Queen Anne’s County Unveils Paul Reed Smith Parkway
County Honors Guitar Maker and Businessman with Street Renaming
Stevensville, Maryland –Queen Anne’s County Officials held a ceremony this week at The Chesapeake Bay Business Park in Stevensville, Maryland, proudly announcing the renaming of Schooner Parkway to Paul Reed Smith Parkway. The renaming of this roadway pays tribute to Paul Reed Smith and PRS Guitars for their outstanding contributions to Queen Anne’s County and the local economy.
County Commissioner Chris Corchiarino expressed his enthusiasm for the name change, stating, “We are excited to officially rename this road Paul Reed Smith Parkway to recognize the contributions Paul Reed Smith and PRS Guitars has made in Queen Anne’s County. Paul Reed Smith exemplifies 'pay it forward' with his passion for giving back and teaching others, demonstrated through his support of local charities and the community.”
Paul Reed Smith, Founder and Managing General Partner of PRS Guitars, moved the PRS Guitars facility from Annapolis to the Chesapeake Bay Business Park nearly 30 years ago in 1996, becoming the park’s first major manufacturing tenant. PRS Guitars employs a balance of highly skilled craftsman and sophisticated automation to manufacture and inspect electric and acoustic guitars and guitar amplifiers, effects, and accessories that are sold worldwide through the company’s dealer and distributor network. PRS has expanded several times since its humble beginning in 1985, currently employing more than 480 people in its 120,000 SQFT facility, making PRS the largest full-time private employer in QA County.
“I am honored that the county has acknowledged our business with this gesture. Maryland has been my home my whole life, and to be recognized as a positive force for the local community is awesome,” said Paul Reed Smith. “I am very proud of what we have all built here.”
PRS Guitars is a model business, spearheading several initiatives throughout the year to support and engage with the broader community. From food, toy, and blood drives supporting Maryland communities in need to raising money for their flagship charity: Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore, Maryland, PRS Guitars has a diverse, ever-growing portfolio of programs. Learn more about those efforts here: Community Impact Summary.
Queen Anne’s County stands firmly behind its business community by offering local incentives, including no county corporate income tax or business personal property tax, thus fostering an environment conducive to growth and success. To learn more about “Where Shore Business Grows” visit www.choosequeenannes.com or follow Queen Anne’s County Economic and Tourism Development on social media @ChooseQueenAnnes.
For more information about PRS Guitars, please visit www.prsguitars.com and follow @prsguitars on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. PRS Guitars will be reopening for public tours in early 2024, a year ahead of their 40th Anniversary.