The Central Maryland Chamber of Commerce (CMC) announced that it will be hosting its Annual Meeting and Hall of Fame Business Awards virtually on April 19, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.

The Annual Meeting & Hall of Fame Business Awards recognizes and honors the companies and volunteers who partner with the chamber to be the voice of businesses, create jobs, and help our members thrive.

The CMC is thrilled to announce the 2021 Hall of Fame Inductees:

BIPOC Business of the Year *

Host Matt Slovick, Aflac, will lead players through five rounds of trivia to test their knowledge before the all-important final question! Rally your friends & coworkers and put your trivia skills to the test!

Prizes will be awarded for our top 3 finishers. | Limited to 20 players.

With the new RELIEF Act funding, we anticipate opening our application process for the Small Business COVID RELIEF Grant Program from March 30 to April 6. Please remember funding is extremely limited. Keep an eye on our website for additional details

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program was established through the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act to provide over $16 billion in economic relief to target industries.

Eligible entities include:

Other requirements of note:

Across the country, scammers are using a new trick to gain access to your personal information. There are numerous reports of people receiving unsolicited emails or text messages asking them to complete a limited time survey about COVID vaccines. In some cases people are offered a free gift or reward to complete the survey in a timely manner, but are asked to pay for shipping fees.

No legitimate surveys ask for your credit card or banking information.

IF YOU GET ONE OF THESE EMALS OR MESSAGES

If you receive one of these emails or text messages, REPORT IT HERE

An Annapolis area church has had the catalytic converter cut from their church van on the parking lot of their church.

As the price of certain metals within the converters remains high, they have become the target of thieves across the country. Once again we remind you to park your vans in very well lit areas if possible. Parking in the far back areas of dimly lit church lots only invites trouble. If possible park your vans directly in front of your church with good road visibility.

We will increase patrols and hope that we do not see a local trend.

Regionally we've experienced a continuation of commercial burglaries where Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) are targeted. There appears to be several groups of very organized and proficient burglars operating throughout Maryland, DC, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Their methods are very similar, but the common denominator is the theft of ATMs from smaller businesses. The cash losses to some of these businesses are staggering and business disruptions can be devastating. Although we can't prevent every incident, we offer the following tips to mitigate your potential of becoming a victim.

It is now more important than ever to show support for our small and local businesses in the Central Maryland region. The CMC's "Open for Business" campaign encourages local restaurants and businesses to fill out a short survey giving more information to the public. The survey will address whether a restaurant or business will continue to stay open, offer takeout or delivery, and if gift cards may be available for purchase.

Fill out short survey HERE

Fill out short survey HERE

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