Annapolis, MD (December 30, 2021) Citing alarming and rapid increases in COVID hospitalizations and cases in the last few days, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced an emergency indoor mask mandate will go into effect countywide on Friday, Dec. 31. The mandate, which will apply to all indoor public locations, will expire on Friday, Jan. 7 unless the County Council votes for an extension.

“I had hoped we were done with government mandates in our response to COVID, but the current rate of spread and hospitalization is not sustainable, for our hospitals, our schools, our public safety agencies, or our businesses. Masks slow the spread, and it’s time to put them back on,” Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman said.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today signed an executive order requiring masks be worn indoors in all businesses and facilities open to the public, as well as public transportation, in Howard County. Ball’s decision came in consultation with local health and business leaders. The requirement is effective Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

"With the rapidly multiplying number of COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron and Delta variants, positivity rates in double digits, and increases in hospitalization, this is a necessary step to further protect our residents. Being vaccinated, getting a booster, and wearing a mask are the three best ways to protect yourself and those around you." Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive

Prince George’s County officials have extended the mask mandate into Jan. 23, 2022, amid mounting concern about the new omicron coronavirus variant.

Residents over the age of 2 must continue to wear a mask in indoor, public spaces into the new year, with limited exceptions. The mask resolution was set to expire on Dec. 9, but the council unanimously voted to extend it, News4 partner WTOP reported.

The resolution also encourages social distancing and allows unscheduled inspections of businesses and other establishments.

The Chamber Member Rewards program is a member recruitment program that provides incentives to participants who forward prospects to the Chamber resulting in new memberships.

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Anne Arundel County announced the Small Business Infrastructure Improvement Pilot Program (SBIIPP), a grant initiative to help small businesses afford the infrastructure improvements necessary to start or expand business operations.

The program will be managed by the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) and is supported by $850,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funding (ARPA).

Eligible projects include water and sewer improvements. A project must benefit multiple businesses, not just a single entity. Letters from neighboring organizations are required to demonstrate community support for the project. Community organizations include chambers of commerce and business, commercial condominium, homeowners and community associations. Funding is contingent on the Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits final approval of the project.

“This program is a good example of a public-private partnership,” AAEDC CEO Ben Birge said. “We believe such an investment of ARPA funds can result in business creation and expansion, improved communities, economic growth and job creation in our county.”

The application period opens on Monday, December 13, 2021 and closes at 5:00 pm on Friday, January 28, 2022

Inclusive Ventures Program (IVP) aims to assist small, minority, women and veteran entrepreneurs in Anne Arundel County with education, mentorship and access to capital. The goal is to help these businesses maximize opportunity, create jobs and grow our local and state economy.

Business owners must apply to the program. Preferred candidates are entrepreneurs who have a track record; the company should be in business for at least two years and have revenue and employees.

Upon acceptance, entrepreneurs will participate in the program’s signature component, the Virtual Entrepreneurship Cohort and Seed Fund. This online experience is a three-hour class once a week for six weeks. During the seventh meeting, each participant will receive a certificate of completion and a $5,000 grant to be used for working capital. Participating businesses also receive exclusive, complimentary consultations with legal, human resources and accounting experts and may apply for additional funds through AAEDC’s VOLT loan fund and Workforce Training Reimbursement program.

The next application period is scheduled to open on January 24, 2022. Please continue to check this page for updated information.

Weekly Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Awareness Conversations

The contingent workforce (niche, hard-to-find, professional skilled workers) plays a key role as part of an organization’s overall human capital strategy. And this essential workforce has gone through tremendous change and growth over the last few years. In fact, according to a report from Intuit, roughly 25-30% of the total workforce in the U.S. is now contingent — and that number is only increasing.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) are already a growing part of the conversation for full-time employees, so it is essential to start thinking more comprehensively about the diversity and inclusion of the workers who comprise the staffing industry’s contingent workforce segment.

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