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LEGISLATIVE ACTION UPDATE
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Paid Sick Leave Tax Credit Bill Passed in Final Hours of Session
We are happy to report that as this year's Legislative Session came to a close, the legislature ok'd $5 million in annual tax credits to help businesses struggling to weather the impact of the Mandatory Paid Sick Leave Law that went into effect earlier in the session.
Despite our best efforts, and the efforts of many other pro-business organizations, the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act became law, and with almost no warning, businesses were forced to scramble to make sure they were in compliance with a very complicated law. The Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation has been racing to provide business owners with
guidance about the new law to help business owners navigate the additional rules, but until now, the financial burden had not been addressed.
For more on
HB 99 and
SB 134 and the Small Business Relief Tax Credits they provide, you can head to the preceeding links.
For more information about compliance with the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act,
click here.
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Maryland Legislature Passes Changes to Current Cybersecurity Incentive Tax Credits Program
Monday night marked the end of the 2018 Legislative Session here in Maryland, and with it, the passage of
SB288, the
Cybersecurity Incentive Tax Credit bill. According to Stacey Smith, Executive Director of the
Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, SB288 makes Maryland the first state in the country to incentivize businesses to purchase cybersecurity protections locally and investors to invest in Maryland cybersecurity companies.
The new Cybersecurity Incentive Tax Credit is also a departure from the current program that provides a tax credit to Maryland cybersecurity technology companies that receive investment funding. The new bill provides a tax credit to investors for their investments in qualified Maryland-based cybersecurity technology companies. It also allows convertible debt as a form of investing, which is not currently the case.
The current cybersecurity tax credit program expires June 30, 2018 and SB288 will go into effect the following day. Total funds available through the new program for the first year and subsequent years is $2 million/year. Thank you to the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland for your
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County Executive Kittleman Meets with Chamber's Legislative Affairs Leadership
Thank you to Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman for a productive meeting this morning with Chamber President Leonardo McClarty, Board Chair Jeff Agnor and Cole Schnorf and Andrew Robinson, Co-Chairs of our Legislative Affairs Committee. The group discussed everything from the Long Reach Village Center to our upcoming Regional Economic Forum. Collaboration for the good of our business community is always a good thing!
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2018 Regional Economic Forum
Join us for our first ever Regional Economic Forum featuring Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman, Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh and Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett. Mike Kelly, Executive Director of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council will moderate a dynamic conversation between the County Executives.
April 26, 2018 - 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Sheraton Columbia Town Center Hotel
10207 Wincopin Circle
Columbia, MD 21044
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For information about available sponsorships for this one of a kind event, please contact Leonardo McClarty at
[email protected]
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Howard County Chamber's 49th Annual Meeting
Join us as we honor the Chamber's outstanding volunteers and ratify the new slate for the Board of Directors. Members will also hear from both our current Board Chair, Jeff Agnor, Esq. and our Chair-Elect, David Anderson.
May 16, 2018 - 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Turf Valley Resort
2700 Turf Valley Resort
Ellicott City, MD 21042
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Business After Business Recap
It was our first Business After Business event of 2018 and you could tell, people were ready! Dozens of attendees mingled and networked at the beautiful new offices of
The Law Offices of Kirk Halpin & Associates, P.A. and
True Title. Our next Business After Business event is a collaboration with the Asian American Chamber of Commerce and Howard Community College on May 31st.
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Deadline for Early Bird Pricing on Iceland Trip Approaching
It's going to be a once in a lifetime trip this fall when the Chamber heads to Iceland, but time is running out to sign up and qualify for the early bird pricing!
For lots more information about the trip, including the full brochure and registration information,
click here. The deadline for early bird pricing registration is
April 27th!
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Jailbreak Brewing Celebrates FoodWorks
Congratulations to
Jailbreak Brewing on the grand opening of their newly expanded taproom that now includes Jailbreak FoodWorks.
Attendees, including several Chamber Ambassadors, were treated to beer specials and complimentary hors d'oeuvres showcasing their new menu including seared tuna street tacos, house-made flatbreads and crispy pork belly salads, at the ceremony this past Sunday.
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Mobern Lighting Chosen for DOC Training Grant
Congratulations are also in order for Moburn Lighting, who is one of just eight Maryland companies that have been awarded a portion of $110,000 in training grants from the Maryland Department of Commerce to help increase production and boost efficiency.
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Paul Skalny Selected as 2018 Attorney Advocate of the Year
Congratulations to Paul Skalny, Managing Partner of Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny, LLC, for being selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration Baltimore District Office as the 2018 Attorney Advocate of the Year.
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Leadership Howard County Seeking Candidates for Class of 2019!
Are you an active community volunteer? Do you want to learn more about the issues in our community, about local resources and how you can have a greater impact as a leader? The Leadership Howard County Premier Program is now seeking candidates for their class of 2019. They are holding an informational breakfast later this month for people interested in applying.
April 19, 2018 - 8 a.m.
Loyola University MD Graduate Center
8890 McGaw Road
Columbia, MD
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7th Annual Power of the Purse
We are once again a proud drop off location for the Annual Power of the Purse! We will be collecting new, gently used, vintage and designer handbags for the Power of the Purse Sale and Silent Auction on June 11th benefiting Blossoms of Hope.
June 11, 2018 - 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Sub-Zero and Wolf Showroom by Fretz
9204 Berger Road
Columbia, MD 21044
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!!!
We are so proud to welcome the following new Chamber members this week!
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Happy Anniversary!!!
The following organizations joined the HCCC this week in history!
- CCS Presentation Systems - 16 Years
- Retreat and Conference Center at Bon Secours - 12 Years
- Capital Bank - 11 Years
- Damon Foreman Music Academy - 10 Years
- Salvere Health and Fitness - 9 Years
- Springhill Suites by Marriott - 9 Years
- Trinity School - 9 Years
- Brothers Services Co. - 7 Years
- Fitness Together - 7 Years
- Mid Atlantic Social Media - 7 Years
- Edible Arrangements - Elkridge - 6 Years
- Strategic Health Solutions, LLC - 6 Years
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Howard County Business Appreciation Week is Coming
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman and ambassadors and staff from the Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA) will be making visits to local businesses as part of the 2018 Howard County Business Appreciation Week from April 23 - 27.
We encourage you, our members, to sign up for an appointment
here, to get the opportunity to speak directly to the County Executive and HCEDA team about your experiences as a business owner and ideas for improving the business climate.
In addition, the County Executive will cap off the week by hosting a Business Roundtable with CEOs and business owners for a collaborative conversation about business topics in the county.
You can register to for one of the visits
here and the County Executive's Business Roundtable
here. Registration closes
April 16th at
12:00 a.m.
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BGE Now Accepting Applications for Green Grants Program
Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) is once again accepting applications for its 2018 Green Grants program. All 501c3 nonprofit organizations within the BGE service area are eligible to apply for grants ranging from $1k to $10k to fund projects or programs demonstrating a commitment to environmental stewardship.
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MCE Marketing Matters: Feedback Bounce Back
Join the Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship for their next Marketing Matters event, Feedback Bounce Back - How to Access and Collect Customer Feedback.
April 13, 2018 - Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship
9250 Bendix Road
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Export Management Bootcamp for Industry Professionals
The Center for Global Business at the University of Maryland is hosting its second annual Export Management Bootcamp for Industry Professionals. The two-day bootcamp is designed to help prepare professionals to export their products or services internationally.
April 20 & 21, 2018
University of Maryland BioPark
Building 2, Suite 100
801 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
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Le'Chic Academy Foundation's BIZKidz Market Day
Calling all young entrepreneurs! Le'Chic Academy is holding a BIZKidz Market Day and wants you to come out and sell your creative products and services, make money and compete for awards and prizes.
April 21, 2018 - Noon - 5 p.m.
The Interfaith Center
5885 Robert Oliver Place
Columbia, MD 21045
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Freedom Fund Jazz Breakfast and Awards Celebration for Howard County NAACP Branch
The Howard County Branch of the NAACP is hosting their Freedom Fund Jazz Breakfast on May 5 at Martin's West. This year they are celebrating the "Year of the Women" honoring women at all levels of service in our community.
May 5, 2018 - 9 a.m. - Noon
Martin's West
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Horizon Foundation's Open Streets Howard County
Join The Horizon Foundation for the Opening Ceremony of Open Streets Howard County, an opportunity to see how better street design can make our community more bikeable and walkable.
May 5, 2018 - 1 - 4 p.m.
Long Reach High School
6101 Old Dobbin Lane
Columbia, MD 21045
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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 [email protected] to join a Howard County Chamber of Commerce Committee today!
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