August 23, 2018
  LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Keeping You Informed Ahead of Election Day

This week we are holding our annual
Elected Officials Meet & Greet with nearly every candidate running for office in Howard County attending including Senator Ben Cardin for the first time. But in addition to giving you the opportunity for face time with the candidates, we are taking our advocacy efforts a step further. 
Over the next few months the 
Chamber's Legislative Affairs Committee  will be completing interviews with each of the candidates running for Howard County Council. The candidates have also been given the opportunity to complete questionnaires detailing their views on the issues affecting our business community the most including the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO), public transit, commercial and residential development and the county's budget.

The Committee has already interviewed  Raj Kathuria (District 1), Opel Jones (District 2) and Deb Jung (District 4) and you can find their responses to the written questionnaire under the Advocacy tab at  www.howardchamber.com/election-2018-candidate-questionnaire-responses/ .
Kittleman and Ball To Take the Stage at Candidate Forum

While our 
Legislative Affairs Committee has been interviewing candidates for County Council, the Chamber team has been hard at work planning the upcoming 
Howard County Executive Candidate Forum.  Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman and  Howard County Councilman Calvin Ball (running for County Executive) will talk policy beliefs in a discussion moderated by  WJZ-TV Anchor Vic Carter in front of an audience of Chamber members and guests.

Has Your Business Been Affected by HB-1?

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce is collecting feedback on the affects of HB-1, also known as the Sick & Safe Leave Act, from businesses and we strongly encourage you to respond! The Maryland Chamber is looking for real-life examples of problems with the 2017 Sick and Safe Leave Act that they plan to use to help amend some of the more onerous parts of the legislation. You can find the questionnaire here.

  UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS


  2018 ANNUAL CHAMBER PARTNERS
  WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!!!
We are so proud to welcome the following new Chamber members this week!
  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!
The following organizations joined the HCCC this week in history!
  • Smile Savers Dentistry - 16 Years
  • The Vertical Connection Carpet One - 10 Years
  • Chesapeake Hearing Centers, Inc. - 2 Years
  • Clothes Mentor - 1 Year
  • State Farm Agency - Tony Boston - 1 Year
  • Texas Roadhouse - 1 Year
  • Transworld Business Advisors of Columbia - 1 Year
  MEMBER NEWS
5 Chamber Members Among Fastest Growing in the U.S.

We are all about helping our members grow and this week we are so happy to share that five Chamber members including Ecotone, Inc., VOR Technology, WebMechanix, ArcSource Group and Strategic Factory have all made Inc. 5000's 2018 list of fastest-growing companies in the country. 

  CHAMBER NEWS
Ads Now Available for our 2019 Business Resource Guide & Member Directory

We have teamed up again with The Business Monthly to produce the 2019 Business Resource Guide & Member Directory and ad spaces are now available! In addition to advertising opportunities, you will be getting a letter and a call from The Business Monthly team in the next few weeks to verify your companies listing information is current.

If you are interested in guaranteeing an advertising spot in this year's Directory, contact The Business Monthly team at 410-740-7300.
  IN THE LOOP
10 Buildings To Be Demolished Under $50M Main Street Restructuring Plan

Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman has just announced a $50 million plan to restructure Main Street in Ellicott City that will include demolishing ten historic buildings. 

Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks Start of Phase 3 at Blandair Park

Phase 3 is now underway at Blandair Regional Park in Columbia. Director of Membership Ronny Nadiv was on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony this week marking the start of the next phase along with Howard County  Executive Allan Kittleman.

Howard Hughes Corp. Hires CBRE to Lead Office Leasing in Merriweather District

The Howard Hughes Corporation has hired CBRE to help lease office space developed in the Merriweather District in Downtown Columbia.

Maryland Chamber Business Policy Conference

The Maryland Chamber's Business Policy Conference is coming up and this year will tackle issues including tariff effects on Maryland, the opioid epidemic, reinventing the talent pipeline and more.

September 20, 2018 - 9AM - 6:30PM
Sheraton Columbia Town Center

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