Snow Hill adds a Director of Economic Development position as town sees growth

SNOW HILL, Md.- Snow Hill has plans of growing and bringing new economic opportunities to the area, all while keeping the small town charm alive.

“If we maintain that historic charm, and also have that freshness I think that’s something that people can benefit from,” Margot Resto, Deputy Town Manager, said.

Resto said when you come into the town there’s a feeling of warmth and kindness.

“I’m feeling an energy here that I’ve not felt in the entire time I’ve lived here,” Resto said.

But, she said with the town continuing to grow they needed to add a new position, a Director of Economic Development.

“Because of things like hunting fields coming up, or certain businesses approaching us wanting to move into town, we’ve recognized that need and have a more direct focus on that,” Resto said.

Lorissa McAllister is now serving in that role. She’s lived in Snow Hill for about 22 years, and was a business owner, and is engaged in the revitalization of the town. With that, she wants to take her skills and help the town reach even larger goals.

“Recruiting new businesses, helping retain the businesses that we have now, seeking funding opportunities and incentives for the businesses, but also promoting what we already have going on, we have so many assets,” McAllister said.

While Mcallister’s work is just getting started, she told me she has a vision and is excited for it come to fruition.

“One of my largest goals is have all of our vacant buildings filled with businesses, that is definitely one of the upmost importance’s right now,” McAllister said. “But, to increase jobs, I would like to see more jobs available.”

“I am looking forward to sustainability, I’m looking forward to growing, strengthening the economic climate, but in a way that we can continue that for years to come,” McAllister said.

Snow Hill’s Deputy Town Manager also said she would like to see a wider variety of people moving to town.

“I would like to see more people wanting to live here a variety of age groups and demographics because I think a town can thrive mostly when it has all sectors of society thriving,” Resto said. “So, I hope that we can gain that in the coming year, that’s mainly what I wanna see, I do think that businesses coming into town will contribute to that because it brings people here.”

McAllister she will immediately be working on a needed comprehensive economic development strategy.