Nearly a year after Worcester County Commissioners voted to redirect nearly $97,000 in infrastructure funds away from the City of Pocomoke and into the hands of the newly formed Pocomoke City Development Corporation (PCDC), questions remain about how, or when, the money will be spent.
Competing Requests in 2024
On August 29, 2024, Pocomoke City Mayor Todd Nock wrote to the County Commissioners requesting that all unspent infrastructure grant awards from fiscal years through 2025, totaling $145,083, be redirected to city infrastructure projects.
“I respectfully request that these grant awards be re-purposed and targeted to infrastructure projects that entail the repair of our streets and roads in Pocomoke City,” Nock wrote.
Less than two weeks later, on September 12, 2024, PCDC founding member Sara Chapman emailed Commissioner Caryn Abbott:
“We would like to ask if any funds are available for restoration projects in Pocomoke City, that we be considered.”
At their September 17, 2024 meeting, the County Commissioners voted 5–2 to allocate approximately $96,766 (FY23 and FY24 funds only) to PCDC. Commissioners Mitrecic and Purnell opposed the motion.
During the discussion, Commissioner Diana Purnell questioned:
“Are we going to give the money to someone else when Pocomoke needs it and have specifically stated that they need it to work on their roads… And we’re going to give it to a newly [formed] 501 development corporation?”
Commissioner Abbott, who made the motion, responded:
“…the money is staying in Pocomoke with PCDC and it will be used to benefit the people of Pocomoke.”
County’s Position
Worcester County Public Information Officer Kim Moses confirmed earlier this month that the funds were intended for PCDC to disperse. Requests for comment directly to the Commissioners went unanswered.
“The precise purpose of this funding was for the Pocomoke City Development Corporation (PCDC) to disperse two years of unspent infrastructure funds toward a project or projects within Pocomoke City,” Moses said.
Moses added that the county will only release payments when invoices are submitted and matched against an approved scope of work. She pointed to the rehabilitation of a long-blighted property as the intended project, saying the redevelopment should provide “new housing and commercial opportunities.”
PCDC’s Structure and Public Statements
According to incorporation records filed May 16, 2024, PCDC was established as a nonprofit corporation with Sara Chapman listed as incorporator and sole director. A subsequent September 18, 2024 post by PCDC on Facebook announced additional board members and stated that the County funds would be used “to help the elderly, veteran or disabled home owners of Pocomoke City, to fix their homes, making the living conditions safer.” The same post denied taking funds away from the city’s “Safe Paths” initiative, calling criticism “lies and slander.”
PCDC’s last posted public meeting agenda was January 29, 2025 at Eastern Shore Lanes. The agenda referenced “new grant requests” and “meeting request with City,” but no follow-up updates have been posted.
As of August 2025, the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation lists PCDC as “Not in Good Standing” for failing to file its annual report.
Lack of Transparency
The Arrowhead has sought comment from PCDC regarding its use of the County allocation. A direct inquiry sent via Facebook on August 16, 2025 requesting information regarding the funds has gone unanswered. The County confirmed no payments have yet been made to PCDC.
Meanwhile, Davis Strategic, owner of the Newberry building in downtown Pocomoke, has been identified by the County as the intended beneficiary of the allocation. The Arrowhead has also reached out to owner Bret Davis for clarification on the process for obtaining funds from PCDC but has not yet received a response.
Comparison to Ocean City’s Model
County officials have likened the allocation to the Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC), a nonprofit that operates public grant programs with clearly advertised applications and award criteria. OCDC’s programs include façade improvement grants, business assistance, roof repair, energy-efficiency upgrades, and housing development support – all with publicly listed terms and application processes. Most grants through OCDC appear to have a ceiling of no more than $10,000, ensuring funds are available for wider impact.
By contrast, PCDC has apparently not announced or published any public application process for businesses or residents to request funds.
One Year Later
As the one-year anniversary of the Commissioners’ vote approaches, the $96,766 allocation remains unspent, with no clear public accounting on how the funds will be distributed.
For now, Worcester County’s infrastructure money, once requested by the Mayor for streets and roads, remains tied up in an opaque nonprofit with uncertain standing.
Photo: Former Newberry building in Downtown Pocomoke City, now owned by Davis Strategic and subject of the PCDC’s allocation of county funds.
