Chamber Connections 
March 12, 2021
2021 Odenton Town Center Master Plan Update
The Office of Planning and Zoning (OPZ) recently kicked-off the process to update the Odenton Town Center Master Plan. OPZ will hold two public meetings to hear from the community about the opportunities and challenges in Odenton and how it should grow.

Please click the following link(s) to register. Please note the two meeting times will have the same format and materials.

March 18, 2021
  • 12:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. - click here
  • 7:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. - click here
Odenton Town Center General Business Meeting
March 24 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Join the Central Maryland Chamber's Odenton Action Coalition and the Anne Arundel County Office of Planning & Zoning to discuss revisions to the Odenton Town Center master plan.
Membership 101
March 25 | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Central Maryland Classic Golf Tournament is BACK!
Reserve your sponsorship TODAY!
MEMBER NEWS
Anne Arundel Community College has been rated
the best community college in the U.S.
Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland has been rated the best community college in the U.S. by Academic Influence, the college rankings system that uses artificial intelligence technology to search massive databases and measure the impact of work by individuals who’ve been affiliated with colleges and universities throughout the world.

The Covid-19 pandemic has posed a particularly difficult challenge for community colleges. Their overall enrollment for fall, 2020 declined by 10.1% (or more than 500,000 students) compared to 2019. Likewise, transfers are down. Both the traditional upward transfer (where students move from a two-year to a four-year college) as well as reverse transfers (where four-year students return to a community college typically to complete an associate’s degree) saw declines year over year. Taken together, the impact of the pandemic has wreaked more havoc on community colleges and their students, many of whom are from lower income families and are first-generation-to-college attendees, than any other higher education sector.

Community colleges offer an affordable start in higher education for many students, and they provide valuable retraining for adults looking to change or advance their careers. For many students they are the first and last best chance to earn a degree or credential. Their success is crucial not only for personal opportunities but also for the nation’s economic prosperity.
BWI Thurgood Marshall airport
‘Best North American Airport’ of its size 
BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport was named as the top North American airport in its size category in the 2020 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. The annual awards are presented by Airports Council International World (ACI World).  

The ASQ program recognizes global airports for delivery of the best customer service as measured by airport passengers. The annual comprehensive survey measures customer satisfaction across 34 key performance indicators; it delivers full assessment and analysis of the passenger experience, including factors such as airport cleanliness, concessions, parking and security checkpoint wait times. 

The ASQ survey respondents gave BWI Marshall high marks for parking facilities and value, ground transportation, food and retail concessions, efficient security checkpoint and airline check-in, and ease of terminal access. 
Live! Casino & Hotel Achieves Health Security Verification From Sharecare And Forbes Travel Guide
Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland is proud to announce that it is has become Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED™ with Forbes Travel Guide. The comprehensive facility verification helps ensure that guests and travel planners can book with confidence at properties that have appropriate health and safety procedures in place.

This verification comes with an easily identifiable “seal of approval” – the Sharecare VERIFIED™ with Forbes Travel Guide badge – based on a hotel’s compliance with expert-validated best practices that minimize the risk and impact of COVID-19 and potential future public health events.

“We’re proud to be officially VERIFIED™ by such a prestigious organization as it remains our top priority to provide a safe, comfortable environment for our guests and Team Members,” said Anthony Faranca, General Manager, Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland. “Our comprehensive Play It Safe plan has allowed us to meet and exceed COVID-19 safety guidelines. We continue to stay vigilant of best practices provided by the Centers for Disease Control, John Hopkins University School of Public Health and guidelines from the State of Maryland.”
Rockenbach Gate set to open, Reece scheduled to close following week
Fort Meade will be shifting its access control points starting Monday when the Rockenbach Gate will open to traffic and the Reece Road ACP will adjust hours prior to closing the following week. 

After nearly a decade of work, the Rockenbach Gate along MD 175 will be opened from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday. The gate will be closed on weekends. 

The Rockenbach ACP serves as a primary access point for residents on the west side of the installation. The newly renovated gate is for DOD ID card holders only. Visitors are required to obtain a pass from the Visitor Control Center prior to entering the installation.

Final details like striping will be completed while the gate is in operation during the next one to two weeks. Once fully complete, the new entrance will feature two entrance lanes and state-of-the-art security measures that will help ensure individuals can get on and off the installation efficiently and safely.  
Governor Hogan Announces Lifting of
Capacity Limits, Masking and Distancing Protocols Maintained
With sustained vaccine progress and significant improvements in all of the state’s key data metrics, Governor Larry Hogan today announced new actions to further ease the COVID-19 mitigation measures currently in place.
EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, MARCH 12 AT 5 PM:

  • CAPACITY LIMITS LIFTED, MASKING AND DISTANCING PROTOCOLS MAINTAINED. Capacity limits will be lifted on outdoor and indoor dining at restaurants and bars, retail businesses, religious facilities, fitness centers, casinos, personal services, and indoor recreational establishments. Bars and restaurants will be open for seated and distanced service only—patrons may not stand at a crowded bar. Masking, physical distancing, and other safety protocols will remain in place. Read the order.
  • LARGE OUTDOOR AND INDOOR VENUES MAY OPERATE AT 50% CAPACITY. Large outdoor and indoor venues may begin operating at 50% capacity. This includes theaters; concert, convention, and wedding venues; racing facilities, and outdoor entertainment and sporting venues. Masking, physical distancing, and other safety protocols will remain in place.
  • MEDICAL ADULT DAY CARE CENTERS TO REOPEN. Medical adult day care centers may reopen, with facilities able to set appropriate restrictions and safety measures. Read the order.
  • QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS LIFTED; TRAVEL ADVISORY REMAINS IN PLACE. Quarantine requirements and other restrictions on out-of-state travel will be lifted. A Maryland Department of Health (MDH) travel advisory will remain in place, and Marylanders continue to be encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 upon their return from out-of-state travel.
Anne Arundel County Leaves Governor’s COVID Changes in Place
Howard County Aligns with Governor on COVID-19 Restrictions 
County Executive Alsobrooks Announced measured Reopenings
County Executive Steuart Pittman announced that Anne Arundel County will align with new state policy lifting capacity limits on restaurants, retail establishments, religious institutions and certain other facilities. Governor Larry Hogan’s order yesterday lifted capacity limits and also revoked local jurisdictions’s authority to issue more restrictive local orders under the state’s authority, rendering the county’s most recent executive order #43 null and void as of 5 pm Friday, March 12.
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced Howard County will align with Governor Hogan’s COVID-19 restrictions, lifting capacity limits on restaurants, retail, religious facilities, fitness centers, and personal services effective Friday, March 12th at 5:00 p.m. The Governor’s order also increased capacity at large venues to 50% and removed the out-of-state quarantine mandate. Effective March 12th at 5:00 p.m. Howard County’s previous limits for indoor or outdoor social gatherings will also be lifted.  
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced today that the County is expanding COVID-19 capacity limits for businesses and other establishments due to a continued and significant decline in the County’s positivity rate and other key COVID-19 metrics, and due to increasing vaccination rates in the County. The updated safety measures will take effect Friday, March 12, 2021, at 5:00 PM.
Central Maryland Chamber's
"Open for Business" Campaign
It is now more important than ever to show support for our small and local businesses in the Central Maryland region. The CMC's "Open for Business" campaign encourages local restaurants and businesses to fill out a short survey giving more information to the public. The survey will address whether a restaurant or business will continue to stay open, offer takeout or delivery, and if gift cards may be available for purchase.
Restaurants
Fill out short survey HERE
Businesses
Fill out short survey HERE

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