COVID-19 Business News
MoCo Issues Guidelines for Phase 1 ReOpening

Montgomery County began Phase 1 of its reopening at 6 a.m. today, Monday, June 1. Business sectors that may open in one form or another include food service establishments (restaurants, breweries, wineries for outdoor service only), retail (for curbside pick-up only), manufacturing, hair salons and barbers, childcare (limited), and car washes. Other businesses must remain closed to the public. Read the Executive Order here.

Over the weekend, the County Executive issued guidelines and requirements meant to help businesses foster a safe environment for their employees and customers. Businesses that begin to open must review and post in a clear and visible location "Reopening Requirements" developed by the County. Click here to see the poster.

Later Friday evening, County officials launched a web page, linked here, that provides reopening requirements, guidelines, and best practices suggested by the Centers for Disease Control, the State of Maryland, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and others.

GSSCC joins other Chambers to host a webinar on Tuesday outlining the County's requirements for reopening. See below.
Join us for a discussion with Jerome Fletcher, Assistant Chief Operating Officer to County Executive Marc Elrich, and Tina Benjamin, Special Assistant , who will walk through Montgomery County’s guidelines for Phase 1 reopening . They will share the ReOpening Montgomery website that provides details on Phase I requirements and best practices for industry sectors. Q&A will follow the presentation. 

Co-hosted jointly by: the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, and Rockville Chamber of Commerce. 
County Creates Microenterprise Stabilization Program

Montgomery County will use some of the funding it received under the CARES Act to provide financial assistance to income-eligible for-profit businesses with five or fewer employees that have experienced a significant reduction in revenue as a result of the current public health emergency. Assistance is up to $10,000 per business.

Eligible business owners may apply between June 11 and June 16. Once the window closes, each application will be assigned a random number to determine the order in which they will be reviewed. Applicants will have three days to provide the required documentation, as described on the website, when their application is ready to be reviewed. If documentation is not received within the specified time frame, the application will not be considered. This process will continue until the $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funds allocated for this program have been awarded.

The County will host webinars to answer questions and further explain the program at 9 a.m. daily through Saturday, June 13 (excluding Sunday, June 7). Register for the webinars here.

More information about the program is here.
June Virtual Events
Preparing to ReOpen - Here's What You Need
Effective communication will be critical to your organization’s plans to return to work and reopen to customers. What are some practical considerations and examples of how you can effectively communicate that:

  • You are “Open for Business”
  • You are taking the necessary steps to keep your employees and your customers safe
  • What customers need to do to safely interact with your business and its employees?

Join us for a panel discussion with

Andrew Akers, Image360
Stacey Brown, Signarama Silver Spring
Rick Robey, SpeedPro Imaging
New Date!
Strategic employee management and recruitment will be vital to your business’ reopening and returning to work efforts. What strategies will you need to keep your dispersed team together and focused, to decide who can safely return, and to recruit new talent via video interviews?

Elite Personnel will provide professional insight on these topics and more in this webinar.

Tuesday, June 9
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Start your day off right by joining us for Morning Networking with the Chamber. Catch up with your fellow members, meet new contacts, and promote your business all before 10 a.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and their business before being sorted into breakout rooms.

Thursday, June 11
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Sponsor this event! For just $100, your company name and logo will be on all event promotions, including the Chamber website, the GSSCC Weekly Update, and social media. The event page on our website will include a link to your site, and you'll get a list of all attendees after the event. Contact Julie at  jpawlikowski@gsscc.org  for more information.
Members Supporting Members - Webinar Opportunity

Do you have expertise on a subject that may benefit your fellow members? Webinar sponsorship opportunities are available for member businesses wanting to share their knowledge and experience to support fellow members.

Sponsor a webinar for just $100 and see your company name and logo on all event promotions, including the Chamber website, the GSSCC Weekly Update, and social media. The event page on our website will include a link to your site, and you'll get a list of all webinar attendees after the event. Contact Julie at  jpawlikowski@gsscc.org for more information.
Latest News
New Companies are Joining GSSCC!
GSSCC welcomes these organizations that became Chamber members during May. Check out the services they offer.
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Bridge Performance Coaching LLC
Sonja Der
114 Fountain Green Ln.
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
(301) 661-2283
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Companies are Renewing Their Chamber Membership!
Thanks to these organizations for continuing to support the Chamber by renewing their membership during the past month. We're pleased to link readers to these businesses and the products and services they provide.
MEMBERS 10+ YEARS CONT.

MEMBERS 5+ YEARS
Are you Reopening for Business? Let us Know!
As Montgomery County Phase 1 Reopening began this morning at 6 a.m., business are beginning to reopen and we want to help our members spread the word.

If your business is partially reopening, fully reopening, has been open, or has new operating procedures, we want to know. Share your news updates on your social media with a post, a picture, or a video and tag us so we can share it on our channels!
Missed a Webinar? Visit GSSCC's YouTube Page
  • Follow Molly Horn, All Set Restaurant & Bar, as she makes two favorite cocktails -- Crazy for Layla an A Perfect Storm -- during Member Mixology last week. Missed the mix? Watch it here.

  • To follow along with Martha Corcoran, Corcoran Caterers, as she creates healthy homemade bone broth, white bean and leek soup, and a salad dressing, watch here.
Does Your Business Need PPE?
As businesses are preparing to re-open and employers are tasked with providing PPE for their returning employees, GSSCC has 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 .
GSSCC Proud to be Among Sponsors for AFI DOCS
GSSCC is once again delighted to be among the sponsors for AFI DOCS, described by The Washington Post as "the nation's leading documentary film festival." The 2020 edition of AFI DOCS is going virtual! The festival will showcase current non-fiction fare in a re-imagined online film festival June 17–21 and the program will be presented in the following sections: Special Presentations, Features, Cinema’s Legacy and Shorts, as well as a virtual AFI DOCS Forum. Passes to AFI DOCS are now on sale at DOCS.AFI.com.
* SkyPoint Federal Credit Union is making cash donations to help keep local food centers stocked during the Coronavirus crisis. At the same time, the credit union announced a pay increase for front-line employees who continue to serve the credit union’s members. Read more here .
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.
Upcoming Committee/Network Meetings

  • Young Professionals Network Virtual Meeting - 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 4.

  • Non-Profit Team Virtual Meeting - 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9.

  • Small Business Owners Network – Bi-Weekly Virtual Meeting - 12 noon on Thursday, June 11. Registration is required here.

  • Membership Development Committee Virtual Meeting - Wednesday, June 17.

  • Economic Development Committee Virtual Meeting - 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24.
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.
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.  
Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce
8601 Georgia Avenue Suite 203
301-565-3777
info@gsscc.org