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Business recognized by county
Twin Beaches news
Friday, May 15, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by DARWIN WEIGEL
Bil Shockley received recognition from the state and county for Business Appreciation Week for his restaurant Bilvil: a beaches cafe.
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Both the State of Maryland and Calvert County recognized a North Beach restaurant, presenting it with certificates for its economic impact and contributions in recognition of Business Appreciation Week last week.
Bilvil: a beaches cafe was presented with a Secretary's Citation from the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development "in recognition of your outstanding economic impact, contributions to the local quality of life and dedication to improve the business climate in the State of Maryland."
"We're a smaller fish and getting recognized meant quite a bit to my wife [Sandy] and I," said owner and chef Bil Shockley.
The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners also presented the Shockleys with a Certificate of Appreciation last week that thanked them for the economic impact, social contributions and career opportunities the restaurant provides county residents.
Calvert County Commissioner Wilson Parran (D) said he learned about Bilvil from his wife, who spotted the restaurant while she was walking down 7th Street in North Beach and saw the edible garden in front of the restaurant. She spoke with co-owner Sandy Shockley, who was tending to the garden, he said.
"We tried it and we really enjoyed ourselves," he said.
"They're recycling, using locally grown produce and interfacing with local watermen for their restaurant," Parran said. "They're doing all the right things."
The restaurant creates seasonal menus and creates dishes from produce grown from local farmers and local watermen's seafood catch.
A group of state and county officials came to Bilvil on May 5 presenting the recognitions and asking Shockley to answer several questions about the process of opening of his business and what suggestions he might have to help business start-ups.
He said he knew the county provided advocates to help businesses get established and navigate through permit processes, but Shockley said the help doesn't start until the permit process.
Having advocates provide information at the commercial realtor level would be helpful. Knowing what someone can do with a property would help prospective business decisions and "avoid a potential failure," he added.
Shockley, who purchased a residential property, converted it into a restaurant and opened it last year, said he had to go through state, county and North Beach permitting processes during the construction phase and meeting health requirements before he could open. Through the arduous process, he said he learned about the advocates.
"It was a very tough year to open a business," especially a restaurant, which depends on discretionary spending, he said.
"I appreciate knowing that they're there for you, they're pulling for business," Shockley said of the state and county economic development departments.
This is the fourth year the county commissioners have organized five ambassador teams that consist of county officials involved with economic development. As part of Business Appreciation Week, the teams go to county businesses and talk with the owners asking them to assess how Calvert County has done in assisting them with their businesses, with the start up, renovations and permit process. They tell about the challenges they met and how things could improve, Parran said.
Jerry's Place, a restaurant on Route 4 in Prince Frederick that opened last year, was also recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation last week, Parran said.
A total of 15 businesses were given a certificate by the county commissioners for Business Appreciation Week.
