On Thursday evening, July 29, at AFI Silver Theatre, at the 2021 Awards & Installation Event, GSSCC will honor the newest inductees into its “Circle of Stars,” a select group of for-profit businesses that continue to make Silver Spring a better place to live, work, and run a business. These members have demonstrated remarkable resilience, sustainability, and/or transformation during the past year. The Circle of Stars also recognizes those companies that continue to do well through doing good, be it through service to the community, stewardship of local and global resources, and/or support of non-profit community organizations or causes.

The Chamber welcomes members to submit an application or nominate a fellow member company to be considered for this honor. Click here for the application form. Deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. today, Monday, June 28, 2021.

Governor Larry Hogan last week announced the end of the COVID-19 state of emergency in the State of Maryland, noting that the state has surpassed 6.5 million vaccinations and a positivity rate at a record-low 0.82%. Per the Governor’s order, the COVID-19 state of emergency will end in two phases:

Following the Montgomery County Council redistricting news? Wondering what that means for Silver Spring and your business?

Join the Chamber as Sam Statland, Statland & Katz, longtime GSSCC member, and Commission on Redistricting member, provides an overview of the Commission's efforts, explains the Federal laws under which the Commission must work, and provides a status report on its progress thus far.

Redistricting in any community is a complex, often controversial and political, exercise that raises many questions. Get answers to yours by registering today and joining us on Thursday, July 1, at 9 a.m. via Zoom.

Golfer and sponsorship opportunities available soon! Email Julie Pawlikowski with questions.

Laughter flowed easily, business cards were exchanged, hands were shaken, and the sun shone brightly for the first in-person Connect@Lunch of 2021. Thank you to everyone who joined us in making new connections and thank you to All Set Restaurant & Bar's Money Muscle BBQ for hosting us.

Keep on the look out for the next networking opportunity on the Chamber website!

The minimum wage will increase in Montgomery County on Thursday, July 1. The number of workers employed by the business will determine the amount of the increase.

Most employees must be paid at least the Montgomery County minimum wage rate. Employees age 18 and under, working under 20 hours per week, are exempt from this rate. Employees under 18 years of age must earn at least 85 percent of the State minimum wage rate.

Registration is now open for those wishing to provide testimony during a public hearing. Click here to register or call 888-725-0174.

For more details on the project and the hearings, click here.

* Registration is now open for CCI Health & Wellness Center's fourth annual Run Baby Run: A 5K Run/Walk for healthier moms and babies. Run Baby Run will take place at Wheaton Regional Park on Saturday, August 14, at 7:30 a.m. All Set Restaurant & Bar and NIH Federal Credit Union are among the event sponsors. For more information, read here.

* Wheaton Costco wants to partner with a successful local restaurant to create and offer a custom restaurant gift card in the Wheaton location. The program has many benefits, including high-visibility exposure to thousands of Costco members per day, large vivid graphics, possible expansion to other Costco locations, and flexible duration and terms. Email David King for more information.

* Jalon Bookkeeping, LLC has a new website: www.jalonbookkeeping.com.

* Montgomery Community Media (MCM) recently won four Emmys at the 63rd annual Capital Emmy Awards during a virtual ceremony for its series on Black Artists in Montgomery County and its features on teaching during the pandemic and Montgomery County’s recycling center. Congratulations on the win. Read here for more information. 

* Join Holly Harper, Blue Bike Communications, for “Grown Up Summer Camp: Does Your Small Biz Idea Have Legs? Find Out” on Thursday, July 8 at 6 p.m. The Q&A workshop will help budding entrepreneurs find out what it takes to get things up and running. For more information and to register, read 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.

* Economic Development Committee Virtual Meeting - 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 29. Topic: Update on the new and expanded crisis response team coming to Silver Spring in July provided by Dorné Hill, LCSW-C, Acting Administrator, Trauma and Crisis Service, MoCo Dept of Health and Human Services. (Advance registration required here.)

* Small Business Owners Network Virtual Meeting - 12 noon on Thursday, July 1. Topic: Using your financial reports to get insight into your business. (Advance registration required here).

* Non-Profit Team Virtual Meeting - 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13.

* Membership Development Committee Virtual Meeting - 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 27.

Corporate Partners - Downtown Silver Spring; Lee Development Group; Montgomery College; Joseph W. McCartin Insurance;

 Business Partners - Andalman & Flynn, AFI Silver Theatre; Apex Home 

 Partners - Bell Flowers; EBA Ernest Bland Associates; Image360; Peak Performance Digital; Scott Team International.