Join Us This Wednesday
Although we can't meet in person, we will be continuing our annual tradition of holding a Joint Speed Networking Event with The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce - just virtually this year! Join us for a chance to network with business professionals and to win some door prizes! Double the chambers, double the connections.

Thank you to our sponsor, SERVPRO of Chevy Chase & Silver Spring
THIS WEEK!
Wednesday, August 19
4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
More Events
GSSCC's Annual Business Golf tournament - this year called the 2020 COVID Classic - will be held at Argyle Country Club on Monday, September 21.

Due to COVID-19, GSSCC is pivoting the tournament to adhere to all restrictions and guidelines while still providing a multitude of great opportunities for our members. Some changes include:

  • Assigned Tee Times: Ensures social distancing and safety for all
  • Foursomes Only: Ensures those who golf together are comfortable spending time with one another
  • Two Carts per Foursome: Ensures distancing and gives the option for one or two golfers to walk along.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
Want to see your business here? Available Sponsorships include:

  • Scorecard Sponsor
  • Beverage Cart Sponsor
  • Snack Shack Sponsor
  • Beverage Station Sponsor
  • Driving Range Sponsor
  • Longest Drive Content Sponsor
  • Closest to the Pin Contest Sponsor
  • Hole Sponsor

Contact Julie Pawlikowski for more information on sponsoring.

Moving Beyond Paralysis: How Your Business Can Prosper During and After the COVID-19 Crisis
This free webinar will focus on concrete steps that business owners and leadership can take right now to strengthen their finances and operations. During the webinar, Stratus Wealth Advisors’ Founder Sam Brownell will use real-life examples drawn from the firm’s succession and business continuity planning work with independent business owners and their leadership teams.

Tuesday, September 15
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
News and Updates
Progressives Push for Special Session in Annapolis

A group of 80 progressive advocacy groups are mounting a campaign to pressure the Maryland General Assembly into convening a special session before the regularly scheduled January 2021 start date. The organizations, including Progressive Maryland, the Maryland Center for Economic Policy, SEIU, and CASA of Maryland, want the legislature to address the following:

  • Override the Governor’s vetoes
  • Extend the state’s moratorium on evictions (which ended on July 25)
  • Address the consistent supply issue of PPE for frontline workers
  • Fix the state’s revenue short-fall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

Despite several consistent calls for a special session since the early adjournment of the 2020 legislative session, the General Assembly’s presiding officers have, to date, resisted convening the legislature.

Thanks to the Maryland Chamber of Commerce for this update.
Judge Orders Purple Line Contractors to Stay on Job

A Maryland judge in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City issued a temporary restraining order until September 14 requiring contractors to stay on the job site and continue work. The order was issued in response to a suit brought by the Maryland Transit Administration against the companies managing the construction of the Purple Line alleging the Purple Line Transit Partners consortium are in breach of contract.

The consortium and the state are currently arguing over hundreds of millions of dollars in cost overruns and the state is alleging in the suit that the construction management group planned to end its 36 year public-private partnership agreement and allow a construction contractor to walk off the job site this coming August 22nd.

The judge issuing the order agreed with the Maryland Transit Administration that the state would incur inestimable amounts of additional damage if the contract were to be broken.

Read more here.
Latest GSSCC News
Current Results of GSSCC In-Person Events Survey
Last week, the Chamber asked for thoughts and feedback regarding member's comfort level attending in-person events when it's deemed safe to gather again. These are the current results:

  • 70% of respondents would not be comfortable attending an in-person meeting in the Chamber Conference Room with 15-20 people.

  • 71% of respondents wound not be comfortable attending in-person, INSIDE networking events with 25-50 people while 67% of respondents would be comfortable attending in-person, OUTSIDE networking events with 25-50 people.

  • 89% of respondents would not be comfortable attending in-person, INSIDE networking events with 100-200 people while 65% of respondents would not be comfortable attending in, person OUTSIDE networking events with 100-200 people.

  • 80% of respondents would prefer the option to attend virtual meetings and events even when in-person events are allowed to occur.

  • The top three criteria for members to feel comfortable attending in-person events are mask-wearing enforced for all members, event space is appropriately distanced, and hand sanitizer stations are provided.

  • 45% of respondents are working fully remote, 13% are working fully in the office, and 41% are a mixture of both remote and in office.

Haven't taken the survey yet? Take it here. Thank you to all who have given feedback!
Young Professionals: Please Take our YPN Survey!
The GSSCC Young Professionals Network (YPN) would like to gauge member involvement and engagement in order to better provide valuable content and events to its members for the rest of the year and beyond. The YPN is also seeking feedback on what members would be comfortable with regarding in-person events and meetings when it is safe to hold them.

Please share your thoughts and feedback by filling out this brief survey. We appreciate your time and look forward to seeing you in-person when it is safe to do so.
* Sandy Spring Bank has announced the full conversion of all Revere Bank systems and branding today. Celebrated as "Client Day One," today recognizes all client's full access to Sandy Spring Bank's people and range of products and services. Read here for more information.

* Congratulations to Montgomery Community Media on winning two Emmy Awards at the 62nd annual Emmy Awards for the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter! 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.
Does Your Business Need PPE?

As businesses 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.
Upcoming Committee/Network Meetings

  • Small Business Owners Network – Bi-Weekly Virtual Meeting - 12 noon on Thursday, August 20.

  • Membership Development Committee Virtual Meeting - 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25.
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; Image360.
Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce
8601 Georgia Avenue Suite 203
301-565-3777
info@gsscc.org