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Chamber Connections

February 25, 2022

LAST CHANCE to Join the Chamber

Energy Purchasing Cooperative

SAVE Money for Your Business AND Employees!

Significant Utility Rate Increase as of December 2021

The utilities in each service area are required to offer customers an electricity and natural gas supply service and rate if they have not elected to sign a contract with a licensed third-party supplier. Prior to December 2021 the rates offered were reasonable and on average one cent higher than third party supplier rates. However, as of December 2021 meter read date, the rates have significantly increased by on average 40%. The utility rates when compared to current third-party supplier rates are on average three cents higher.

We recommend you look at your most recent energy invoice to determine if the electricity and/or natural gas rates have been effected by these increases in rates.

The Chamber of Commerce Energy Purchasing Cooperative program provides you with an option to help seek pricing that provides savings when compared to the utility rates and offers you long-term budget stability.

TAKE CONTROL AND REGISTER NOW in the current campaign which runs from February 1, 2022, to February 25, 2022.

To learn more about the co-op simply click on the short video below

Letter of Authorization

Best Feel-Good Event of the Year is BACK In-Person!

Sponsorship Opportunities Still Available!

Help Us Honor Our Civil Servants!

Sponsorships Available!

This is a truly feel-good evening, and past recipients have told us how much they enjoyed the caliber of the event and the recognition from the business community.

*We can’t do it without you*

**This event is only possible through your support!**

We are only able to host this important community event strictly through sponsorship from the business community.

Sponsorship Opportunities

USDA-BARC Virtual Tour

Jay H. Green, MS, RDN, Visitor Programs, Engagement & Outreach Activities will lead us through a virtual tour of the world's largest ag research center- USDA's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center!

Central Maryland Chamber CEO Roundtable

Would your business benefit if you had a place to talk confidentially with other business owners about challenges and successes in your company?

An exclusive CMC member benefit – the CEO Roundtable allows you to confer with business leaders like yourself, share challenges and new ideas and discuss ways to take your business to the next level.

The CEO Roundtable provides a venue for Owners, Partners, and CEOs to meet monthly with their peers in an atmosphere that fosters entrepreneurial thinking and encourages individuals in accomplishing their goals.

The program is designed to provide participants with their own confidential "board of advisors" who can assist with business challenges by presenting solutions for discussion.

This group is a free benefit of your Central Maryland Chamber membership.

For more information about the CEO Roundtable, contact the group leader, Lee Crumbaugh, CMC member and President of Forrest Consulting at 630-909-9360 or email leec@strategicbusinessleader.com.

Learn More

Business Grants Available!*

*Information Gathered from The Maryland Department of Labor

General

Creatively Made - New program that supports rising, breakthrough talent on Creatively through mentorship, unique connections, and exclusive grants up to $5,000 to kickstart your creative projects. Apply by 3/2/2022. Learn more here.
Fed Ex Small Business Grant Contest - Opportunity to win $20,000-$50,000 as well as FedEx service credits. Note – you will need to create a FedEx account if you don’t already have one – which will require that you tie in a credit card. Apply by 2/28/22 Learn more here.
Fresh Start Business Grant thru Incfile - Entrepreneurs 20 years or older can apply to receive $2,500 to put toward business startup costs and will also receive free formation services from Incfile. Apply by 3/31/2022. Learn more here.
Inspired Women Community Grant - This grant is for entrepreneurial women in America who have annual business income below $50,000. There is a "pay it forward" aspect to the application. Grant is for $1,000. Apply by 3/1/2022. Learn more here.
Services That Back Us Grant - More than 250 grants of $5,000 each will be awarded in four cycles over 12 months to small businesses located in older or historic commercial districts across the country, with priority given to businesses that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and preference given to businesses owned by underrepresented groups. Apply by 3/1/22. Learn more here.
Voodle Visionaries Grant Contest - Open to all female, non-binary, and/or BIPOC founders. To enter, submit a 60-second video about their company’s plans to change the future of work. Grant is for $10,000. Apply by 2/25/2022 Learn more here.

General- Specifically For Women of Color

AT&T Black Future-Maker - Black Future Makers are dedicated individuals pursuing greater possibilities for the greater good. Grants for $10,000. Apply by 12/31/2022. Learn more here.
BOSS Impact Fund’s “Invest in Progress” grant - Organization will invest $10,000 grants for 25 Black female for-profit business owners. In addition. Apply by 2/25/2022. Learn more here.
Caress Dreams to Reality Fund - 60 women of color founders will be selected to receive grant money and access to resources that will set them up for success and reach their funding goals through crowdfunding campaigns. Grant for $5,000. Apply by 3/4/2022. Learn more here.
CCWC Women of Color Entrepreneur Grant - Corporate Counsel Women of Color will award 5 grants to Women of Color entrepreneurs. Grants are $5,000. Learn more here.
CitiTrends - Citi Trends wants to advance and further the businesses of Black entrepreneurs with a $5000 grant. Applications due 2/28/2022. Learn more here.
Fearless Strivers - Open to black women who are legal U.S. residents (including DC), 18+ and the principal owner of a U.S.-based small business. Grants for $10,000. Apply by 12/31/2022. Learn more here.
HerRise Micro-Grant - Each month a $500 micro-grant will be awarded to a for-profit small business owned by women of color. Learn more here
Invoice2Go - The opportunity is open both to sole proprietors and businesses with employees. Grant for $10,000. Apply by 2/28/22. Learn more here.
Silver & Riley Women Entrepreneurship Grant - Focusing on black women-owned businesses that have been in operation less than three years. Grant for $2,000. Apply by 2/28/2022. Learn more here.

Industry-Specific Funding Opportunities

Beauty
Aveeno Skin Health Startup Accelerator - Aveeno is looking for Black female entrepreneurs with a product, brand or technology that meets the skin or hair care needs of Black consumers. Create a 1-2 minute video introducing yourself, your business, and why you got started. Grant for $100,000. Apply by 4/30/2022. Learn more here.
Environmental Health and Justice
Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) Small Grants - CHEJ has a Small Grants Program for grassroots groups working on environmental health and justice issues. Grassroots communities of color, low wealth, rural and urban groups are encouraged to apply. Grants up to $20,000. Apply by 2/25/2022. Learn more here.
Food Service/Hospitality
2022 New Voices "We Stan For Her" Grant with Barefoot Wine - Initiative will invest in Black women-owned food & beverage businesses via the 2022 New Voices + Barefoot #WeStanforHer Grants program, which will provide grants of $10,000 each to five entrepreneurs to support and celebrate their unique journeys as Black women-owned businesses. Apply by 2/25/2022. Learn more here.
Restaurant Education Scholarships and Grants - National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) will provide scholarships and grants available to individuals pursuing a secondary degree in the restaurant, food service, and hospitality industry. Grants are for $2500-$10000. Apply by 3/15/2022 Learn more here.
Non-Profits
Pollination Project - Grants to global non-profits. Annual budget for your group or organization must be less than $50,000. The total cost for the immediate project for which you are requesting funding must be less than $40,000. Learn more here.
Women’s Health
FemTech Accelerator - Tech4Eva - A Femtech community and a 9-month equity free Femtech start-up acceleration program for companies developing innovative solutions to improve technologies relating to women’s health. Apply by 3/1/2022. Learn more here.

Free Website Development for Non-Profits

48in48 - is hosting a “Women's Build” on April 8th-10th, 2022. The event is especially designed for women by women - to support and promote women in marketing and technology. They are gathering all-women teams to build websites for nonprofits led by or serving women. If you are interested in either being part of a team or are a nonprofit looking for free website development help, click here for more info.

City of Laurel Grants

City of Mt. Rainier Grants

BGE Energizing Small Businesses

In 2021, BGE awarded 176 small business with $20,000 grants through its Energizing Small Business Grants program. This grant program is part of BGE’s $15 million pledge to assist small businesses with COVID-19 relief and recovery and is a multi-year commitment expected to run through at least 2023.

BGE Energizing Small Business Grants Round 3 Grant Recipients

Through the BGE Energizing Small Business Grants Program, eligible businesses located in BGE's service area will have two additional opportunities this year to apply for grants of up to $20,000:

The first round opens February 14, 2022 at 9 a.m. ET and closes March 25, 2022, at 6 p.m. ET. Recipients will be announced in mid-May.
The second round opens July 25, 2022 at 9 a.m. ET and closes September 2, 2022, at 6 p.m. ET. Recipients will be announced in mid-October.

Applicants must be an existing BGE electric and/or gas customer with positive BGE credit history. Other eligibility criteria include:

Be a business founded in 2020 or prior
In good standing (or on the way to) with the State of Maryland
A maximum of twenty-five (25) employees
Annual gross revenues in 2021 of less than $7 million USD
Demonstrated need for funding to support business and serve customers

Learn More

CMC UPCOMING EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE & REGISTER TODAY!

Multi-Chamber Power Networking Breakfast | March 1st | 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. | Bonefish Grille | Register here

USDA-BARC Virtual Tour | March 10th | 10:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. | Virtual | Register here

Coffee Catch Up | March 17th | 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. | AAWDC | Register here

Small Business Seminar: How to Build Trust & Gain Customers Through 5-Star Reviews | March 23rd | 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. | Hybrid | Register here

Membership 101| March 24th | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. | Virtual | Register here

Spirit of Community Awards | March 28th | 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. | The HALL at Live!| Register here

Mid-Year Economic Outlook Update| April 6th | 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. | Virtual | Register here

Coffee Catch Up | May 25th | 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. | Tipton Aiport | Register here

Central Maryland Chamber Job Board

Job Opportunities Available

Utilize the Chamber’s job board to help you find the perfect hire!

Members may post job openings to the board for free.

Job Board

Fostering IDEA's

Weekly Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Awareness Conversations

Diversity and inclusion are good for business

We're hearing a lot about diversity and inclusion these days with them becoming important words in our industry's boardrooms.

It's not only because global financial regulators are demanding improvements to companies' agendas in this area - which they are increasingly doing - but it's also because firms are realising too that diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I) improve their business.