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SALISBURY, MD---The Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative (ESRGC) at Salisbury University recently partnered with the Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC) to expand its services to Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne counties.

USRC will join ESRGC’s current partners, the Mid-Shore Regional Council and the Tri-County Council of the Lower Eastern Shore, to provide access to advanced mapping and visualization technologies to governments, non-profits and businesses throughout the Eastern Shore.

 “ESRGC’s establishing partnerships with all nine counties on the Eastern Shore is a testament to our continued growth over the last 17 years,” said Dr. Michael Scott, dean of the Richard A. Henson School of Science and Technology. “We are dedicated to providing geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial data, technical support and training to professionals in our community.” 

Since its creation in 2004, the ESRGC has worked on some 250 projects, totaling over $10 million in grants and contracts.

“This partnership allows us to fill a much-needed role in the region and put GIS services and technology into the hands of jurisdictions that would not otherwise have access to data-driven solutions,” said Lauren McDermott, the cooperative’s practice manager. 

ESRGC’s past projects include climate change adaptation planning, broadband mapping, flood vulnerability analyses, housing quality surveys, and numerous dashboards and apps including the TidalHealth Peninsula Regional COVID-19 Ventilator dashboard and SU’s COVID-19 Testing dashboard. 

In addition to onboarding as a partner, the Upper Shore Regional Council is funding a GIS circuit rider position using Rural Maryland Priority Investment Funds. 

“The USRC is excited to bring the services offered by the ESRGC to our region,” said Susan O’Neill, executive director of the Upper Shore Regional Council. “This programming tool will provide access to a wide variety of GIS tools to many groups and organizations located in the Upper Shore.”

As the regional planning and development agency for Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties since 2003, USRC nurtures the physical, economic and social development of the region. The council enhances government, education and business collaboration for economic development in the region, and expands business retention and growth initiatives in the Upper Shore. 

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