne, MD 21853

The Planning Commission makes and approves plans

they recommend to the Board of County Commis-

sioners for adoption.

Town Clerk/ Mainstreet Committee 410-651-1818

President of Board of County Commissioners(410) 651-0320

Planning & Zoning Office410-651-1818

Building Department Building CommissionerTown Administration Building

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As you prepare to open your business, there are three places you should visit in Town Hall: The Economic Development Department, Planning and Zoning Office, and the Building Department. These offices will assist you as you embark on your new journey into the wonderful Princess Anne business community. Here are the key contacts:

The Princess Anne Volunteer Fire Department

provides 24-hour fire- fighting and emergency

medical services through-out the community. Forty-

five volunteers respond to approximately 250 fire calls per year, while emer-gency medical personnel respond to appoximately

1,500.

The Princess Anne Police Department provides

police services on a seven day, twenty-four hour

basis.

County Office Complex, Suite 202 11916 Somerset Ave.

Princess Anne, MD 21853

The Somerset County Economic Development Commission’s goal

is to increase the economic vi-ability and vitality of the County’s business community by creating a

positive vision for economic growth.

Princess Anne Vol. Fire Co.410-651-2144

Princess Anne Police Department410-651-1822

Somerset County Economic Development/Suite 202410-651-0500

Fire Department Police Department Economic Development Dept

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Alexander House Somerset HouseAmerican Best Travel InnWashington HotelHayman House

Peakys Restaurant and BarPetite Fleur Get’n Grounded CaféCeasar’s Pizza PalaceBeach to Bay SeafoodHardeesMc Donald’sPizza Hut

Allegro Gift and Coffee Shop Bailey-White Jewelers Priceless FlowersPrint & ShipBarefoot Baby Boutique Historical Society Antique and Gift ShopOlney Market

Places to Eat Places to Stay Places to Shop

support given by the town of Princess Anne. The town of Princess Anne wants you to be successful, and is here to help, assist and direct you as you work towards your business goals. There are countless places to eat, stay, and shop that are visited daily by the com-munity, residents from all over Maryland, and even tourists. The Town of Princess Anne is also a historic area that offers many places to visit, see, and shoot with your camera. It’s a gorgeous, business friendly, welcoming community, that will make a great fit for your business.

Whatever arena your business decides to venture into, Princess Anne welcomes and invites you to its developing business commu-nity. Whether a citizen of Princess Anne think-ing about starting your first business or from another area and thinking about relocating all or part of your business, Princess Anne can help make the move more profitable. We have a responsive government committed to your success. Business professionals from all over have located their operation to Princess Anne and have been pleased in not only their profit earnings, but in the relationships they have established with the community and the

Businesses in Area

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features 68 stories and 40 sites about the people and historic places throughout the town.

From the Victorian and Colo-nial Revival design hotels, to the Federal style architectural landmarks like that of Teackle Mansion, Princess Anne offers pristine historical beauty like no other. When you bring your business to Princess Anne you become apart of its legacy, something much bigger, much more valuable.

The Town also offers a unique cell phone tour. The tour high-lights over 300 years of Princess Anne history from the Colonial era, Revolutionary, Civil and World Wars, the heyday of steamboat travel, the arrival of the railroad and the first “talk-ing” picture show. The tour

The town of Princess Anne offers more than just a dining, resting, shopping experience-it’s a historic community with tons of places to visit-rich in history, architecture and artistic beauty.

The Washington Hotel (restau-rant, bar, and hotel) is a place of divine beauty and history. Structural renovations and refurbishments are underway to improve and update the his-toric structure. The Washington Inn & Tavern is a 1744 iconic historic building. The Hotel is anticipating opening in May of 2015-giving visitors a fresh new invigorating experience.

BEAUTIFULLY PRESERVED HISTORIC SITES

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Contact:

Director Main Street Princess Anne Partnershippamainstreet@gmail.com 410-651-1818

Princess Anne Main Street serves existing Village enterprises. Our programs help local businesses expand into new markets, maxi-mize the productivity of their property, and sharpen their com-petitive edge.

The Princess Anne Partnership is charged with enhancing, promoting and preserving the vitality of Princess Anne, its businesses and residents. The Princess Anne Partner-ship offers many ways to get involved, from volunteer opportunities at special events to seats on committees and boards. Merchants can get involved by sponsoring main street events. Through our combined efforts the Partnership, the town, and the citi-zens will be more united, more efficient, with a better place to work, play and stay.

COMMUNITY GROWTH

Princess Anne Main Street markets the district’s unique char-acteristics to shoppers, investors, potential businesses and visitors. Our promotion strategy forges a positive image through adver-tising, retail incentives, special events and marketing campaigns carried out by local volunteers.

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The

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Partnership The

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Whether a citizen of Princess Anne thinking about starting your first business or from another area and thinking about relocating all or part of your business, Princess Anne can help make the move more profitable.

BUSINESS NEW WAY

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Oppertunities

Economic Viability

Low Taxes

Market Accessibility

Superb Quality of Life

Avaliable, Trainable Workforce

QUANTITYPRICE

For retail business, County and State employees working in Town along with citizens seeking County services mean a steady stream of customers past your storefront. Princess Anne is also fortunate to have two campuses nearby, the University of Mary-land Eastern Shore, and Salisbury University.

Princess Anne and Somerset County taxes are rea-sonable and stable. At the County level industry can request an exemption from all county taxes for one year at a time, for a period of up to ten years. As an enterprise zone, Princess Anne is an attractive loca-tion for industrial and commercial business. Enter-prise zone advantages include property tax credits.

The market is more accessible. Princess Anne offers a transportation and telecommunications infrastruc-ture that will connect you to national and interna-tional markets. Washington, DC is only a three-hour drive or thirty minutes by air, making Princess Anne an excellent location for companies doing business with the Federal Government.

Princess Anne offers an endless amount of opportu-nities to businesses in the area. Some of the eco-nomic benefits include available, trainable, low-cost labor, low taxes, easy market access, safe streets affordable housing and easy commutes.

BUSINESSOPPORTUNITIES

Hawk Card Spending

10%

200900%

00%

20%

2010

30%

2011

40%

2012

50%

2013

60%

2014

Great Source of Profitability

Hawk Card System

The Hawk Card is a card used by the students at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Students are able to transfer funds from their financial aid and use the money for various expenses including food, gas, housing, essential shopping etc. The Hawk Card has con-tributed greatly to the success of local businesses and has enabled businesses to grow, remodel and expand. McDonalds, hesitant to take the card initially, had to close down their entire restaurant on the first day due to lack of products. There are more than 35 busi-nesses that currently take the Hawk Card and it’s a growing force that boosts sales and drives profitability.

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+$3000-$12,000

63%

Currently over 3200 active participants who use the Hawk

Card daily.

Increase in business sales as a result of the Hawk Card. Over

$500,000 has been transferred a semester from Student Accounts, averaging about $206 a transac-tion. Students transfer as little as

$1 to $8000.

A typical restaurant like McDonalds can make

between $3000-$12,000 a month off the Hawk Card

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Every Monday and Thursday (Except for Holidays*) The pick-up will occur on the day after the holiday.

Placement of Trash: By the curbside NO EAR-LIER THAN 6:00 P.M. the day before and no later than 7:00 A.M. of the scheduled collection.secured lid. Exclude hazardous materials.

Bulk Pick-Up Items Must Be Paid in Advance.

Televisions $10.00Tires $15.00Large Appliances $10.00Refrigerators, Hot Water Heat-ers, Stove, Air ConditionersLarge Furniture Items $10.00Mattress, Sofa, carpet, etc.Small Appliances $5.00

Yard Waste (yard debris) First ten bags of yard debris are free… Thereafter, $2.00 per bag

Water and sewer services are provided to the Town by the Som-erset County Sanitary Commission,

11916 Somerset Ave-nue, Room 212, 410.651.3831

During the Spring, Summer, and Fall, the street sweeper cleans streets and curbs every Wednesday. It is requested that resi-dents remove all vehi-cles from the street on these days.

The government of Princess Anne offers several public services to the business community. These services are to assist with trash, bulk materials, water and sew-age, and street cleanings. All organizations are a part of the local community and have access to these services and can take full advantage of the benefits they entail. Should you have any questions regarding any of the items listed, please call the Town Office at 410-651-1818.

PUBLIC SERVICES

TRASH COLLECTION BULK PICK-UP WATER & SEWAGE STREET SWEEP

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All residents and businesses owning real estate within the Town limits are required to maintain their lanes, lawns, sidewalks, and vacant lots, keeping them free of weeds and unsightly vegeta-tion, and preventing the accumulation of refuse or vegetation. It is also requested that lawn cuttings not be blown into the street, to prevent storm drains from becoming clogged, and to keep from adversely affecting the street sweeper.

House numbers are important for identification, especially during an emergency. It is essential that fire and ambulance crews, or the police are able to quickly locate every residence. Please post easy to read numbers, and regularly main-tain all bushes and trees that might obscure them from plain view.

Property Maintenance

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The following steps will help to assist one wishing to start business in the town of Princess Anne.

1. Pick a location for the business2. Contact the Town Hall for zoning

3. Apply for a business license with Somerset County Circuit Court 410-845-48404. Contact the Fire Marshall’s office

5. Depending on the kind of business, other agen-cies will need to be contacted such as DLLR and

Health Dept.6. Apply for permits at the Town Hall if there are

any modifications to the building

STEPS TO OPEN BUSINESS

Returned ChecksAll checks returned to the Town for any rea-son will generate a $25.00 service charge to the person/property that issued the check.

Should any taxpayer fail to pay property taxes rightfully due to the Town of Princess Anne by the first day of January after billing pursuant to Section 812 of Article VIII of the Town Charter, the taxpayer shall pay a tax penalty of 2% per month of the total tax liability on the property for each month or fraction of a month from the first day of January.

• Building Permit Fees: Contact Com-misioner.

• Rental Residentual Property• Special Exception and Variance Fees:

Tipping Fee (Garbage/Trash Removal)• Tax Bill Reminder All Princess Anne

property owners will receive tax bills from the Town and the County. If you have a change of address, please notify the Tax Assessment Office at 410.651.0868 promptly.

Fiscal Year Tax Rates:

• Property Taxes: The current tax rate is $.954 per $100.00 of assessed value.

• Personal Property Taxes: The current tax rate is $2.25 per $100.00 of as-sessed value.

GOVERNMENT TAXES

Designed by Bret Sears, student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Informa-tion provided by the Town of Princess Anne, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Somerset County. This guide reflects the culture, government and business struc-ture of the Town of Princess Anne and is intended for individuals seeking to start up business in the town.

Creditsfor Business Guide

Let Princess Anne be the starting point for your business. Our growing business com-munity will help your business flourish, and experience all the rewarding benefits of a successful organization. When you do business in Princess Anne, you can ensure your business will achieve the success you envision.

Town of Princess Anne

TownofPrincessAnne.com

410-651-1818

Town of Princess Anne Business Guide