Build it and they will fund. Or so organizations on Maryland's Lower Shore have found. Creating three-dimensional models of proposed projects helps them raise cash to build the real thing. The Fire and Rescue Center model pictured here was an indispensable tool for Emergency Services in Princess Anne, MD. "They transported the model throughout the community and used it to raise money to build the Fire and Rescue Center. It gives people something tangible to talk and think about" said Ronney Spencer, Construction Management Professor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. "My students build these models and organizations use them to raise money. Right now we're working on one for the Salisbury Zoo. We also built one for the visitor's center in Deal Island, MD." The Rural Development Center at UMES funds these pilot projects as a catalyst to help organizations secure corporate, private and governmental funding for community projects.

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TOPIC:	Maryland Capital Enterprises
LOCATION:	Maryland's Eastern Shore
CONTACT:	Daniel S. Kuennen, Dir. Rural Dev. Center
OUTCOME:	Micro lending has big payoffs on Maryland's
	Eastern Shore

The Rural Development Center at UMES, along with Rural Development-USDA Maryland District, Working Capital Delaware and other affiliated organizations have organized a micro lending non-profit organization for the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Maryland Capital Enterpises provides technical assistance and lending to small enterprises in order to help them secure capital and build a good credit history. Each participant works in a small group with an advisor to develop and build their business. Participants are eligible to borrow from the organization in increments of $500. When a loan is fulfilled, the organization reports payment to credit bureaus; helping the business to establish a solid credit history. Then the business is eligible to increase their next loan amount by $500. This program not only provides much-needed working capital but also provides business training and networking for participants.The Rural Development Center at UMES, along with Rural Development-USDA Maryland District, Working Capital Delaware and other affiliated organizations have organized a micro lending non-profit organization for the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Maryland Capital Enterpises provides technical assistance and lending to small enterprises in order to help them secure capital and build a good credit history. Each participant works in a small group with an advisor to develop and build their business. Participants are eligible to borrow from the organization in increments of $500. When a loan is fulfilled, the organization reports payment to credit bureaus; helping the business to establish a solid credit history. Then the business is eligible to increase their next loan amount by $500. This program not only provides much-needed working capital but also provides business training and networking for participants.

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TOPIC:	Smith Island Crabmeat Cooperative
LOCATION:	Smith Island, Somerset County
OUTCOME:	Preserves a business and a way of life

Smith Island, isolated geographically from the rest of Maryland, is actually a group of small islands with only a few acres of dry land. The three little islands, inhabited by 453 people, are located in the Chesapeake Bay in Somerset County.

 The Island's economy depends largely on the seafood industry of the Chesapeake Bay. Smith Island is known for its unique location, settlement and cultural history. Island crafts and trade are emerging in conjunction with tourist trade. Crabmeat, however, still dominates the local economy. Most of the islanders derive their income as watermen or from seafood processing.

 The women of Smith Island have traditionally picked crabs and sold the meat through home operations. Unfortunately, those operations did not meet State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene requirements. 

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Rural Development Center, Salisbury State University and RDA Cooperative Service were able to assist the pickers in forming a co-operative which owns, operates and maintains this new centralized facility open to all pickers on Smith Island.

 The 1600 square foot mini crab processing plant provides continued employment to this rural area. Fifteen crabmeat pickers will work here and are estimated to produce 23,600 pounds of crabmeat during the first year.

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