awarded by any level of government (Chapter
879, Acts of 1978). The Authority does not com-
pete with private lending institutions since it must
be assured prior to the granting of a loan that
private capital is not available and loans are
made at the prevailing market rate. Recipient
firms, historically small in size and brief in experi-
ence, are usually considered "high risk"
businesses by the private lender. The Maryland
Small Business Development Financing Authority
is governed by five appointed directors, in addi-
tion to the Secretary of the Department of Eco-
nomic and Community Development and either
the State Treasurer or Comptroller. The functions
of the Authority relate entirely to federal, State,
and local contracts.

OCEAN CITY CONVENTION HALL
COMMISSION

Chairperson-'M. Joseph Manzer, 1982
Vice-Chairperson: Albert Berger, 1980

Elizabeth D. Sanford, 1981; John Dale Showell
III, 1981; Henry Hanna, 1983

Consultants: Louis L. Ooldstein, Comptroller q
the Treasury; Harry W. Kelley, Mayor of Oceat
City

Earl G. Baird, Executive Director

4001 Philadelphia Avenue
Ocean City 21842 289-8311

The Ocean City Convention Hall Commission
was created by Chapter 646, Acts of 1967. The
Commission consists of five members, all oi
whom are appointed by the Governor for five-
year terms. The Governor selects the
Chairperson. At least two of the members of the
Commission must be residents or property
owners within the corporate limits of Ocean
City.

The Ocean City Convention Hall officially
opened in April 1970. It is operated for housing
religious, business, and professional conventions,
cultural events, industrial exhibits, trade shows,

and other events that might stimulate the tourist
trade and economy of the State.

The Commission must submit a report annual-
ly to the Board of Public Works and to the May-
or and Council of Ocean City (Code 1957, Art.
41, sees. 405.406).

TRI-COUNTY COUNCIL FOR
WESTERN MARYLAND, INC.

Chairperson: George C. Edwards
Vice-Chairperson: Mary Ellen Sollinger
Executive Director: Steven Kocsis

Suite 510, Algonquin Motor Inn
Cumberland 21502 Telephone: 777-2158

The Tri-County Council for Western Mary-
land, Inc., was chartered as a nonprofit corpora-
tion on July 22, 1971, to serve AUegany, Garrett,
and Washington counties. The Council replaces
the Governor's Council for Appalachian Mary-
land, originally established in 1968. The Council
consists of nineteen voting members and two
non-voting members. The Governor, on August
9, 1971, certified that the Council was an entity
eligible for designation as a Local Development
District under the provisions of Section 301, Title
III, of the Appalachian Regional Development
Act of 1965, as amended (P.L. 89-4).

The purpose of the Council is to function as a
cooperative economic, social, and cultural develop-
ment agency within Allegany, Garrett, and Wash-
ington counties by developing a comprehensive de-
velopment plan for the region served; providing
liaison with local, State, and federal agencies; pre-
paring data and studies to support comprehensive
development planning, including the recommenda-
tion of projects and activities to meet the public
service needs of the region; and providing assis-
tance in the implementation of the State's Appala-
chian development program in the region.

The Council is functioning under a grant from
the Appalachian Regional Commission covering
65 percent of its operating costs.