EASTON â Ross Benincasa, the executive director of Discover Easton, will resign from the tourism and economic nonprofit at the conclusion of his last organized event, the New Yearâs Eve celebration First Night Talbot.
Benincasa, who has led Discover Easton since 2016, has not found another job and will not be looking for another one immediately. He will take some time to stay at his home in Hillsboro, Caroline County, to be with his wife and newborn child.
In a press release from Discover Easton, Benincasa said he âlooks forwardâ to being a part of the Easton community as a âcustomer and attendee.â
EASTON â Roughly $3,000 worth of gift cards have been sold and 42 small businesses have signed onto the Easton Economic Developmentâs âDowntown Easton Cardâ program launched last week â the first initial success from the EEDCâs new playbook as it leads the charge for economic development after the near-dissolution of Discover Easton.
The e-cards are purchased online for $25, $50, or a custom amount at the EEDCâs website, and are sent via email or text to customers. The gift card can be used at retail stores like Levityâs of Easton or restaurants like Out of The Fire.
The program is the first big idea from Jeff Lankford, the downtown development director. He left a top position at Discover Easton and joined the EEDC last month, and quickly put together a downtown economic development team.
With about two weeks to go until Christmas, we imagine most folks are still working through their holiday shopping lists. And since that is likely the case, we encourage everyone to renew their focus on shopping local this year.
Shopping local is always important. The importance of supporting our local shops, small businesses and restaurants is magnified this year with the coronavirus pandemic and all the impacts on businesses and consumers.
Our local stores here on the Mid-Shore have lost of plenty of business this year because of COVID-19 lockdowns and other restrictions.
Consumer spending habits have also been impacted by worries about the pandemic as well as lost jobs and pay cuts.