The Kent County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Community Excellence Awards held on January 29th at the Chester River Yacht and Country Club in Chestertown. These awards honor outstanding contributions to our community, through commitment, innovation, and leadership in three distinct categories. Harborview Farms was named the 2025 Business of the Year, Shore Community Outreach Team was awarded the 2025 Organization of the Year, and Kristen Owen was recognized as the 2025 Individual of the Year.

The role of this position is to ensure the effective operation of the Kent County Chamber of Commerce office. This individual must be both detail-oriented and customer service focused in order to ensure the effective internal operations of the Kent Chamber. As the first contact for members and the community, the Deputy Executive Director will work to maintain a welcoming environment both in person and through electronic communication. 

The Kent County Chamber of Commerce welcomes nominations for the annual Community Excellence Awards, a program dedicated to honoring the individuals, businesses, and organizations that make an exceptional impact on the community. The awards ceremony celebrates the spirit of collaboration and commitment that defines Kent County, highlighting outstanding contributions in leadership, innovation, community engagement, and positive influence on the region.

The Kent County Chamber of Commerce is proud to highlight the success of its recent community engagement efforts, reinforcing its commitment to "Connecting Kent County" through a series of impactful events.

The Kent County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce its Inaugural Golf Tournament, proudly sponsored by Cross Street Realtors. This highly anticipated event will take place on Monday, June 17th, at the Chester River Yacht and Country Club and is open to all golf enthusiasts in the community. The tournament will feature a scramble format, with registration beginning at 11:00 AM and a shotgun start at noon. Participants will enjoy a day of friendly competition, networking, and fun, with prizes awarded to the top teams and winners of various on-course contests.

The Kent County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a Post-Legislative Session Breakfast Discussion at Heron Point on April 18th, 2024. The event will provide an invaluable opportunity for community members to engage directly with their elected representatives and gain insights into the recent 2024 Maryland legislative session. 

March News Flash from the Kent Chamber with exciting News & Events!

The Kent County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Community Excellence Awards held on January 17, 2024 at the Chester River Yacht and Country Club in Chestertown. These awards honor outstanding contributions to our community, through commitment, innovation, and leadership in three distinct categories. Eastern Shore Urgent Care was named the 2024 Business of the Year, Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne’s was awarded the 2024 Organization of the Year, and Deeann Jones was recognized as the 2024 Individual of the Year.

The Maryland Department of Labor is partnering with the Maryland Chamber of Commerce to host a free informational webinar for employers looking for a better understanding of the state’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Program. Department of Labor staff will discuss the planned implementation of this program, cost sharing and total rate of contribution, eligibility, benefit amounts and more. Join us to learn more and gain a better understanding of Maryland’s FAMLI Program.

The local creative community came together for a night of inspiration, collaboration, and networking at the Creatives Collaboration Mixer. Hosted by the Kent County Chamber of Commerce with the Kent Cultural Alliance, and sponsored by The Peoples Bank, the event showcased the immense talent of local creative producers while providing a unique platform for businesses to explore innovative partnerships.

Slack Tide Yoga Studio is honored to announce that it has been named the "Best Yoga Studio" in the prestigious Kent County News Reader Approved contest. This recognition highlights the studio’s commitment to providing a luxurious, calming environment where students can experience yoga in a space that fosters both physical well-being and mental clarity. Slack Tide Yoga Studio, which opened in April 2024, stands out for its dedication to offering functional, safe yoga classes tailored to the unique needs of each individual, whether they are a beginner or a seasoned practitioner.

University of Maryland Shore Medical Center (UM SMC) at Chestertown is beginning preparations for a new state-of-the-art MRI machine at its diagnostics center located at 100 Brown Street. 

Business minded residents of the Eastern Shore are invited to an exciting showcase of regional entrepreneurship at the 2025 Upper Shore STRT1UP Roadshow. Join the Upper Shore Regional Council, and Washington College’s Department of Business Management on Tuesday, April 15 at 2:30 - 6 p.m. on Washington College’s campus as aspiring entrepreneurs from Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's counties pitch their innovative business ideas for a chance to win significant cash prizes. 

Join us for an evening of great music, delicious food, and community—all in support of the Animal Care Shelter for Kent County. With featured performances from The Stoneflies, Ashley Chappa Duo, Ashton Mooday, and Haven, as well as several different food trucks and a cash bar, the good times will keep on rolling under the stars. Grab your lawn chairs or blankets and come ready to soak up the acoustic, country, and folk tunes for a great cause.

Haven Harbour Marina Resorts Managing Director Charlie Petosa  was recently appointed to the Marine Trades Association of Maryland Board of Directors. Charlie will  serve his term by helping guide the future of the advocacy organization particularly in matters of  workforce development. 

For All Seasons recently held an open house for its new location at 315 High Street, Suite 202 in Chestertown. Staff provided information on expanded services and tours of the new downtown space. The new location ties into the agency’s ‘Bringing Mental Health to Main Street’ initiative, bringing services to main streets across the Mid-Shore and making services walkable for people living in the Shore’s towns and cities. Beginning March 24, the agency also began offering its Open Access™ program – a walk-in mental health service with same-day access to appointments – something new in Kent County. The hours in Chestertown for Open Access are Mondays from 2 to 3 p.m.

When it comes to high school principals in Maryland, Kent County High School's Kris Hemstetter is officially at the top of the list. Hemstetter was greeted with the surprise announcement Friday morning, March 21 that she was named Principal of the Year by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP), in collaboration with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, in partnership with the Kent Cultural Alliance and Kent County public and private schools, recently hosted its third student art reception in the hospital's Aging & Wellness Center to showcase artwork from public and private school students in Kent County. University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown is a University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) hospital; UM SRH is a member of organization of the University of Maryland Medical System.

 Radcliffe Creek School is excited to host the 29th Annual Chestertown Tea Party Distance Classic Race and Run for Radcliffe. As is tradition, the run will help kick-off Chestertown's Annual Tea Party Festival on Saturday, May 24, 2025! Hundreds of runners and walkers are slated to take off from Chestertown's Wilmer Park and trek along a 5K and 10-mile path throughout the beautiful Kent County countryside.

The Garfield Center for the Arts has opened its annual call for play and musical titles for production consideration. Suggestions and proposals can be made by Directors who would like to present a play or musical in the 2025 season as well as by interested community members, patrons of the Garfield Center and arts participants. All proposals must be received by the Garfield Center by midnight on Sunday, April 27, 2025.