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Rockville Chamber of Commerce

Rockville Chamber of Commerce

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Updates

State of the City and 65th Birthday Celebration

On September 21st, we held our Annual State of the City address and 65th Birthday Celebration.

We are grateful to our caterers who attended and set up an amazing spread for all to enjoy. Thank you to The Bean Bag Deli, The Bread Cellar, Key Ingredients and Dawson’s Market.

We also introduced our new name, Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce, to showcase our greater reach. Connie Rhind Robey was introduced as our newest team member who will be the Member Engagement Director. Please say hello when you see her!

To see the full album of pictures from the event, please click here. If you were unable to attend the State of the City and would like to hear what’s happening in the City of Rockville, please watch the video.

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MARYLAND COMMERCE AWARDED FEDERAL GRANT TO ASSIST SMALL BUSINESSES WITH CYBERSECURITY TRAINING

BALTIMORE, MD (August 24, 2022) – The Maryland Department of Commerce has been awarded a $930,155 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to launch a pilot program aimed at assisting small businesses in Maryland with targeted cybersecurity training and knowledge. The Small Business Cybersecurity Resilience in Maryland (SCRIM) program will provide assistance to up to 40 businesses to help them mitigate cyber attacks through training of their employees as well as installing advanced hardware and software up to $10,000 per business. 

“We are very pleased to be one of only three states to receive this grant from our partners at the SBA,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “With cyber attacks on the rise locally and globally, it is more important than ever that we offer this kind of specialized training to help small businesses in Maryland better secure their networks.”

The SCRIM program will give all employees of selected businesses basic cybersecurity training, including password creation, data backups, physical security, phishing scams, and incident response, as well as a more intensive curriculum designed for specific industries. Eligible businesses include those in the retail, restaurant, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing industries that have been in business for no more than three years with 50 or fewer employees.  

Maryland Commerce worked closely with several local partners, including the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland (CAMI) to develop this program. 

In January, the SBA announced the Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program, with plans to provide grants to state governments to help emerging small businesses across America develop their cybersecurity infrastructure. In addition to Maryland, Arkansas and South Dakota received funding. 

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report, the cost of cybercrimes against the small business community reached $2.4 billion in 2021. An SBA survey reports that 88% of small business owners felt their business was vulnerable to a cyberattack. Yet many businesses can’t afford professional IT solutions, have limited time to devote to cybersecurity, or don’t know where to begin.

“Cybersecurity is increasingly critical for small businesses and startups as they face rising challenges and cyber risks that could disrupt their operations. As we seek to build a stronger and more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem, we must innovate and provide resources to meet the growing, evolving needs of our diverse small businesses. With this new funding opportunity, the SBA is leveraging the strengths across our state governments, territories, and tribal governments to provide services to help small businesses get cyber ready and, in the process, fortify our nation’s supply chains,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman.

“Small businesses, like the more than 600,000 in the state of Maryland, are attractive targets because they have information that cybercriminals want, and typically lack the security infrastructure of larger businesses,” said SBA Baltimore District Director Steve Umberger. “We’re looking forward to capitalizing on our great relationship with the state Department of Commerce to ramp up our efforts to help small businesses protect themselves, their employees, and their customers.”

About Maryland Commerce

The Maryland Department of Commerce stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department promotes the State’s many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment, trade and tourism. Because they are major economic generators, the Department also supports the arts, film production, sports and other special events. For more information, visit commerce.maryland.gov.

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Project Restore

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, through Project Restore, is providing financial support to Maryland’s existing or new businesses to help incentivize commercial investment in vacant retail and commercial properties.​

Project Restore provides two grant opportunities for businesses, including nonprofits, that are expanding, moving to or opening in a property that was previously vacant for at least six months:

  • Property Assistance Grant: Provides up to $30,000 for one year to support costs associated with rent, mortgage payment or property improvements as applicable.
  • Business Operations Grant: For businesses that generate sales and use tax, provides up to $250,000 per calendar year to support capital (property improvements, equipment etc.) and operating (staff salaries, marketing, inventory etc.) costs associated with business operations in the vacant property.

Who Can Apply

Existing or new Maryland based businesses, including nonprofits, with 50 or fewer full time employees that are expanding, moving to or opening in a property that was previously vacant for at least six months.

  • NOTE: Businesses that have the following as their principal purpose are NOT eligible to apply: (1) Adult bookstore, adult video shop, or other adult entertainment facility; (2) Check cashing facility;(3) Gambling facility; (4) Gun shop; (5) Liquor store; (6) Massage parlor; (7) Pawn shop; (8) Tanning salon; or (9) Tattoo parlor.

Vacant Property/Length of Vacancy

Property must have been vacant for at least six months.​​

  • If Applicant Is Leasing the Vacant Property/Space: Date of the signed lease or Letter of Intent must not be older than April 1, 2022, therefore property must have been vacant as of October 1, 2021 or earlier.
    • NOTE: Applicants with a signed lease dated between July 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, that meet grant requirements, may apply for the Business Operations Grant but NOT Property Assistance Grant.
  • If Applicant Owns the Vacant Property/Space: Business applicants that are also the building owner(s) cannot have owned the property prior to July 1, 2021 and the property must have been vacant for at least six months prior to or during the period of ownership.​

How to Apply

​​Project Restore Application – Apply Now​​​ ​​
​

​The Project Restore application is available online. Please be sure to read ALL instructions included in the application carefully to ensure you provide all requested information and documentation to submit a complete application.

Prior to submitting an application, you will be required to register with the Maryland OneStop Portal. OneStop is the central hub for Maryland State licenses, forms, certificates, permits, applications, and registrations and can be accessed at: https://onestop.md.gov/​

The application round opens Thursday, July 7, 2022​ at 12:00 p.m. The online application portal will close at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, September 8, 2022 at the latest. The portal may close earlier if or when grant requests exceed available funding.​

Sample Application: FY23 Project Restore

​NOTE: This application is only a sample (actual application may vary) to assist in providing information on the questions and information required when submitting the online application via OneStop. All applications and required documents must be submitted online to be considered for funding​.​

Required Documents

The following attachments will be required in the on-line application in order for the application to be considered complete:

  • Online verification of registration from the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation for the applicant, landlord and property owner.
  • Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation Real Property online verification of owner of vacant property
  • Applicant’s signed and dated IRS W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification
  • Signed and dated by both applicant and landlord a lease or letter of intent to lease and occupy the vacant space. ​NOTE: ​If awarded funds, the applicant must provide a signed lease​ agreement prior to executing a grant agreement and receiving any funds
  • If applying for the Business Operations Grant, existing businesses must provide proof of sales and use tax paid in CY2021 and CY2022 to date; new businesses must provide information on anticipated sales and use tax to be paid beginning January 1, 2023.

Use of Funds/Term of Awarded Funds

Property Assistance Grant

Property Assistance Grant can be used within one year as follows:

  • (a) if the business, including nonprofit, is leasing vacant space the funds can be used for rent and cover the 12 month period from the date rent payments begin per the lease,
  • (b) if the business, including nonprofit, owns the building then funds can be used for mortgage payments and the 12 month period begins at the date the award agreement is executed or
  • (c) if the business, including nonprofit, owns the building and there is no mortgage the funds can be used for property improvements. If the funds are used for property improvements,​ applicant must submit vendor cost estimates for improvements and improvements must be made within 12 months from the date the award agreement is executed.

Grant amounts may be reduced relative to requests, if demand exceeds available funding.

Business Operations Grant

Business Operations Grant award amounts will be based on ​estimated sales and use tax to be paid by the business in CY2023 and CY2024 if applicable. Awarded funds must be used for capital and/or operating costs associated with business operations in the vacant space.

Grant payments will be based on actual sales and use tax paid to the state beginning January 1, 2023 up to $250,000 for up to two calendar years, if applicable. Payments will be made to the business on a quarterly basis, after the Comptroller’s Office has received the sales and use tax submitted to them by the business.

For Business Operations Grant the award term of 1 year or 2 calendar years will be determined based on the location of the vacant retail or commercial property/space the business will occupy:

  • Tier 1 Areas – 2 Years (Calendar Years 2023 and 2024)
    • Baltimore City, Allegany, Baltimore, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Garrett, Kent, Prince George’s, Somerset, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties.
    • Opportunity Zones and the State’s 33 designated Main Street Maryland communities located in any Maryland county.
  • Tier 2 Areas – 1 Year (Calendar Year 2023)
    • All other counties not​ listed in Tier 1 Areas.

Grant amounts may be reduced relative to requests, if demand exceeds available funding.

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PGA Tour Superstore Opens First Store in Rockville

On Saturday, July 30th PGA Tour Superstore held a Grand Opening for its newest location in Rockville!

During the Grand Opening, the celebration included unbelievable savings and prizes throughout the weekend, which included $30,000 in golf and tennis giveaways.

At the PGA Tour Superstore, their mission is to inspire people to play their best and grow the game. Only they have the knowledge, passion, depth of assortment, and experience to inspire golfers and tennis players everywhere to play better, have more fun, and grow the game. For more on their Mission and their Core Values, please visit their website.

Welcome to the Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce and the Rockville Community. We are so happy that you are here! View the photo album here.

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7 21 2022 Mix & Mingle

We had a wonderful crowd at our Mix & Mingle held at The Seneca in Rockville. Thank you to all who came out to support this event.

The Seneca’s classically trained culinary team creates meals that become moments to savor and they did not disappoint. At The Seneca, culinary experiences range from refined to casual, elegant to inspired – all menus feature farm-fresh ingredients and unique touches. They did not disappoint and served a delicious spread to our guests.

We had a special guest, Ben Wu, the President & CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation in attendance. He presented our President & CEO, Marji Graf with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of her support, efforts, and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Would you like to join us for future Mix & Mingle Events? Please visit our calendar of events and register to attend upcoming events.

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Friday Five – June 3, 2022

1. Five takeaways from Biden’s inflation plan
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden laid out a plan in a Wall Street Journal op-ed to fight inflation levels. Although levels dipped in April to 8.3%, they continue to trend at a 40-year high. He said that bringing down inflation is his top economic priority. The gist of the plan is to not intervene with the Federal Reserve’s approach to fight inflation by raising interest rates to bolster the purchasing power of the dollar and instead support damaged supply chains to balance out supply and demand issues.”I won’t meddle with the Fed, but I will tackle high prices while guiding the economy’s transition to stable and steady growth,” Biden wrote. The plan also talks about bringing down demand by continuing to reduce the federal deficit, which is projected to fall by $1.7 trillion this year. Overall, both Biden and the Fed agree that dropping prices for American consumers without a drop in overall economic growth should be their ultimate goal. The Hill provides 5 key takeaways from Biden’s plan here.  
2. Hogan vetoes 18 bills as part of final action needed on nearly 300 bills
Last Friday, Governor Hogan announced he would veto 18 bills and allow nearly 300 bills passed by the legislature to go into effect without his signature, officially marking the end of the Maryland 2022 legislative session. One of the most notable bills vetoed included a measure that would have allowed voters to correct their signature-less ballots after mailing them in to get counted. But he said he was rejecting the bill because it lacked any way to verify the signatures in that process.”[A]s our vote by mail numbers rise, the missing piece in this legislation is that balance — for even the appearance of impropriety or the opportunity for fraud can be enough to undermine citizens’ confidence in their electoral system,” Hogan wrote. Hogan’s other vetoes included bills that would have affected public utilities and Baltimore transit and allowed people to deduct their union dues from their state income taxes. Read the full story here.
3. SECURE Act 2.0 passes House, signaling massive retirement savings and investment policy shift
In a 41-45 vote on Sunday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022, representing a massive economic policy shift regarding retirement savings and investment if passed into law. The retirement savings legislation, also known as SECURE Act 2.0, expands on the original SECURE Act and includes provisions to boost the required minimum distribution (RMD) age from 72 to 75 over time, broaden automatic enrollment in retirement plans and enhance 403(b) plans. In his “Update on the March-April Work Period” letter last Wednesday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer stated that:  “By expanding automatic enrollment in employer provided retirement plans, simplifying rules for small businesses, and helping those near retirement save more for longer, this legislation will help increase Americans’ access to retirement funds and help families save for the future.”  Read the full story here and if you own a small business, here are 7 things you should know about the new retirement bill. 
4. U.S. economy adds 390K jobs in May, unemployment holds at 3.6 percent
Data released today by the Labor Department showed that the U.S. added 390,000 jobs and the unemployment rate held even at 3.6 percent in May. The May jobs report was largely in line with economists’ projections, who saw the U.S. gaining 350,000 jobs last month and pushing the unemployment rate down to 3.5 percent, its level in February 2020. Economists also rightly predicted job growth to slow in May after the U.S. added more than 2 million jobs this year despite high inflation, staggering gas prices, rising interest rates, and fading fiscal stimulus. The data also showed that the labor force participation rate and the employment to population increased by 0.1 percentage points in May to 62.1 and 60.1 percent, respectively. Experts believe the higher labor force participation, slower wage growth, and stable unemployment could be a sign of lesser labor shortages. Read the full story here.
5. Port of Baltimore gets $15.6M to improve rail infrastructure
Port officials announced on Wednesday that the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore will receive $15.6 million from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Consolidated Rail and Infrastructure Safety Improvements (CRISI) program for its Rail Capacity Modernization Project. The FRA CRISI Project will build four new rail tracks totaling 17,670 track feet and two crane rail beams totaling 7,000 linear feet. It will aid in updating the Seagirt Marine Terminal’s infrastructure and support increased demand for double-stacked trains of containerized cargo to markets across the country. In addition to providing more seamless and efficient rail operations, the CRISI Project will also add environmental benefits such as improving air quality around the Port by increasing rail usage and converting existing diesel-fuel rail yard operations to electrified equipment. It will also help alleviate ongoing logistical bottlenecks on major interstate highways. Read the full story here.
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1 Research Court, Suite 450, Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 424-9300 · dawn@rockvillechamber.org