Historic Initiatives

When the State of Maryland undertook a study, in the mid 1970’s, to determine if a local community college was needed on the Lower Shore, it was GSC that led the way. GSC’s strong advocacy and efforts to rally the community leaders and state officials behind the concept of a Lower Shore community college were key to the creation of, and sustainability of Wor-Wic Community College.

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GSC believed that a local Community Foundation was an essential ingredient to the community’s ability to create, grow, and sustain the kind of thriving philanthropic giving that’s key to the lifeblood of any area. So, GSC is proud to have led the way in forming The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.

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Needing a tangible economic development effort that could successfully and aggressively recruit and attract a strong base of manufacturing to the Salisbury/Wicomico area, GSC successfully formed Salisbury Wicomico Economic Development (SWED) to do just that. SWED has played a critical role in the manufacturing and other job creation efforts that have long made Salisbury the dominant job base on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and on the Delmarva Peninsula.

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In the 1980’s, GSC formed a Housing Corporation, established to rehabilitate older homes for sale to low and moderate income families. That Corporation was the forerunner to SNHS. SNHS was created in 1994, with the vision of increasing homeownership in under-served and distressed communities. It’s a public/private model for success that has had an immense impact on Salisbury and its housing stock, playing an integral role in providing home ownership and home improvement opportunities.

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In 1982, JA was brought to the Eastern Shore by GSC. Over the last 20 years, Junior Achievement has gradually expanded its activities and broadened its scope, and now serves more than 7000 elementary, middle and high school students. It now operates as Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore, and its founding fathers include Richard Henson, Frank Perdue and GSC.

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A collaborative effort with the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, WCEF serves to create a strong funding foundation to bolster and support our public school system, as needed.

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GSC has held open forums called “A Conversation With..” for prominent individuals such as Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Comptroller Peter Franchot and our Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen. They were so widely received that our next “Conversation With” will be the Perdue Family as they celebrate their 100th anniversary. Look for details in 2020.

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NASA Wallops Flight Facility is of key strategic importance for the Lower Shore of Maryland. Fully half of NASA’s 1800+ on-base employees live in Worcester, Wicomico or Somerset County. GSC has been deeply involved with Wallops for many years, and is a current member of the NASA Wallops Partners community-based alliance. GSC, in coordination with the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, was able to bring Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to NASA for his first visit as Governor, and to bring Maryland State Senate President Bill Ferguson for his first visit. GSC has helped strengthen ties between NASA and various community partners, including Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore and its annual JA Inspire event. Collaboration with NASA, and the allied government agencies that have operations on the base, is of critical importance. GSC also includes Rocket Labs, a private entity that is launching into space from NASA Wallops, as a strategic partner.

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VFC empowers families with financial challenges to achieve economic and personal independence through car ownership and technical training.

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GSC has made looking at our community’s at-risk population an institutional priority since 2015. As part of GSC’s work in that area, and in coordination and conjunction with Salisbury Mayor Jake Day, YDAC was formed. YDAC has a membership of nearly 70 Salisbury area citizens, many of whom come from the local nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to helping serve our youth. YDAC was given the charge by Mayor Day to assist him and the city in coming up with options on much needed new community centers in the city. So far, an old abandoned home in one of Salisbury’s oldest neighborhoods has been purchased, and will be converted into a community center. Also, working closely with Wicomico County School Superintendent Dr. Donna Hanlin, and Mayor Day, YDAC has helped recommend a site for a second community center, which will also serve as home for the new CHOICES Academy, the alternative school for the Wicomico County Public School System. YDAC is led by Chair Samantha Scott and Co-Chair Jim Thomas.

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GSC has put together a committee to study the Wicomico County Revenue Cap. GSC is working jointly with BEACON, Salisbury University’s Business Economic and Community Outreach Network, and its Director, Dr. Memo Diriker, on the study. GSC believes that the Revenue Cap, which became the law of the land in Wicomico County in 2000, as the result of a voter led referendum, is something that should be examined. Many Wicomico County residents are unaware of the existence of the Revenue Cap, and many others may be unaware of what the Revenue Cap actually is, and how it affects our County. The study will look to educate the citizens of Wicomico County on the Revenue Cap, as part of a comprehensive review. The findings of the study will be reported to the full GSC membership, and also to County leaders and stakeholders. Fall 2017 is the anticipated time frame for the completion of the study.

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Our local waterways are now, and have always been, critical to commerce on The Delmarva Peninsula. To ensure that waterborne commerce in the entire region would always have a chance to thrive and remain viable, GSC created the Delmarva Water Transport Committee. DWTC exists to not only maintain the dredging of navigable waterways, but also to improve aids to navigation and safety to vessels, crews, and the environment.

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