g n i s i R ifts L e d Ti Boats l l A By Jeff Holland
The local maritime industry is currently booming, but there is a history of its success that dates back much farther than any vessel on the sea today
Just as cars, trucks, RVs, and houses have been selling at unprecedented rates despite—or perhaps because of—the viral pandemic, so, too, there’s a boom in the maritime industry. And since our state capital, Annapolis, and in fact the State of Maryland have been inextricably intertwined with the water for centuries, the boom in boat sales is good news for everybody. But there are still challenges ahead if the boom is to continue booming. A study compiled of data gathered in 2018, before the pandemic struck, determined that boating had a $3.5 billion economic impact in Maryland. Another study indicates that nearly a third of that productivity takes place in Anne Arundel County alone. Last year, the Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation commissioned Sage Policy Group, Inc. to study the economic and fiscal benefits generated by the county’s maritime industry. The report noted that with more than 500 miles of coastline, 300 marinas, and 12,000 boat slips, Anne Arundel County provides better public access to the water than any other county in Central Maryland. That access supports industries ranging from building boats to providing marinas to house them.
whatsupmag.com | August 2021 | What’s Up? Eastern Shore
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