County Continues Review of PHEG Grant Applications
As of this morning, Montgomery County reviewers had approved 1,525 applications for a total of $13.66 million in awards for the Public Health Emergency Grant approved by the County Council on March 31. The County received a total of 6,756 applications by April 25, when the program closed. Some 20% were from Silver Spring businesses. To date, $3 million of the total $25 million grant allocation (made in two Council actions) has been awarded to restaurants and customer-facing retail establishments. The remaining $10.66 million was awarded to other types of businesses, including about $1 million for organizations identifying as nonprofit.
The remaining $11.34 million in the fund will be awarded in the coming weeks. Reviewers continue to assess applications for “significant financial loss,” as demonstrated by a 50% decrease in revenues during the month of March. The maximum award remains at $10,000. Per the legislation, $10 million must be set aside for restaurants and retail businesses. Therefore, some $7 million of the remaining balance will be granted to these types of businesses, leaving just more than $4 million for the rest.
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County Telework Grants Available Through MCEDC
Applications for Montgomery County's special telework grants opened last week. Grants will be awarded using a weekly lottery system to give all applicants an equal opportunity regardless of when they applied. Grants up to a maximum of $2,500 are available for COVID-19-related telework expenses incurred between March 1 and June 1 this year. Eligible businesses must have more than 50% of employees and sales in the County and may not have received financial assistance from the County or the State for telework expenses related to the pandemic. Apply
here.
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SBA Issues PPP Guidance on Laid-off Employees Who Refuse to be Rehired
Businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans can exclude laid-off employees from loan forgiveness reduction calculations if the employees turn down a written offer to be rehired, according to new guidance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which warned that employees who reject offers of reemployment may find themselves ineligible to continue receiving unemployment benefits.
The guidance was included among three new questions the SBA added recently to a PPP
frequently asked questions (FAQ) file it maintains in consultation with Treasury. The new guidance is included in FAQs 40–42. The first of the new questions asks if a borrower's PPP forgiveness amount would be reduced if the borrower lays off an employee and then offers to rehire the employee, but the employee declines the offer. For more information on the program, go
here.
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Payroll Protection Program (PPP) Loans Still Available
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is still accepting applications for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Approved lenders can submit applications on behalf of eligible borrowers. As of late last week, more than $1 billion was still available to be loaned.
Members that plan to apply for the PPP loan should contact their lender soon. If your lender is no longer accepting applications, the Chamber may be able to help you find a lender. Email
jredicker@gsscc.org.
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THIS WEEK!
Connect@Lunch
with Corcoran Caterers
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Just because we can't all be in the same room doesn't mean w
e can't Connect@Lunch. Take a break from your work-at-home tasks and join us as to connect and learn as Martha Corcoran,
Corcoran Caterers, shares (and prepares) her recipe for a healthy, comforting white bean, leek, and rosemary soup.
Thursday, May 14
12 noon to 1 p.m.
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Member Mixology
with All Set Restaurant
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Take your cocktail game up a notch with a demonstration by cocktail guru Molly Horn of
All Set Restaurant & Bar as she creates two drinks: Perfect Storm and Crazy for Layla.
Follow along and become a mixology master and enjoy networking with fellow members.
Wednesday, May 20
5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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Clean Spaces, Open Doors Webinar with SERVEPRO
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Is your business ready to re-open to your employees and customers? Learn from Brian McCabe,
SERVPRO of Chevy Chase and Silver Spring
, how to clean your offices and public spaces to prepare for re-opening, what the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) protocols require, and other tips for making your spaces safe and welcoming for everyone.
Thursday, May 21
9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
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Members Supporting Members - Webinar Opportunity
Do you have expertise on a subject that may benefit your fellow members
? There are
webinar
sponsorship opportunities
available for member businesses wanting to share their knowledge and services to support their fellow members.
For
$100
, your business gets it's company name in all event promotions on social media and in the newsletter, your logo and link to website on the event page, and the list of attendees. Contact Julie at
jpawlikowski@gsscc.org for more information.
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Continue Your Support of Silver Spring Businesses
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Many of our member restaurants, fitness studios, hotels, retailers, and other businesses were able to stay open or adapt their services during the past months while some temporarily closed. The Silver Spring community has been faithfully supporting these businesses with online orders, gift card purchases, and donations.
As we begin to focus on reopening efforts, the Chamber urges you to continue your support by visiting the complied
list of businesses
that are open and providing services and gift cards.
If your business is open or newly open but isn’t on the list, please email Courtney at
cjenkins@gsscc.org
so she can add your information.
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Local Television Station Helps Spread the Word
GSSCC Members: Spread the word that your businesses is "open for business."
In an effort to support local businesses, ABC7/WJLA is launching an
Open for Business platform where visitors can view a directory of businesses that are open in the DMV area. Add your business for free by registering on the form found
here. ABC7 and WJLA 24/7News plan an extensive promotional scheduled to introduce the directory to viewers.
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*
Staples
, at 12389 Georgia Avenue, is offering $25 worth of free print and marketing services for banners, invitations, business cards, and more.
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Zed MeKonnen of
Silver Strings
and Liz Brent of
Go Brent
are the latest GSSCC memebers to be featured in
Source of the Spring's "
Life in the Time of Coronavirus" series. Read their profiles
here
and
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, May 12.
- Membership Development Committee Virtual Meeting - 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13. Registration is required here.
- Small Business Owners Network – Bi-Weekly Virtual Meeting - 12 noon on Thursday, May 14. Registration is required here.
- Young Professionals Network – Bi-Weekly Check-In - 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 14.
- Economic Development Committee Meeting - 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20. Montgomery County Planning staff will provide an update and overview of the Silver Spring Central Business District Sector Plan. Register here.
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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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