Masks are the order of the day during the pandemic, but a different kind of mask comes out this time of year and this is the year to celebrate both.

In the spirit of Halloween, join the Chamber for a Mask-erade After Hours complete with costumes, masks, spooky virtual backgrounds, and more! Costumed children and pets welcome!

November 12 – Connect MoCo Joint Speed Networking – Join GSSCC and several other area chambers and networking organizations for a virtual joint speed networking event run by Connect MoCo. This is a great opportunity to grow your network and make new connections. Click here to register.

November 18 (tentative) – Fall Beer Tasting with Denizens – Join us to support a local GSSCC member and taste a few beers from Denizens’ current and new offerings. This virtual event will also provide plenty of time for networking. Watch this space and your email for details!

November 20 – Using Montgomery County Data to Build Your Business – Many small business owners know that there are opportunities to do business with Montgomery County Government, but did you know that Montgomery County Government provides a treasure trove of information that can help you identify potential customers and clients, opportunities for subcontracting with larger businesses, and more information that you can use to build your business?

Join us and Judy Stephenson, MoCo’s Small Business Navigator, for a virtual walk through of Data Montgomery and more as she unlocks the wealth of information that is yours for the taking. 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 20, via Zoom. The last 30 minutes will be set aside to virtual networking in breakout rooms for those interested. The Greater Bethesda Chamber, the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber, and the Rockville Chamber are joining GSSCC in hosting this event. Click here to register.

Last week, Governor Larry Hogan announced that he will draw down the state’s Rainy Day Fund to offer $250 million more in financial relief for businesses struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing recession. The package is a combination of new relief programs and the expansion of existing programs that should be available to businesses in our area.

Small Business Grants: $50 million for the third installment of the "Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Fund" to fully fund the entire backlog of grant applications already received and reviewed by the Maryland Department of Commerce. Per the Commerce Department's website, it is "not accepting new grant applications and will continue to distribute funds on a first-come, first-served basis based on the applications already received."

Restaurant Relief: $50 million in direct grant relief restaurants in need of things as: working capital, sanitization services, payroll and rent, purchase of personal protective equipment, upgraded technology and infrastructure improvements. The funding will go through local jurisdictions and must be distributed no later than December 31, 2020. More details to follow.

Workforce Retention: $20 million for the state's "COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund." The Department of Labor will begin accepting grant applications from small businesses on Wednesday, October 28th and the program will remain open through 30 days after the State of Emergency ends or until funding has been fully exhausted. Click here to learn more.

Small and Minority Business Low-Interest Loans: $5 million to double funding for low-interest loans to small and minority businesses. Administered through the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority (MSBDFA), the program provides financing to businesses owned by economically and socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs. MSBDFA uses include working capital, supplies and materials, machinery and equipment acquisition, land acquisition, or real estate improvements. As of this writing, details are not yet available on the agency website.

Arts Organization Funding: $3 million more for the Maryland State Arts Council's Emergency Grant Program. The Council's website had not been updated as of this morning.

Watch this space and your email for updates.

Montgomery County is still accepting applications for grants of up to $5,000 to reimburse businesses for items purchased to comply with State and County reopening requirements to protect public health. A business does not have to have been closed to be eligible for a grant.

Find details and the application here. Members with questions can contact jredicker@gsscc.org.

The Chamber commemorated National Chamber of Commerce Day by launching an effort to recognize and celebrate members for "sticking with GSSCC" during these challenging times. We personally delivered GSSCC Proud Member stickers for members to display in their businesses. Thank you, members, for continuing to support your Chamber!

* BE Lean, which specializes in creating efficient, automated, and integrated operating systems for businesses, just released a free tool to give business owners expert insight into whether they have what it takes to achieve sustainable growth. You can take the Lean Assessment here.

* Holy Cross Health is hiring experienced nurses for intensive care, intermediate care, labor and delivery, and surgical intensive care/neurological critical care units. Eligible nurses may earn a sign-on bonus and relocation assistance. Read more here.

* CCI Health and Wellness is hosting Boo to the Flu, a pop-up vaccination clinic, on Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31. There will be a socially distant trunk-or-treat staffed by CCI employees and a photo booth. For more details, read here.

* Get in the Halloween spirit with a night of stand-up comedy from Improbable Comedy on Thursday, October 29, at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 and prizes will be awarded for the best costume. Read here for more information.

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.

Montgomery Country residents can vote at any County Early Voting Center starting today, October 26, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Monday, November 2, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To find the closest early voting center to you, text EV + Zip code (example: EV 20879) to 77788. For more information, visit here.

As businesses re-open and employers are tasked with providing PPE for their returning employees, GSSCC 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.

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

* Economic Development Committee Virtual Meeting - 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28. Councilmember Tom Hucker and Councilmember Gabe Albornoz will discuss how the recent appropriation to expand the county's crisis response services will be used in Silver Spring. Members interested in attending should contact Jane Redicker.

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

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

 Partners - Adam Lowe Creative; Bell Flowers; EBA Ernest Bland Associates; Image360.