Solomons Island, Md. is Open for Business

Business Community Vows Recent Fire Will Not Quell Season's Activities

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md., -- March 17, 2006 -Over the years, tiny Solomons Island in Calvert County, Md. has seen its share of disaster. The great storm of 1933 nearly submerged the island, Hurricane Isabel pummeled it with wind and waves in 2003 and a freakish waterspout blew across the Patuxent River from St. Mary’s County in the fall of 2004. But it was this week’s windswept fire in a localized area on the Island’s harbor side that really shook the close-knit group of business owners and residents. Firefighters from around the region battled the fire for more than two hours from land and the harbor, using tugboats affiliated with the Dominion Cove Point LNG facility which sped down to volunteer their services, while locals watched and worried about the potential spread of embers and flames in the 40-mile per hour gusts.

In the aftermath, only three of Solomons’ many businesses were affected by the fire, but those businesses – and the owners and employees – were part of the heart and soul of one of the Chesapeake Bay’s favorite ports. The Lighthouse Inn and Bowen’s Inn were completely lost. Julia and Company, a hair salon, suffered some infrastructural damage but hopes to be open again within a few days. In addition, several housing units were destroyed and eight occupants were displaced; the Red Cross is assisting with their relocation. The town is home to nearly 2,000 year-round residents and dozens of businesses including galleries, restaurants, boutiques, marinas, inns, taverns and professional service companies.

Wesse C. Ranes, III, President of the Solomons Business Association, rallied his group the day after the fire to see how fellow business owners could assist the damaged businesses, gather information and ensure the public that Solomons Island is definitely open for business. “Three businesses were damaged, two of them destroyed, but Solomons is a viable business community and the remaining businesses will work diligently to expedite the recovery for these businesses,” he said.

County and local officials – including experts from the Governor’s Office of Business Advocacy, Small Business Development Center, Southern Maryland WorkSource, Calvert County Department of Planning and Zoning and the Calvert County Department of Economic Development – are currently working closely with the destroyed businesses to ensure a smooth and rapid turnaround in their repair and rebuilding efforts.

David Hale, president of the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners said the type of assistance being provided to these businesses is an excellent display of government at its best. “Government bureaucracies are often criticized for being cumbersome and slow to adapt,” he said. “In this case, I believe the opposite is true. The work that is currently being done behind the scenes for the affected businesses is a perfect example of how government agencies can work together to improve the lives of people. Within hours of the fire, people all around the County and State were gathering resources, information and assistance packages to ensure that these businesses do not flounder alone in their efforts to recover and rebuild. In fact, the Lighthouse Inn received their requisite clean-up permits the morning following the fire.”

Jerry Clark, District One Commissioner and Solomons business owner, is pleased with the quick response of the local community to respond. “Solomons is a beautiful Calvert County destination and we’re just about to embark on our busy spring and summer seasons,” he said. “In a typical year, we welcome more than 100,000 visitors to our Island attractions. It’s business as usual down here for now – but I can’t wait for the grand reopening celebrations for those unfortunate businesses that were destroyed.”

For more information on the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development, our visitor sites and attractions and the services available to assist County businesses, call 410.535.4583, 800.331.9771 or 301.855.1880; or send an e-mail to info@ecalvert.com