Salisbury Chamber of Commerce hosts 2026 post legislative forum
SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce hosting an event for community and business members on Thursday afternoon. This year’s post-Legislative Luncheon didn’t disappoint, with several wins for the Lower Shore.
Senator Johnny Mautz tells WMDT coming to events like these is essential.”This is a great opportunity, we just finished our session, and you get to come home and meet with the local chambers and talk about issues that are percolating now. We get to talk about what happened and what didn’t happen.”
Delegates and Senators of the Lower Eastern Shore gathered at the Wicomico Civic Center to report back on the 2026 Legislative session, highlighting the wins and even losses for the Eastern Shore.
Senator Mary Beth Carozza says they were able to bring funding to several organizations across the Eastern Shore.
“We were successful in bringing things here, and that ranged from the relief for the poultry growers, bringing a special education facility to the Eastern Shore, and the individual projects in each of the counties.”
Some of these initiatives include
Worcester County:
$2 million, Ocean City Beach Replacement and Hurricane Protection Program
$700,000 Diakonia Inc. New Supportive Housing
$185,000, Atlantic General Hospital Intensive Care Unit
$100,000, County Recycling Facility Expansion
Wicomico County:
$5 million, Kennedy Krieger Eastern Shore Campus
$2.4 million, TidalHealth Peninsula Regional inpatient units
$1.124 million, Salisbury University Blackwell Hall Renovation
$150,000, Epoch After-School Center (requested by Senator Mautz)
$150,000, Fruitland Recreational Park
$150,000, Mason Dixon Sports Complex Phase II
$75,000, Salisbury Fire Department Fire Training Building
$50,000, Wicomico County Humane Society
Somerset County:
$3.129 million: University of Maryland Eastern Shore Campus Switchgear Replacement
$1 million, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Nuttle Hall Demolition
$1 million, University of Maryland Eastern Shore New School of Veterinary Medicine and Health Professions
$500,000, New Somerset County Emergency Medical Services Facility
$500,000, Janes Island State Park New Inclusive Playground
$495,000, It Takes a Village to Help Our Children New Village Youth Center
Nevertheless, some requests that were put forward could not be accommodated. Delegate Chris Adams said some critical issues coming out of this session is rising energy costs.
“The legislature historically said no to gas and nuclear, and at the same time we’re saying yes to wind and solar. Those policies just don’t mesh, you got to have everything grow and expand, or else you are in the state we are in right now. Those bills that are way out of kilter with what people should be paying for energy based off policy.”
Delegate Barry Beauchamp says the Eastern Shore Delegation is the best in the entire state.
“I don’t think there is one person in this delegation that is a slacker, they work very hard, and don’t mind doing whatever it takes to make our community better.”
