The Easton Economic Development Corporation (Easton EDC) has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

“We are very proud to be one of the 862 programs receiving accreditation this year,” remarked Holly DeKarske, Executive Director, Easton EDC. “Every visitor to our town has an economic impact that ripples far beyond their stay, and supporting our local community has significant positive implications for residents, business owners, and visitors.”

Easton EDC’s performance is annually evaluated by  Main Street Maryland, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards. To qualify for Accreditation status, communities must meet a set of rigorous standards that include commitments to building grassroots revitalization programs, fostering strong public-private partnerships, nurturing economic opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets.

In 2022, Main Street America programs generated $6.2 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 7,657 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 29,174 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,688 historic buildings, and leveraged 1,528,535 volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, it generated $24.07 of new investment back into their downtown communities.

The Easton EDC impacts the wider community by creating events in the downtown area that bring visitors in to enjoy its retail establishments, restaurants, and other local attractions. Its signature events, including Chesapeake Fire and Ice, May Day Flower Celebration, and the Fall Festival, bring in thousands of visitors. During the year, Easton EDC, under the brand name Discover Easton, hosts over a dozen events and supports many more with logistics planning, marketing campaigns, and financial support. For more information on events supported by the Easton EDC, please visit: www.discovereaston.com

About Easton EDC: The Easton Economic Development Corporation was launched in 2013 to drive economic vitality, smart redevelopment, and business creation in the historic Town of Easton, Maryland to foster a healthy quality of life for all generations. The EEDC works to catalyze Greater Easton’s continued prosperity as a diverse and healthy “smart town,” leading innovation where the land and water meet. www.DiscoverEaston.com

About Main Street America: Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Our network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have generated more than $101.58 billion in new public and private investment, generated 168,693 net new businesses and 746,897 net new jobs, rehabilitated more than 325,119 buildings, and levered over 33.7 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.

The Easton Economic Development Corporation (Easton EDC) along with community partners Talbot County Department of Emergency Services and the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals were awarded a $10,000 grant from The Arc in collaboration with the AmeriCorps/September 11 Day of Service and Remembrance Project for their collaborative community educational event series,  “We Are One: Community Supporting Community.” The project will be one of many across the country that will pay tribute to the individuals lost and injured on September 11, 2001, as well as honor the first responders and the many others who have risen to service in a crisis. The purpose of this awareness effort is to empower the general public to be caring, responsive community members should their fellow citizens need their support and to be mindful of the work of first responders in their community.

The Talbot County Young Professionals, along with the Easton EDC, will support a series of public art activities during the summer open to everyone.  The interactive events will focus on helping people that may be vulnerable in a crisis, such as people with disabilities, the elderly, and underserved community members. There will be a series of free, inclusive public art project days throughout the summer where everyone is encouraged to come learn about the effort and create their own work of art illustrating the theme, “We Are One: Community Supporting Community.”   A selection of the entries will also be displayed on banners throughout the downtown Easton area in August and September, 2023.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to honor the work of our first responders and organizations that support the safety and wellness of our most vulnerable community members while empowering our community to help each other,” said Frank Gunsallus IV, chairman of the Talbot County Young Professionals.

The events will culminate in a public Day of Remembrance ceremony on the morning of September 11, 2023 in partnership with the Town of Easton, honoring the lives of those lost on 9/11. A featured speaker will be announced at a later date.

“The Easton EDC is excited to work with such important community partners through this impactful grant project. Through this community art contest and awareness talks, we are educating others so people can better understand their role in helping us to create a safe community for everyone,” notes Holly DeKarske, Executive Director.

“We are so grateful for this opportunity with such a supportive community and group of partners. Teaching our community how to keep themselves and their neighbors safe is the first step in making our community resilient and able to endure whatever may come our way,” Geneva Schaffle, Emergency Management Coordinator, adds.

For more information, or to register your group to participate in the art events or to volunteer with the project, please contact the project coordinator, Deena Kilmon, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Easton EDC at [email protected] or visit the website, DiscoverEaston.com/WeAreOne. Community groups are encouraged to volunteer as a group.

“We Are One: Caring for our Community” is funded through The Arc of The United States through a sub-grant from Ameri-Corps, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service and leads the nation’s volunteer efforts for Patriot Day and the national 9-11 Day of Service and Remembrance Project.

About Easton EDC: The Easton Economic Development Corporation was launched in 2013 to drive economic vitality, smart redevelopment, and business creation in the historic Town of Easton, Maryland to foster a healthy quality of life for all generations. The EEDC works to catalyze Greater Easton’s continued prosperity as a diverse and healthy “smart town,” leading innovation where the land and water meet. www.DiscoverEaston.com

About the Talbot Chamber of Commerce: The Talbot County Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business for more than 600 members representing several thousand employees. The purpose of the Chamber is to promote, protect and preserve the free enterprise system of business and to advance the commercial, industrial, civic and general interests of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Talbot County and its trading area. Talbotchamber.org 

About the Talbot County Department of Emergency Services: The Talbot County Department of Emergency Services exists to provide premiere lifesaving services to the residents and visitors to Talbot County through emergency 9-1-1 telephone services, emergency medical services, and emergency preparedness and response coordination. TalbotDES.org

The Easton Economic Corporation announces its acquisition of the Discover Easton brand for marketing and promotional purposes. Discover Easton website, social media, and other assets will be used to promote businesses, events, and community engagement opportunities in the town of Easton, MD.

“This iconic, simple brand symbolizes Easton’s growth in a strong and powerful way,” remarked Holly DeKarske, Executive Director of Easton EDC. We are proud to represent the businesses and people in the greater Easton, MD area and look forward to working with all of our partners to socialize the logo and re-introduce our tourism brand to the greater region.”

Discover Easton’s assets include a highly recognizable logo, name, and strong association with the dynamic and growing small town in Talbot County, MD. Easton EDC has discontinued use of the Easton Downtown logo, website,  and the social media channels will be retired on January 31, 2023.

About Easton EDC: The Easton Economic Development Corporation was launched in 2013 to drive economic vitality, smart redevelopment, and business creation in the historic Town of Easton, Maryland to foster a healthy quality of life for all generations. The EEDC works to catalyze Greater Easton’s continued prosperity as a diverse and healthy “smart town,” leading innovation where the land and water meet.

Deena D. Kilmon

Easton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Deena Deese Kilmon as the Director of Strategic Initiatives. This newly created position will unite the marketing, fundraising, and communication goals of the economic development organization that serves the greater Easton area. Kilmon will be responsible for developing the framework for the EEDC’s continued vision to encourage economic growth and vitality with the goal of supporting visitors, residents, and business owners.

Kilmon has had a successful career as a marketing and communications leader with broad experience dealing with all levels of sales, advertising, and brand management.  Since 2018, she has been Director of Engagement for The Arc Central Chesapeake Region, which serves Anne Arundel County and the Eastern Shore.  Prior to joining The Arc, Kilmon acted as the Special Projects Director for the EEDC and was the former owner of Foxy’s Harbor Grille.  Kilmon currently serves on the Central Maryland Chamber of Commerce and Shore Leadership board and is an Easton Rotarian. She is a 2021 Leadership Maryland alumna and a graduate of The University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

“Deena is deeply connected to the area and brings in years of expertise and experience bringing diverse partners to the table, creating innovative solutions and shared success for all involved,” said Holly DeKarske, EEDC’s Executive Director. “Her hire is a positive step forward, not only for the organization but for the community.”

Kilmon lives in Easton with her husband of 29 years, Steve Kilmon, a St. Michaels native. Their two daughters graduated from Easton high school and reside in Talbot County. They enjoy boating, kayaking, and exploring the region with their two labradors, Old Bay and Abby Wambach.

For more information on these and other upcoming downtown events, visit eastonedc.com, call (410) 690-7348, or find us on Facebook at ‘Easton Downtown.’

Easton Economic Development Corporation was launched in 2013 to drive economic vitality, smart redevelopment, and business creation in the historic Town of Easton, Maryland, to foster a healthy quality of life for all generations. The EEDC works to catalyze Greater Easton’s continued prosperity as a diverse and healthy “smart town,” leading innovation where the land and water meet.