GSSCC Joins U.S. Chamber's National Initiative to Address Inequality of Opportunity
Like many of you, the Greater Silver Spring Chamber leadership and staff were deeply saddened by the senseless death of George Floyd. This incident has shaken this country and sparked protests here in Silver Spring and nationwide. We are pleased that the many students, residents, business leaders, and elected government representatives who have exercised their rights to protest have done so peacefully with respect for the safety, feelings, and property of their fellow citizens and business owners. We are also pleased that our 3rd District Police have undertaken to reach out to the organizers of these protests with offers of help and cooperation.
The various marches and demonstrations have called renewed attention to the inequality and injustice in America, in the judicial system, the economy, public education, and healthcare. The recent turn of events has caused each of us to evaluate what is good, what is right, and our place in making things better.
GSSCC will join the U.S. Chamber’s national townhall event on June 25 where business and community leaders will discuss concrete actions that can be taken by government and the private sector to address inequality through education, employment, entrepreneurship, and criminal justice reform. As a partner on this important initiative, in the coming months, GSSCC will host local business dialogues to further the discussion.
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New Law Lessens PPP Loan Forgiveness Requirements
Member business owners who obtained a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program will want to review the changes now in place under the PPP Flexibility Act. The new law lessens some of the repayment and rehiring restrictions in the original Act. Specifically, it:
- Decreases from 75% to 60% the percentage of the loan that must be spent on payroll in order to be eligible for forgiveness.
- Extends the time period for spending the loan from June 30 to December 31.
- Extends the rehire exemption date from June 30, 2020 to December 31, 2020.
- Eases rehiring requirements if an employer is unable to rehire the same employees.
- Extends repayment terms for the portion of the loan that cannot be forgiven.
GSSCC will host a webinar on PPP Loan Forgiveness next Monday. See below.
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County Microenterprise Grant Program Opens Thursday
Montgomery County’s new Microenterprise Stabilization Program, which will provide financial assistance to small income-eligible for-profit businesses that have lost significant revenue as a result of COVID-19, will accept applications beginning this Thursday. The application window will be open through Tuesday, June 16. Applications will be assigned random numbers to determine the order in which they will be reviewed. More information about the program and County-hosted webinars scheduled beginning Saturday, June 13, is
here.
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Strategic employee management and recruitment will be vital to your business’ reopening and returning to work efforts. What strategies will you need to keep your dispersed team together and focused, to decide who can safely return, and to recruit new talent via video interviews?
Elite Personnel will provide professional insight on these topics and more in this webinar.
Tuesday, June 9
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
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Start your day off right by joining us for
Morning Networking with the Chamber. Attendees will have
2 minutes
to talk about their businesses and share their
best virtual networking practices as we continue to adapt to the new virtual normal. Connect with fellow members, meet new contacts, and promote your business this Thursday with the Chamber.
Thursday, June 11
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
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Loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) may be forgiven if borrowers use the proceeds to maintain their payrolls and pay other specified expenses. The Treasury Department and Small Business Administration recently released the application form and instructions for loan forgiveness. Last week, the President signed the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act (PPPFA) that lessens some of the restrictions on amounts that may be used for payroll and extended certain deadlines.
Join us for an update and guidance on how to apply for loan forgiveness, presented by David Hincapie, Economic Development Specialist with the Washington Metropolitan Area District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Monday, June 15
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
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Members Supporting Members - Webinar Opportunity
Do you have expertise on a subject that may benefit your fellow members?
Webinar sponsorship opportunities are available for member businesses wanting to share their knowledge and experience to support fellow members.
Sponsor a webinar for just $100 and see your company name and logo on all event promotions, including the Chamber website, the
GSSCC Weekly Update, and social media. The event page on our website will include a link to your site, and you'll get a list of all webinar attendees after the event. Contact Julie at
jpawlikowski@gsscc.org for more information.
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GSSCC Proud to be Among Sponsors for AFI DOCS
GSSCC is once again delighted to be among the sponsors for
AFI DOCS, described by The Washington Post as "the nation's leading documentary film festival." This year’s re-imagined virtual film festival will run online from June 17–21. Films include BOYS STATE, PORTRAITS AND DREAMS, OUT OF THE BLUE, REBUILDING PARADISE directed by Ron Howard and 9 TO 5: THE STORY OF A MOVEMENT, directed by last year’s Best Documentary Feature Academy Award winners Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar. Tickets available on June 10. Passes now on sale at
DOCS.AFI.com.
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Are You Reopening for Business? Let Us Know!
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As Montgomery County Phase 1 Reopening began June 1, business are beginning to reopen and we want to help our members spread the word.
If your business is partially reopening, fully reopening, has been open, or has new operating procedures, we want to know. Share your news updates on your social media with a post, a picture, or a video and
tag us so we can share it on our channels!
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Missed a Webinar? Visit GSSCC's YouTube Page
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- To learn from Jerome Fletcher, Assistant Chief Operating Officer to County Executive Marc Elrich, and Tina Benjamin, Special Assistant, on Montgomery County’s guidelines for Phase 1 reopening, watch here.
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Does your Business Need PPE?
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As businesses are preparing to re-open and employers are tasked with providing PPE for their returning employees, GSSCC has launched a “
Back to Business Products” page on our website for members looking to purchase PPE products, signage, and more. If your business is selling PPEs and you would like to be on this page, please complete this
form and send it to Julie at
jpawlikowski@gsscc.org.
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Docs in Progress is seeking support for its Summer Teen Filmmaking Workshops as it has unexpectedly lost partial funding. Those interested in supporting can directly contact Barbara Valentino, Interim Executive Director at
director@docsinprogress.org. More information on the Power2give crowd-source site can be found
here. Donations made through this site will be matched up to $5,000 by Montgomery County through June 15.
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Silver Branch Brewing Company is the June Beer of the Month at
Fenwick Beer & Wine with $9.99/6 pack. On Sunday, June 14, Fenwick will donate 10% of sales to
A Wider Circle. See more
here.
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See your company's news here!
Send
us your news releases and news items by noon on Friday for publication in the following Monday's edition. Click
here
for guidelines on submitting Member News.
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Upcoming Committee/Network Meetings
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- Non-Profit Team Virtual Meeting - 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9.
- Small Business Owners Network – Bi-Weekly Virtual Meeting - 12 noon on Thursday, June 11. Registration is required here. Topic is commercial liability, health, and other insurance issues in light of COVID-19.
- Membership Development Committee Virtual Meeting - Wednesday, June 17.
- Economic Development Committee Virtual Meeting - 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24.
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OUR MISSION:
Working to enhance the economic prosperity of greater Silver Spring through robust promotion of
our member businesses and unrelenting advocacy
on their behalf.
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Thank you to our 2019-2020 GSSCC Partners
Corporate Partners
- Downtown Silver Spring; Lee Development Group; Montgomery College; Joseph W. McCartin Insurance;
Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center
Business Partners
- Andalman & Flynn, AFI Silver Theatre; Apex Home
Loans; Atlantech Online; Digital Industry; EagleBank; Eggspectation; Holy Cross Hospital; The Fillmore Silver Spring; Lerch, Early & Brewer Chtd.; Linowes and Blocher, LLP; Revere Bank; The Tower Companies (The Blairs); United Therapeutics Corporation; Washington Property Company.
Partners - Adam Lowe Creative; Bell Flowers; EBA Ernest Bland Associates; HiTouch Business Services; Image360.
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Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce
8601 Georgia Avenue Suite 203
301-565-3777
info@gsscc.org
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