GSSCC 2021 Circle of Stars - Call for Nominations
In late July, at the 2021 Awards & Installation Dinner (date and time to be announced soon), GSSCC will honor the newest inductees into its “Circle of Stars,” a select group of for-profit businesses that continue to make Silver Spring a better place to live, work, and run a business. These members have demonstrated remarkable resilience, sustainability, and/or transformation during the past year. The Circle of Stars also recognizes those companies that continue to do well through doing good, be it through service to the community, stewardship of local and global resources, and/or support of non-profit community organizations or causes.

The Chamber welcomes members to submit an application or nominate a fellow member company to be considered for this honor. Click here for the application form. Deadline for nominations is Friday, June 25, 2021.
Upcoming Events
Area Chambers Join Together for Virtual Vaccine Forum

A well-informed, proactive, and coordinated business community is critical to putting the COVID-19 pandemic behind us.  

Join us for a virtual town hall this Friday, June 11, at 8:30 a.m. where a panel of experts will answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, about whether employers can or should require their employees to have the vaccination, about the vaccine availability, and more. This presentation will be followed by a Q&A where you can ask any remaining questions.

Panelists include:

  • Michael Neary, attorney with Lerch, Early & Brewer
  • Dr. Christina Stasiuk, senior medical director for Cigna
  • Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson


Friday, June 11
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

This event is hosted in partnership with the Gaithersburg-Germantown, Greater Bethesda, Greater Silver Spring, and Rockville chambers of commerce along with the Greater Washington Board of Trade.
One of the Chamber’s most popular networking opportunities is back!

Connect@Lunch offers members

  • 3 minutes to promote their business to an engaged audience 
  • Networking with fellow members 
  • A delicious meal from a member restaurant 

Wednesday, June 23, at 12 noon

Price is just $25 for members. Space is limited to 25 attendees and only two representatives per company, so secure your spot by registering now!
Young Professionals Network Happy Hour & Meeting
Get back to Happy Hour and don't miss the first in-person Young Professionals Network meeting of 2021!

Join fellow young professionals for an exploratory in-person meeting to reconnect, discuss upcoming events and meetings, and build interest in the group. Staff will provide a brief overview of the YPN for those new to the group.

The meeting will be hosted in the Chamber conference room with beer, wine, and light snacks provided. Members can also Zoom into the event if they prefer.

Thursday, June 24
4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Golfer and sponsorship opportunities available soon! Email Julie Pawlikowski with questions.
Latest News
Financial Assistance Still Available for Business

While the deadlines to apply for PPP loans and most County programs have passed, help is still available from both the government and the private sector. It may be in the form of a grant, a loan, or a leg up competing in a difficult business environment. Drawing from resources provided by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other sources, GSSCC has compiled a list of potential opportunities. Here is a list of more than 25 grants, loans, and programs. 
State License & Permits Extensions End June 30

Governor Hogan has ordered that the extensions for certain professional licenses, permits, registrations authorized by the State of Maryland, any agency of the State of Maryland, or any political subdivision of the State of Maryland will expire on June 30, 2021. Members should be sure to renew any licenses or permits that have been extended due the Governor's order before June 30 to ensure proper processing. More information can be found at the Maryland State website or by calling 240-777-0311.
Maryland to Stop Extra Unemployment Payments, Reinstate Work Search Requirement

Last Tuesday, Governor Hogan announced that, effective July 3, Maryland will end the extra $300 unemployment weekly payments and other federal pandemic unemployment programs. Maryland is the 24th state to take this action. In addition to cutting off the weekly $300 payments, the three other programs to be discontinued include:

  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance - assistance for the self-employed, gig workers, and others ineligible for traditional unemployment insurance 
  • Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation - providing some people an extra $100 weekly 
  • Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation - covering people who have exhausted regular benefits.

In addition, beginning the week of July 4, the Department of Labor will reinstate the standard requirement for all regular state unemployment insurance claimants to actively search for work by engaging in three reemployment activities each week. If claimants do not complete three reemployment activities each week, they may be determined ineligible to receive regular state unemployment insurance benefits. Employers that offer work to former employees, who then decline to come back, can report job refusals on the employer's BEACON portal.

Click here for more information.
GSSCC Proud to be Among Sponsors for AFI DOCS

GSSCC is once again delighted to be among the sponsors for AFI DOCS film festival, held June 22-27, 2021. Movie fans will be ale to view more than 75 of the year’s best documentaries online at DOCS.AFI.com, as well as in-person screenings at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. Select films will be available with closed captioning and descriptive audio. The festival program will include world premieres and works by master and emerging filmmakers alike. Passes to AFI Docs are on sale here and view the full program and schedule here.
* With pandemic-related capacity restrictions now lifted, Silver Strings Restaurant and Bar is booking bands and beginning to host live music again. Read the Source of the Spring article here for more information.

* Massage Envy Silver Spring is offering a free $20 Promo Card when you buy a gift card for $80 or more from now through June 20, 2021. This offer is not available online. Read here for more information.

* Join CohnReznick for “Mission Possible: Succeeding Amid COVID-19,” a two-part webinar on Thursday, June 17, and Wednesday, June 30. Attendees will receive real-world insights from not-for-profit C-Suite executives and learn how their organizations are surviving and emerging from crisis. For more information, read here.
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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

* Non-Profit Team Virtual Meeting - 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 8.

* Membership Development Committee Virtual Meeting - 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 22.

* Economic Development Committee Virtual Meeting - 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23.

* Young Professionals Network Happy Hour & Meeting - 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 24. (Advance registration required here.)

* Small Business Owners Network Virtual Meeting - 12 noon on Thursday, July 1. Topic: Using your financial reports to get insight into your business. (Advance registration required here).
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; Holy Cross Hospital; The Fillmore Silver Spring; Lerch, Early & Brewer Chtd.; United Therapeutics Corporation; Washington Property Company.

 Partners - Bell Flowers; EBA Ernest Bland Associates; Image360; Peak Performance Digital; Scott Team International.
Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce
8601 Georgia Avenue Suite 203
301-565-3777
info@gsscc.org