Salisbury Arts and Entertainment District plans to expand

Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton announced Tuesday that the the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development approved a grant to expand the city’s downtown Arts and Entertainment District.

As of right now, the district takes up about 72 acres. The grant plans to add an extra 13 acres to the area, bringing the total area for the district to about 85 acres.

It will now include the Salisbury Marina and the recently completed River’s Edge Apartments, as well as the Studio for the Arts.

The state provides these districts tax-related incentives to attract artists, arts organizations and other creative enterprises.

Since state designation was granted to the Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District in 2007, officials say 19 new businesses and 5 new restaurants have opened within the district, creating 54 new jobs.