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Your Weekly News & Updates - February 16, 2017
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Increased Minimum Wage Legislation Introduced
It was only a matter of time before statewide legislation would be introduced to raise the minimum wage in Maryland to $15 an hour. Introduced by Senator Richard Madaleno of Montgomery County, SB062 (cross-filed with HB1416) specifies the State minimum wage rate in effect for specified time periods based on employer size; increasing, except under specified circumstances, the State minimum wage rate based on the annual growth in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area; requiring the Board of Revenue Estimates during a specified time period to conduct a specified analysis; authorizing, under specified circumstances, the Governor to temporarily suspend a minimum wage rate increase. Should SB0962 pass, Maryland would join Washington, DC, California, and New York as the only states with a $15 minimum wage.
A public hearing has been held for March 16 at 1:00 p.m. in Senate Finance.
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Overtime Legislation Introduced
With the Federal Overtime legislation in limbo, legislation has been introduced by Delegate Jimmy Tarlau of Prince George's County that would increase the threshold for employees eligible for overtime pay. HB0665 (cross-filed with SB0607) would increase overtime eligibility to $913 a week. A public hearing has been set for February 21, at 1:00 p.m. in the Economic Matters Committee.
View Capital View, Week 5 to read more |
Howard County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Update
As legislative issues of importance to the business community are considered at the state and local level, the Chamber will keep its members informed with Legislative Updates. View the latest Tracking List of Bills Being Considered in Annapolis and the 2017 Howard County General Assembly members and their respective committee assignments.
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Public Notice Hearing on Statewide Issues
The Howard County Delegation of the Maryland General Assembly, chaired by Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary and Senator Guy Guzzone, will hold a public hearing for citizen input on statewide issues that may be considered by the legislature during the upcoming legislative session.
The hearing is scheduled as follows:
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 - 7:30 p.m.
Banneker Room, George Howard Building
3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD
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You are invited to join the 2017 Howard County Chamber of Commerce trip to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and Rome in October!
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New Career Opportunity at
The Howard County Chamber of Commerce!
The Howard County Chamber of Commerce is currently seeking a part-time (25 hrs.) Communications Manager. This key position works in collaboration with Chamber staff and outside vendors to manage the organization's overall communications program.
Click here to visit the Chamber's Job Bank for a detailed job description.
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Recommendation for Board of Directors
The future of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce rests with the leadership that is selected in the nominating process for the Board of Directors. We are looking for business executives of large, medium or small companies who are members in good standing of the Chamber.
Click here to submit a recommendation today!
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2017 Interactive Membership Directory
View the 2017 Howard County Chamber of Commerce interactive membership directory found on the homepage of our website under "About the Chamber". Discovers Howard County, connect with the Chamber, our members and much more!
Click here
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Lower Your Company's Monthly Utility Bills:
Commercial Energy Cooperative Program
2017 Spring Campaign ends February 28, 2017
When commercial energy purchasing was deregulated in Maryland in 2002, the Howard County Chamber of Commerce partnered with CQI Associates to establish a Commercial Energy Purchasing Cooperative for its members. Since then, the Howard County Chamber of Commerce - CQI Energy Cooperative has helped hundreds of area businesses realize long-term budget stability and savings. This program offers free informational seminars and webinars about energy deregulation and valuable insight into energy procurement options.
Click here to read more and sign up!
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Chamber Circle of Champion Sponsorships
As you prepare for the upcoming year, we hope that the Howard County Chamber is included in your firm's 2017 business development plans. It is a new day in Howard County and we are positioned for success. Support us and let us take your business higher.
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Join a Committee at the Howard County Chamber of Commerce
Interested in getting more involved with the Chamber?
Sign up today for any of the following committees:
- Ambassadors
- GovConnects
- Holiday Party
- Legislative
- Membership
- Signature Events
- YPN
Contact info@howardchamber.com to join a Howard County Chamber of Commerce Committee today!
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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER
Join us at Bisnow's Howard County Boom!
With great pleasure we invite you to join Bisnow and the Howard County real estate community for the Howard County State of the Market! Learn about the incredible growth and opportunity that exists in this burgeoning real estate market. Hear from the developers and executives leading the projects that are shaping the future of Howard County.
Click here to Register
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Executive Kittleman announces comprehensive assessment
of land development regulations
Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman announced the beginning of a comprehensive review of the county's development regulations. A national leader in zoning practices, Clarion Associates LLC, will spend the next year conducting Phase 1 of an effort to re-write and modernize development regulations. The first phase includes public input sessions and technical analysis to evaluate the zoning code, as well as regulations, policies and manuals, related to land development.
Click here to read more
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New Vision for Columbia Gateway Announced
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman has announced his vision to turn Columbia Gateway Business Park, Howard County's largest business center, into an innovation district. Under the plan, the park would be turned into a district where companies work with anchor educational intuitions and startups to collaborate on new technologies and services. Creative connections would be fostered with more compact, wired and transit-rich development patterns.
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Book a One on One Session with a Tedco Expert today!
TEDCO makes investments in small businesses to help entrepreneurs grow their companies. By leveraging industry experts, TEDCO provides Maryland's entrepreneurs with solid, practical advice once a month in TEDCO's Columbia location. The Maryland Entrepreneurs Resource List (
MERL) is a pool of business experts across industry verticals and skillsets who offer pro bono time to meet and advise companies facing unique challenges as startups.
Click here for more info about MERL.
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Looking for Howard
County Government Procurement
Opportunities?
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Volunteers needed for the Howard County Public Schools Passport to the Future program!
The mission of the program is to provide high school students enrolled in the Career Research and Development academy with the opportunity to earn a workforce-readiness endorsement. More than 150 local high school students will be participating in practice job interviews as part of the program and need your help on March 17, 2017.
For more information and to sign up
click here.
If you have any questions or want to participate, please call (410) 313-7493 or email sdiscepolo@hcpss.org.
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Lost Ark Distilling Company Ribbon Cutting
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Lost Ark Distilling Company
9570 Berger Rd. Suite L Columbia, MD
3:45 p.m. Welcome & Networking
4:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting
4:15 p.m. Tour & Tasting
For more information
click here.
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Convergence Technology Consulting acquires Baltimore cyber firm
Convergence CEO Larry Letow said the 15-year-old company with clients in government and commercial sectors wanted to add Deep Run's cyber risk analysis tool to its existing security offerings, which also include insider threat software. Deep Run's tool, called Spectrum, provides a company with info on their security weaknesses and strengths. It's something that Letow said clients were requesting.
Click here to read more
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