CMC Newsletter- Small business COVID-19 relief extended

Chamber Connections

June 25, 2021

Vote For Your Favorite #CentralMarylandClassic Team Picture!

Ladies: Team Anne Arundel Community College

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Men: Team Minuteman Press of Crofton, Canton, and Federal Hill

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Covid-19 Relief For Maryland Small Businesses Extended Through September

Local small businesses can continue to receive a new federal tax credit to cover paid sick and family leave for employees through the end of September, Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger announced today.

Thanks to the American Rescue Plan – which passed Congress with the support of Congressman Ruppersberger – employers with fewer than 500 employees may receive up to $17,110 per employee to provide workers with up to 10 days of paid sick leave and up to 12 weeks of paid family leave. Workers can also use leave to receive COVID-19 vaccinations and recover from any temporary side effects from their shot.

Research has shown that states where employees gained access to paid sick leave through this tax credit experienced a slow-down in the spread of COVID.

“Small businesses were hit especially hard by COVID-19,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “This tax credit will help Marylanders continue our march toward the end of this pandemic, re-growing our economy, keeping businesses open and workers safe.”

Businesses can find instructions for how to claim the credit HERE.

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Membership 101

June 30 | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

COVID-19 Vaccine Business Incentive Program

Anne Arundel County Department of Health

COVID-19 Vaccine Business Incentive Program

Vaccine Site Interest Form

Purpose: Promote and support community COVID-19 vaccine clinics for their customers and staff. Activities support the Anne Arundel County Department of Health’s COVID-19 response efforts. Funding from the AACDOH is intended to provide an incentive for the business and its customers.

Term: July 1, 2021 – TBD

Who’s Eligible: Any small business in Anne Arundel County. The Sub-Grantee must be in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. Businesses must vaccinate a minimum of 10 people at their clinic.

Incentive Program Details

First 50 people to get vaccinated at their site = $1,000
$500 for the business to defray costs.
$500 for the business to provide incentives to customers who get vaccinated (merchandise, gift cards, services, etc.)
A minimum of ten people to get vaccinated = $500.
Each additional increment of 25 people vaccinated after the first 50 people = $500
Second Dose Clinic = $20 per person vaccinated with a second dose.
$10 per person for the business to defray costs.
$10 per person for the business to provide incentives to customers to get vaccinated with their second dose (merchandise, gift cards, services, etc.)

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Live Entertainment Venues in Md. to Receive $10M in Relief

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Wednesday announced the recipients of 65 awards totaling $10 million for live music and performance venues and live entertainment promoters affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This relief funding is in addition to the $30 million allocated earlier this year to music and entertainment venues as part of the state of Maryland’s economic recovery plan.

“As we continue to move forward in our recovery, I am proud to announce more support for these entertainment businesses and venues as part of our Maryland Strong Economic Recovery Initiative,” said Hogan. “These awards protect jobs and preserve important cultural institutions in Maryland communities ready to get back to normal.”

Administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, awards will be distributed to live venues that closed or cancelled events and performances due to capacity limitations in response to the pandemic, and for which any previous state or federal assistance was not sufficient to cover the live entertainment venue or promoter’s expenses due to the event’s size or venue.

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Fostering IDEA's

Weekly Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Awareness Conversations

Panelists say company diversity and inclusion efforts need to go beyond 'buzz words'

"When you talk about a real DEI strategy, it is like any other business strategy," she said. "You are starting with what goals to achieve."

Durkin, whose organization places people with disabilities in businesses, said DEI is a "hot topic" right now but needs to be more than that. It needs to become a part of everyday business, she said.

She said The Arc's DEI committee has come up with specific action steps to go into its overall strategic plan.