Maryland Scenic Byways

Maryland Scenic Byways Program Planning WorkshopIncreasing Economic Effectiveness of Managing Byways, Heritage Areas, Main Streets, and Trails

November 4, 201512 PM – 4:45 PM

at Talbot County Library100 West Dover Street

Easton, MD 21601This half-day long workshop will focus on making better use of limited funds and resources. The workshop will be held twice—once in Western Maryland and once on the Eastern Shore with changes in program to reflect geography.

This workshop is for byway managers, heritage area directors, regional trail managers, main street managers, and tourism directors. Site managers and town managers are invited on a space available basis.

To register please go to the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/msbp-workshopeastern-shore-increasing-economic-

effectiveness-of-managing-byways-heritage-areas-main-tickets-18442445852

(Space available for 150 attendees)

PARKINGThere is a free parking lot across from the Detention

Center at 115 West Dover Street. There is also metered parking, as well as three-hour free street parking on Dover Street, West Street, Federal Street, and

Washington Street.Lunch:

Please eat or pick up your lunch prior to the workshop at any of the following restaurants: Banning’s Tavern;

Brasserie Brightwell; Doc’s Downtown Grille; El Dorado; Hill’s Café and Juice Bar; Hunter’s Tavern (Tidewater

Inn); Mason’s; Out of the Fire Restaurant & Wine Bar; Taqueria Y Polleria La Amistad; The BBQ Joint;

Washington Street Pub & Oyster Bar.

WORKSHOP AGENDA(See back for descriptions of presentations and speakers)

12:00-1:00 New Opportunities for Funding and Financing Projects & Programs (Lunch information at lower left)

This session will be an informal discussion and brainstorming session on new opportunities for funding and financing projects and programs for byway managers, heritage area directors, regional trail managers, main street managers, and tourism directors.

1:15-2:40 Connecting People and Communities to Nature and HistoryThe purpose of this session is to identify best practices that help scenic byway communities to link together the resources of related community development programs (Main Street, Community Legacy and Sustainable Communities, Rivers and Trails, and Heritage Areas)-- to fund and finance development of new or expanded heritage and nature-based tourism assets and attractions.

• 1:15 – Berlin to Assateague TrailKate Patton, Lower Shore Land Trust; Jim Rapp, Conservation Community Consulting; and Ivy Wells, Berlin Economic & Community Development

• 2:00 – Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, Tilghman Island, MD: an Example of Economic Development and Adaptive Reuse

Kelly Cox, Phillips Wharf Environmental Center

• 2:30 - Break

2:45 – 4:45 Building Partnerships to Develop Tourism Assets: Community, Corporate and Businesses Partners

One of the more difficult challenges in the current economic climate, that of developing more things to see and do for visitors - whether it is a major event or just attracting more private hospitality enterprises. This session will focus on successful examples and approaches of partnership building for tourism development.

• 2:45 - Reinvest Maryland: Community-Centered Tourism and Economic Development

Kristen Mitchell, Smart Growth Design & Development, Maryland Department of Planning

• 3:15 - Delaware’s Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway Small Business Initiative

Ann Gravatt, Delaware Department of Transportation

• 3:45 - Plein Air Easton Connecting Communities to their Landscape and Culture through Representational Art

Jessica Rogers, Avalon Foundation, Inc., and Cassandra Vanhooser, Talbot County

• 4:15 - Tourism Training along the Star-Spangled Banner TrailRoz Racanello, Southern Maryland Heritage Area

Many thanks to our sponsors for their generosity.

Photos on front: (from left to right) Main Street Berlin, (Credit: Natalee DeHart); Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge; Shoppers in Berlin (Credit: Natalee DeHart); American Visionary Art Museum; Quick Draw Crowd ‘Plein Air Easton’ (Credit: Avalon Foundation, Inc.); Assateague Horses (Credit: Nico Sarbanes); Bicyclists in Dorchester County (Source: Dorchester County Tourism)

Maryland Scenic Byways/Recreational Trails ProgramOffice of Environmental DesignState Highway Administration707 N Calvert StreetBaltimore, MD 21201Phone: 410-545-8637Email: tmaxwell@sha.state.md.us

Connecting People and Communities to Nature and HistoryBerlin to Assateague TrailBerlin, MD, “America’s Coolest Small Town,” has been experiencing a renaissance thanks to a thriving Main Street Program, and strong community partnerships between government, business, and non-profit organizations. A new trail developing between Berlin and world-famous Assateague Island will ensure that Berlin remains “cool” for years to come! Learn how partners are working together to bring trail and outdoor enthusiasts to Berlin to spend time -- and money.Kate Patton, Lower Shore Land Trust; Jim Rapp, Conservation Community Consulting; and Ivy Wells, Berlin Economic & Community Development

Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, Tilghman Island, MD: an Example of Economic Development and Adaptive ReuseIn the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel, a family of Tilghman Island watermen developed PWEC on Tilghman Island along the Michener’s Chesapeake Scenic Byway. Presentation will focus on integrating a preserved working waterfront with Chesapeake Bay Environmental Education and aquaculture training. A holistic approach to economic development, historic preservation, and sustainability. Project involved a public and private approach to development including private donations, State and Federal funding (MHAP, CBT, Maryland Assembly, SHA RTP and NPS.)Kelly Cox, Phillips Wharf Environemental Center

Building Partnerships to Develop Tourism Assets: Community, Corporate and Businesses PartnersReinvest Maryland: Community-Centered Tourism & Economic DevelopmentThis session will focus on commercial revitalization models and strategies that build on the unique assets of your town or region, strengthen existing businesses, foster entrepreneurship and small business growth, and give people – both residents and tourists – more reasons to visit. This session will address business district management models; business startup, retention and attraction techniques; and the importance of quality of place in economic development. (http://planning.maryland.gov/PDF/YourPart/773/infill2014/rMD-report-large.pdf) Kristen Mitchell, Smart Growth Design & Development, Maryland Department of Planning

Delaware’s Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway Small Business InitiativeThis new pilot program encourages visitors travelling the popular Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway to patronize local businesses by offering special coupons and tourist discovery areas inside the shops. This presentation will showcase a new free of charge HT / SBO Initiative that focuses on several communities on the byway as pilot locations for the launch of Byway Buck$. This initiative is designed to draw attention to small businesses that agree to affiliate with the byway. Byway travelers are encouraged to patronize those businesses through the utilization of coupon-style offers that could highlight products, special events and any other offer the business would like to promote. Ann Gravatt, Delaware Department of Transportation

Plein Air Easton Connecting Communities to their Landscape and Culture through Representational ArtPlein Air Easton Art Festival held annually in July has grown to be the largest outdoor painting competition in the United States. Artists from all over the world apply in hopes of getting the opportunity to travel to Maryland’s Eastern Shore to compete and sell their artwork. Plein Air Easton boasts annual art sales of more than $370K, all generated in just 2.5 days. Paintings created during the Festival provide a lasting historical record of the landscape of Talbot County, and they work to remind community stakeholders of its beauty. Avalon Foundation has worked to highlight Eastern Shore culture and document the changes through partnerships, awards and the production of thousands of pieces of original artwork. Jessica Rogers, Avalon Foundation, Inc., and Cassandra Vanhooser, Talbot County Office of Tourism

Tourism Training along the Star-Spangled Banner TrailThis past spring, a two-tiered training program, funded by Star-Spangled Banner 200, was piloted in Southern Maryland for the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail and Byway (STSP). The goal was to train guides, partner site staff and docents, and service industry professionals to create an organized, consistent, and high-quality visitor experience along the STSP. The first tier, a “front-line” workshop, targeted hospitality professionals and provided an overview of the Trail and tourism events and sites throughout the region. The second tier offered a more intensive background on the history of the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake for staff and docents at Trail partner sites interested in leading tours or becoming step-on guide for motor coach tours, and outfitters. Project partners included the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay, Southern Maryland Heritage Area, southern Maryland tourism directors and the Maryland Office of Tourism Development. Roz Racanello, Southern Maryland Heritage Area

‘Plein Air Easton’Source: Avalon Foundation, Inc.

Berlin Welcomes BirdersCredit: Jim Rapp

Kayakers with Assateague HorsesCredit: Nico Sarbanes

The Maryland Scenic Byways Program, along with its partners, seek to work together towards achieving a sustainable system of scenic byways that contribute towards the State’s goals for preserving our natural and cultural heritage, enhancing economic opportunities related to that heritage, and providing the means to experience that heritage in a safe and enjoyable manner. To see the plan, go to http://www.roads.maryland.gov/OED/MSBP.pdf