Business Mentoring Program
Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC) Business Mentoring Program is FREE to anyone who owns or wants to start a small business in Cecil, Kent, or Queen Anne’s Counties. Our local, volunteer business mentors provide years of seasoned professional experience across a wide variety of fields. USRC mentors are dedicated to helping local small businesses succeed. They provide helpful information and experienced guidance and also help serve as an objective sounding board.
They begin by working with you to develop a realistic and practical business plan for achieving your objectives. The plan identifies priorities and sets out a timeline for measuring progress. It serves as a roadmap for managing operations, finances, and marketing. They not only help to get your business up and running, but they will also continue to work with you along the way should you want ongoing support. All mentoring services are FREE and confidential.
Are you looking for help with your business?
Check out our Mentor Bios!
Are you ready to get started? Here’s how it works!
Begin by completing the Business Mentor Request Form by clicking the “Request a Business Mentor” button below.
Once your request is submitted, our team will review it and determine the appropriate mentor based on your business mentoring needs and goals.
During this time, you will also receive a Mentee Agreement between you and the Upper Shore Regional Council outlining the terms and conditions of this service which you must agree to to utilize these business mentoring services.
Note: Terms and Conditions outlined in the USRC Mentee Agreement can be read here.
Once our team has received the completed agreement and we have determined the best business mentor suited for your needs, we will connect you with your assigned mentor so you can get started!
Are you interested in becoming a Mentor?
The Business Mentor Program is looking for experienced business professionals interested in volunteering to mentor new and established small businesses to join our team. Read on to see if you’re a good fit and learn how to get started.
Who can be a Mentor?
Business professionals who desire to advise and help aspiring entrepreneurs and established small businesses who are looking for advice and guidance. Mentors should have flexibility with their schedule to volunteer.
What do Business Mentors do?
Offer FREE guidance with:
- Business Planning
- Financial Planning
- Marketing Plan Development
- Funding and Financing Sources
- Preparing Financial Documents
- Registering your Business
- Licensing and Permits
- Marketing and Sales
- Customer Relations and Retention
- Ongoing Business Operations
- Long Range Planning
and more!
Ready to Become a Business Mentor?
Click the button below to submit your information to become a mentor! A member of our team will then be in touch to help you get started.
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Kent County Mapping Tools
Kent County Interactive Parcel Viewer
This map is intended to help someone understand what public infrastructure or incentive zones exist on individual parcels. The parcel data is from MdProperty View and additional layers have been included. Layers may be turned on and off depending on what information you need to see. Pop-up windows have been configured to provide basic information about selected parcels, including the ability to link to the parcel listing in the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) Real Property Search. In addition, a screening tool is available that will generate a pdf report with a map and data from each layer for selected properties. For help using the mapping tool, please contact the Department of Planning, Housing, and Zoning at 410-778-7423. For help regarding programs within enterprise or incentive zones, please contact the Department of Economic and Tourism Development at 410-778-0416.
For properties located in an incorporated town, please contact the town for zoning information.
Parcel Viewer Map
MERLIN - Maryland's Environmental Resource and Land Information Network
MERLIN Online was originally developed back in the late 1990s because of everyone's "hunger" for spatial data. It was also developed to help them make better informed decisions. MERLIN Online allows users to produce a custom map of any location in Maryland, including their choice of base maps and data layers. - Maryland DNR
MERLIN Map
Flood Insurance Rate Maps
Effective June 3, 2014, Kent County adopted a new Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS). The FIS and FIRMs were updated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of a National Flood Insurance Program conversion to digital or DFIRM maps. This link will take you to a mapping application where you can find out if your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (Floodplain).
https://mdfloodmaps.net/map/
Maryland Incentive Lookup Map
Start with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Opportunity Zone Mapping tool. This tool identifies other State Incentives that may be available based on the property address of an existing or new business. It will identify properties located in a Priority Funding Area, an Enterprise Zone, an Opportunity Zone, etc. and identify Maryland tax credits that may be available. Please contact our office at 410-778-7423, for mapping assistance with this tool. Please contact the office of Economic and Tourism Development at 410-778-0416, with any questions on State or local incentive programs.
Incentive Map
Quality of Life in Kent County, Maryland
Kent County is conveniently located less than 2 hours from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC situated on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Here, we have a perfect blend of historic and rural preservation combined with quality higher education which has resulted in our strong and thriving culture and quality of life. Here, we take pride in our economic diversity by hosting and providing opportunities for various industries to grow and prosper. With over 130,000 acres of agricultural land, 265 miles of shoreline, and located in close proximity to major US highways, Kent County's location has been a strategic asset for many of our industries while providing the rural lifestyle that many folks desire.
Education
Education, like conservation, is highly valued in Kent County, with several noted private schools and an award-winning public school that provides pre-K through adult education and career training. Washington and Chesapeake Colleges provide higher education, business consulting, research, intern programs and continuing education. Recently a formal STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program was established in two grades and will expand over time to six grades.
Innovative enrichment centers throughout the County offer education as diverse as art instruction, farming, recreation, cultural studies, colonial heritage, health, family and aging issues.
The Academy of Lifelong Learning at Washington College (WC-ALL) is a peer-led, self-supported autonomous department of the College that was created for adults who seek intellectual stimulation without the requirements for academic credit - learning for the joy of learning. Each College semester the WC-ALL offers two six-week sessions with 12-15 courses each session; approximately 400 Eastern Shore residents become members and register for as many courses as they wish, for one all-inclusive membership fee.
21st Century Learning: The Future of Education in Kent County, Part I - By Al Hammond
21st Century Learning: The Future of Education in Kent County, Part 2 - By Al Hammond
Health Care
Kent County offers a multitude of healthcare services for outpatients and inpatients. University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System that lives in Kent County. University of Maryland Shore Regional Health provides services to 330,000 outpatients each year. The Kent County Health Department offers affordable healthcare in a variety of services, including dental care, family planning, adult daycare, and routine screenings for many illnesses, just to name a few. Kent County also has a behavioral health center that offers psychiatric treatment for children, couples, and adults as well as substance abuse prevention services. In addition to these facilities, Kent County offers a wide array of private nursing homes, home care, and hospice services, ENT care services, and unconventional medicines and healing such as that of Chinese medicine or spiritual healing through yoga.
Recreation
Whether you enjoy the great outdoors or prefer indoor activities, Kent County has an activity to offer you. The location of Kent County, tucked in a beautiful nook of nature on Maryland’s eastern shore, makes it the perfect place to bird-watch, hunt, fish, hike, bike, enjoy water sports, sunbathe on a beach, tour a vineyard, or camp out in the wilderness. For those who prefer indoor activities, Kent County offers a movie theatre, museums, galleries, studios, and theatres that offer truly aesthetic creations to parallel the natural beauty of the outdoor environment.
http://www.kentparksandrec.org/
Arts & Entertainment
Kent County is home to some of the most talented artists in Maryland, or even, in the United States. The studios, galleries, and theatres of Kent County offer expressive and beautiful works for all to enjoy. The paintings, sculptures, concerts, and theatrical productions of Kent County artists evoke emotion and provoke critical thinking about our culture.
The Garfield Center for the Arts at the Prince Theatre, located in Chestertown, hosts a variety of productions such as screenings, plays, musicals, open mic nights, and choir concerts for those who love live-action or audiovisuals.
Each autumn, Chestertown RiverArts hosts a Studio Tour for visitors to enjoy multiple exhibitions and events and find that piece of art that they truly connect to. The Studio Tour, now running for nearly two decades, includes fiber arts, sculptures, printmaking, paintings, ceramics, woodworking, and jewelry. Each person is sure to find a piece or production that speaks to them.
Shopping
Kent County has a wide range of shopping opportunities, but all of Kent County’s shops have one commonality: they are all charming, artistic, and unique. As you stroll through Chestertown, Rock Hall, Galena, and other Kent County towns, you’ll find artisan boutiques and galleries. Shops offer home goods, clothing, flowers, toys, and artistic creations, just to name a few. Each month, enjoy complimentary refreshments, extended business hours, and promotions at businesses in Chestertown on First Friday. There’s something for everyone!
On Saturday mornings from 8:00 a. m. to 12:00 p.m. between March and December, there is a Farmer’s Market in the central location of Fountain Park, Chestertown. The famous Farmer’s Market features artisans and farmers from all over Kent County, creating a friendly environment of business and beauty within a close-knit, supportive community that draws in visitors form miles away. Once you experience the charming Farmer’s Market, you’re bound to return!
Dining
Kent County is certainly a place rich in culinary diversity and quality. The expertise of chefs in our restaurants exceeds the expectations of the guests they serve with natural, locally produced food products and authentic, original dishes.
Kent County restaurants never fail to provide guests with gourmet dishes. From homemade recipes to modern twists on traditional cuisine, any culinary creations are bound to fill you up. The farms of Kent County provide restaurants with vegetables, dairy, and meat products of the highest quality. The waterways of Kent County provide award-winning seafood delights such as oysters, rockfish, crab, and clams.
Any guest knows that along with flavorful food, an accompanying atmosphere is key to a wonderful dining experience. There are options for every type of dining atmosphere ranging from fast-paced and loud with live performances, to calm and serene along the waterside. In the winter, cozy up with friends and family over a candlelit dinner. In the summer, have a blast cracking crabs open and enjoying the fresh air. Any dining location in the County of Kent will offer unmatched hospitality and flavor. There is a perfect dining experience awaiting each individual.
Attractions
All year-round, guests of Kent County are sure to enjoy beautiful scenic routes of farmland, waterways, and vineyards on their way to their vintage and comfortable bed and breakfast. Once in Kent County, guests are sure to enjoy the antique and artistic shops, museums, galleries, studios, theatres, and outdoor activities.
Kent County, although “quintessentially rural” and seemingly tranquil, has many exciting attractions to offer visitors and residents. The epitome of “don’t judge a book by its cover”, Kent County has thrilling outdoor attractions full of wildlife, coastlines, and recreational activities both on land and in the water. Enjoy a beach day in Betterton, waterski on the Chester River, or cycle alongside the historic buildings of the County.
For the colder months and those who prefer indoor attractions, there are many options for entertainment. Cozy up with a book in a warm and buzzing café, enjoy a glass of wine at a sidewalk table, and stroll through historic gardens. Kent County attracts lovers of history, art, and theatre with countless beautiful and authentic museums and sites. These include the famous Kitty Knight house, the Waterman’s Museum, the Customs House, and Washington College’s campus. The County also offers entertainment with historical reenactments and annual events such as the Chestertown Tea Party reenactment each May, the Battle of Caulk Field reenactment, Down Rigging Weekend, and the annual Harry Potter Weekend in Chestertown. It is nearly impossible to complete the list of things to do in Kent County!