Your Weekly News & Updates - February 9, 2017
  Legislative
Chamber Legislative Committee Meeting  
Mandatory Paid Leave may impact your business!

The governor and the state legislature are discussing bills that may impact your annual paid leave policies and how you manage your business. Should this bill pass, coupled with rumblings of a minimum wage increase, Maryland businesses will experience significant operations and wage costs. You are strongly encouraged to attend a special meeting of the Howard County Chamber Legislative Committee on
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. The meeting will be held at Turf Valley Resort from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. There is no cost to attend this meeting but registration is required. Please plan to join us next week so that your companies and clients may be informed. 

Click here to read more and register. 
2017 Mandatory Paid Leave Update

The House of Delegates Economic Matters Committee will hold public hearing on HB001 Friday, February 10 at 1 p.m.. This will be the first public forum for bill opponents to express their dissatisfaction with this proposed legislation.   

Click here to read the Capital View - Week 4
for latest details. 
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.  

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  


  Chamber News 
Join us in welcoming new Chamber staff member!

Kristin Mentz has joined the Howard County Chamber as our part-time Member Engagement Liaison supporting the Membership Department. Kristin has been a Howard County resident for 15 years and has a background in marketing, proposal writing, and nonprofit administration. She formerly worked for the Association of Community Services (ACS) and the Women's Giving Circle, both Howard County organizations.    

 
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.
   

 
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.   

 
You are invited to join the 2017 Howard County Chamber of Commerce trip to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and Rome in October!

Join us for a trip informational meeting on Thursday, March 30, 2017 from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Turf Valley Resort Click here to register.

 Visit the Chamber website for trip details. 
    
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!   

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  
  Information
Howard County Bike Racks Program
 
 
The Howard County Office of Transportation is pleased to offer free installation of bike racks on public and private property throughout the County. These bike racks will enhance bicycle access to important community amenities and support the County's sustainability and public health and wellness goals. The County plans to install 200 bike racks over the course of two years. For more information
click here.
 
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! 
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.
 
Columbia Gateway corporate park envisioned
as 'economic driver' for state


As downtown Columbia undergoes a major overhaul, Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman announced a broad vision Tuesday to redevelop a 920-acre corporate park in Columbia into a major "economic driver" for the county and the state.
Click here for more information

Looking for Howard  County Government Procurement 
Opportunities? 
  Membership News
welcome new members button
(As of the last 45 days)
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.
Upcoming Events
            
 

Circle of Champion Sponsors

Join Our Mailing List
STAY CONNECTED:
Twitter: @HoCoChamber | Facebook: @HowardChamber | www.howardchamber.com