The Department of the Army recognized winners of the 2020 Army Community Partnership Awards during a virtual ceremony on Jan. 13, 2021.

Ten U.S. Army installations and their public partners were selected for demonstrating partnerships that improve quality of life for Soldiers and their families, enhancing Army readiness and modernization capabilities, and building stronger community relationships.

"Our people are the centerpiece of the Army, and we must do all we can to take care of them," said Hon. Alex Beehler, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. "To ensure we maintain readiness, we will continue to mitigate the risks posed during this unprecedented time to keep Army personnel and their families healthy and safe."

Submissions were evaluated by the extent that they:

The Central Maryland Chamber alongside their Military Affairs Committee received the honor for the following partnership initiative:

Fort Meade and the Central Maryland Chamber signed a Community Covenant Agreement in 2019. This partnership strengthens the bonds between the installation and the community by providing service members and their families enhanced quality of life through chamber & Military Affairs Committee-supported events. These events include a comedy show, tailgate party during Army-Navy flag football game, job fairs for spouses, back-to-school backpack and supply drives, sponsoring a 9/11 run, as well as being part of community council meetings. The Chamber alongside its Military Affairs Committee also advocated for the widening of 175 on both sides and in front of Fort Meade, a project which has minimized traffic making the roadway safer and more efficient.

Special thanks to Garrison Commander, Col. Christopher M. Nyland of Fort George G. Meade and CMC Military Affairs Chair, Lynn Nichols of Fathom Realty.

The Central Maryland Chamber and its members will be featured in an upcoming Celebration section of The Business Monthly!

CMC will be featured along with its events, awards, and special programs! Members will be spotlighted and a regional economic update will be included.

The Business Monthly reaches business professionals and those YOU want to do business within Anne Arundel County, the BWI Business District, and Howard County.

✓ Mailed to business decision-makers in Central Maryland

✓ 25,000 copies distributed at more than 380 outlets for a wide readership

For more information, call 410-740-5077.

Advertising reservation & electronic files due soon!

Featuring CPA's Barry Fields & Laura Quinn of Bormel, Grice, & Huyett, P.A. 

Governor Larry Hogan introduced the RELIEF Act of 2021, an emergency legislative package that will provide more than $1 billion in direct stimulus and tax relief for Maryland working families, small businesses, and those who have lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation builds on the more than $700 million in emergency economic relief that the governor has already announced.

“With the start of a new 2021 legislative session on Wednesday, we are now asking the legislative branch to assist by immediately passing this stimulus and tax relief package to help even more struggling families and small businesses across our state,” said Governor Hogan. “We will be introducing the RELIEF Act of 2021 as emergency legislation on day one. We will ask both houses of the legislature to act on it immediately, so that I can immediately sign it into law, and these relief measures can take effect—all so that we can immediately get these much-needed dollars out the door and into the pockets of those who desperately need it.”

Citing continuing high COVID-19 case rates and hospitalization numbers, County Executive Steuart Pittman signed a new executive order, reinforcing the restrictions put in place in December. Executive Order #41 includes several new provisions, including permitting outdoor “garden dome” seating for restaurants, allowing limited sports practices or skills sessions, additional contact tracing provisions, and clarifying the Department of Health’s right of entry for inspections.

Executive Order #41 maintains the maximum capacity for restaurants, retail businesses and social clubs at 25 percent and religious facilities at 33 percent. Social gathering limits remain at 25 people outdoors and 10 indoors. Indoor ice rinks and roller rinks may now open at a maximum capacity of 25 percent, provided that masks are worn at all time. 

Second Draw Paycheck Protection Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, will re-open the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 9 am ET. The portal will fully open on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 to all participating PPP lenders to submit First and Second Draw loan applications to SBA.

Earlier in the week, SBA granted dedicated PPP access to Community Financial Institutions (CFIs) which include Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), Certified Development Companies (CDCs), and Microloan Intermediaries as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to reach underserved and minority small businesses.

On Friday, SBA will continue its emphasis on reaching smaller lenders and businesses by opening to approximately 5,000 more lenders, including community banks, credit unions, and farm credit institutions. Moreover, the agency also plans to have dedicated service hours for these smaller lenders after the portal fully re-opens next week.

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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