New report examines Eastern Shore economy; Provides recommendations for policy makers

SALISBURY, MD. – For the past year, members with the Maryland Center on Economic Policy (MDCEP) have been working around the clock.

“We’ve looked at a variety of demographic and economic trends, and had a lot of conversations with members of the community and identified certain areas where we think that strong public policy, at the state level, at the local level, can make a difference,” said MDCEP executive director Benjamin Orr.

In the newly released report officials identified three key issues they believe residents on the eastern shore are facing: climate change, poor medical care, and low wages.

“Black and Latino families on the eastern shore have more than one in four residents living below the federal poverty line, which is about $24,000 for a family of four. Somerset County has among the fewest primary care physicians in the state as well as some of the highest infant and child mortality rates,” said research analyst Christopher Meyer.

Inside the report are suggestions for policy makers and government leaders on the eastern shore to take into consideration when dealing with theses issues.
Such as investing in education and training, to create a well-educated workforce and expanding emergency care to undeserved areas.

“It’s absolutely vital that local policy makers as well at the state level take these recommendations to heart and use evidence based research to inform their policy making,” said Meyer.

And although still in it’s beginning stage, officials believe their recommendations could help change the future of the eastern shore.

“If we invest in the pillars of our economy such as health care and education and high quality transportation that can really lift everybody up and really help the communities to thrive,” said Meyer.

Officials add that once election season is over, they’ll present their recommendations to policy makers across the eastern shore.