CRISFIELD, Md. - Carvel Hall has sat vacant for years but that can soon change. A company called Element MD gave tours Tuesday to present their indoor agriculture technology which will be used to research and grow hemp. The company is awaiting a license approval from Maryland to grow medicinal marijuana. Economic leaders like, Daniel Thompson, say the project can bring as many as 50 new jobs to Crisfield.
“It sat vacant for 15 years, some small operations but that was really warehouse stuff, so anyway we are excited, the community is excited, about having a tenant in here and getting some economic energy in the Crisfield area,” Thompson said.
The facility will use solar energy to power parts of the plant. Josh Nordstrom is the president of the Crisfield chamber of commerce. He says the plant can be home to careers -- not just temporary jobs.
“Certainly any new business that is going to add to the local economy and create new jobs we are certainly in favor of relocating here,” Nordstrom said.
Casey Goldsborough is on the Crisfield city council and voted in favor of element MD operating on the property. He says people he has spoken with are eager the facility is finally being put to use.
“We've had the property for a long time and we have not found any proper suitors for the property until now. We found the perfect suitors,” Goldsborough said.
Element MD says the capital investment for the site to be fully developed is estimated to be about $12 million; the payroll for a fully staffed facility would be $2.5 million.
