LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS
Western Maryland Senate Delegation: George C. Edwards; Andrew A. Serafini.
Western Maryland House of Delegates Delegation Chairs: Wendell R. Beitzel; Neil C. Parrott.
ALLEGANY COUNTY MEMBERS
Board of County Commissioners: Jacob C. (Jake) Shade; William R. Valentine.
Appointed by Allegany County Board of County Commissioners: Stephen Nelson; Robert Smith.
Mayors or designees appointed by Allegany County Chapter, Maryland Municipal League: Seth D. Bernard; W. Robert Flanigan.
Ex officio: Matthew W. Diaz, Director, Dept. of Economic & Community Development
GARRETT COUNTY MEMBERS
Board of County Commissioners: James C. Hinebaugh, Jr.; S. Larry Tichnell.
Appointed by Garrett County Board of County Commissioners: Merlin Beitzel; Jonathan Kessler.
Mayors appointed by Garrett County Chapter, Maryland Municipal League: H. Jay Moyer; Spencer R. Schlosnagle.
Ex officio: Alexander M. McCoy, Director, Dept. of Economic Development
WASHINGTON COUNTY MEMBERS
Board of County Commissioners: John F. Barr; Jeffrey A. Cline.
Appointed by Washington County Board of County Commissioners: Roger Fairbourn; John (Jack) Miller.
Mayors or designees appointed by Washington County Chapter, Maryland Municipal League: Janeen N. Solberg; Donald L. Stotelmyer.
Ex officio: Kathleen (Kassie) Lewis, Director, Dept. of Business Development
c/o Allegany Business Center
One Technology Drive, Suite 1000, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD 21532
(301) 689-1300; fax: (301) 689-1313
e-mail: leanne@tccwmd.org
web: www.tccwmd.org
The Council is an association of the governments of Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties. It serves as a regional planning and development agency for the tri-county area. The Council works to enhance the quality of economic development in the region and strengthen relationships among its local governments.
Using State aid, the Council fosters the physical, economic and social development of Western Maryland. The Council also receives planning assistance funds from the federal Economic Development Administration and the Appalachian Regional Commission to administer regional economic development programs. Such programs create or retain permanent jobs and improve the standard of living for the unemployed and underemployed in the most distressed areas of the region. To facilitate planning, the Council may study regional resources; gather and analyze social and economic data; and join with other government agencies, educational institutions, and private organizations in coordinating research.
The Council's program for direct business assistance and enterprise development provides a variety of business financing tools and technical assistance, including a Revolving Loan Fund program, and Data Center Services. Local government aid focuses on grants writing and technical assistance, database resources, regional education, and intergovernmental cooperation.
Twenty-six members comprise the Council. From each county, two County Commissioners, the Economic Development Director, two mayors, and two private citizens serve on the Council. The House of Delegates delegation chairs from Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties and the area's two State Senators also serve on the Council. Annually, the Council submits its proposed program and operating budget for the next fiscal year to the Department of Business and Economic Development (Chapter 310, Acts of 2011; Code Economic Development Article, secs. 13-701 through 13-733).
The Consortium assesses education needs within the region and develops resources to meet them. It also is working to develop a strategic plan to integrate business and economic development needs with education goals.
REVOLVING LOAN FUND COMMITTEE
Since the early 1980s, the Council's Revolving Loan Fund has provided gap financing for qualified new and expanding businesses in Western Maryland. For the Fund, the Revolving Loan Committee makes the lending decisions, and establishes loan terms and conditions.
© Copyright June 03, 2015 Maryland State Archives