Rockville Chamber of Commerce

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Updates

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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Advertise in the RCC Business Directory

We are happy to announce our continued partnership with Lunar Cow Publishing, a firm specializing in destination marketing, for the production of our annual Business Directory. We are excited about the opportunities this new publication will offer you.

The Rockville Chamber of Commerce Business Directory is our premier promotional piece and the first resource that community and business members use to promote their business. Participation in the Business Directory has great advantages. 2,000 printed copies of this publication will be distributed in the best locations to help drive traffic to our advertisers, and our digital GoGuide® will allow you to reach thousands more. Your advertisement in the digital GoGuide® will be linked to your website, giving readers one-click access to your business. Please click here for the advertisement rates, which detail your options for participation.

If you have any questions or wish to participate as an advertiser in our publication, please contact Lunar Cow Publishing’s advertising sales, at 800.594.9620 (ext. 1) to learn more about how you can take advantage of this great opportunity to promote your business. We are very excited about the new publication and look forward to your participation.

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Chambers Meet with Dr. Earl Stoddard and Jake Weissmann

On Friday the Rockville Chamber invited the other Montgomery County chambers to have a discussion with Dr. Earl Stoddard and Jake Weissmann regarding the Vaccine Passport.  Here are the Q&A responses.

Executive Branch’s Response to County Council Vaccine Requirement Regulation Questions 

1. Why are workers/employees not included under the regulation? Do other jurisdictions  have passport regulations that include workers? How are residents safe in a situation  where fellow patrons must be vaccinated but the employees serving them, and with  whom they actually interact, may not be vaccinated? 

DC and Chicago don’t require employees to be vaccinated. NYC, Boston, Honolulu, LA, and  Philadelphia require employees to be vaccinated. There was great concern among the  business sector that if Montgomery County requires employees to be vaccinated then it could  exacerbate staffing shortages because DC does not require employees to be vaccinated.  

2. How does this requirement apply to individuals entering government buildings? There  is an exemption for private meeting spaces and for facilities “relating to governmental  regulation”. Does this mean that all County buildings and facilities are exempt (EOB,  COB, Libraries, Rec Centers, Senior Centers, etc.)? 

The public has a constitutional right to petition government and access certain critical  services. With that said, as drafted this would not apply to EOB, COB, Senior Centers,  Shelters, DHHS clinics, rental assistance, permitting and licensing, etc. 

3. If government buildings are exempt, why are we imposing a greater requirement on  businesses than we’re imposing on ourselves? 

The public has a constitutional right to petition government and access certain critical services. 

4. How are businesses going to administer individuals’ exemption requests for sincerely  held religious beliefs or medical necessity? Is failing to grant an exemption that should  be granted, considered a violation of the regulation? Will businesses be subject to  discrimination claims for failing to grant needed exemptions? 

Businesses should apply the same process currently used when patrons seek exception to the  face covering requirement. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

101 Monroe Street • Rockville, Maryland 20850 

240-777-2500 • 240-777-2544 TTY • 240-777-2518 FAX 

www.montgomerycountymd.gov  

Executive Branch Responses to County Council Vaccine Required Regulation Questions January 14, 2022 

Page 2 of 4 

To briefly describe this process – If a patron indicates that they are  

exempt, businesses should engage in a good faith discussion (a.k.a. the “interactive  process”) to determine if there is a reasonable accommodation that would enable the patron  to access the goods and services without posing an undue hardship to the business or a direct  threat to other persons inside the business. Whether to grant the accommodation would be  in the sole discretion of the business.  

Failure to grant would not be a violation of this regulation. 

5. What happens if someone loses their vaccine card? 

They can provide a copy of their vaccination card, picture of their vaccination card, if an  individual is vaccinated in the State of Maryland; they can obtain proof of vaccination  from MyIR which permits downloading or printing of proof of vaccination. If they were  vaccinated out-of-state, they can contact their original provider/State for a replacement card. 

6. What if any outreach has been done with businesses, business groups, nonprofits, arts  and entertainment venues? 

Outreach started in August 2021, with a Town Hall on this topic. 

Conversations continued before and after introduction of the bill, with the Restaurant  Association, Chambers of Commerce, business leaders and others. 

7. Was this vaccine passport proposed by the Health Officer and Public Health Team or  by the County Executive? 

The Public Health Team worked with the Public Health Advisory Committee on  this initiative and brought it to the County Executive. 

8. Is there specific evidence that the Executive Branch can point to, that demonstrates how  vaccine passports implemented in other, similar jurisdictions have reduced the spread  of Covid 19 and/or increased the number of residents getting vaccinated? 

As noted in the Council’s Resolution packet prepared by staff – NYC experienced a vaccine  rate increase of 9% overall and 13% in ages 18-34. 

Additionally, a CDC report from November shows the benefits of vaccination status in  reducing spread, symptoms, and risk of death.  

The linked Lancet Journal article shows how vaccine requirements resulted  in increased vaccination rates. 

9. What specific public health metrics and guidance were used to determine whether to  include certain business and activities and exclude others?

Executive Branch Responses to County Council Vaccine Required Regulation Questions January 14, 2022 

Page 3 of 4 

Establishments included those that meet a series of criteria that placed them at the top of the  Contact Tracing data provided by the Maryland COVID link system. 

Typically, environments where face coverings must be removed or frequently become askew  during activities. 

10. At this stage of the pandemic and in light of all we know with the current variant, is the  requirement of a first dose in what is now generally seen as a 3-dose vaccine sufficient  enough to have a meaningful impact? 

The benefits of any level of vaccine dosing are beneficial, particularly against Omicron. The  draft proposal is structured to be similar to DC’s requirement. Given the high rate of  vaccination in the County, starting with a two dose requirement might be reasonable. 

11. In light of the percentage of County residents 12+ who have already received a 1st dose,  what impact would a vaccine passport requirement that only requires one dose and  only includes those 12 and over actually have? 

Same answer as above–The benefits of any level of vaccine dosing are beneficial,  particularly against Omicron. The draft proposal is structured to be similar to DC’s  requirement. Given the high rate of vaccination in the County, starting with a two  dose requirement might be reasonable. 

12. What enforcement tools does the Executive Branch intend to deploy in order to  implement this, especially in light of all the staff shortages throughout county  government and the broader workforce? 

We anticipate a similar enforcement mechanism used for enforcement of the indoor face  covering requirement. This is largely a complaint-based enforcement through  DHHS’ Licensing and Regulation Services. We will continue to provide education to  business owners and patrons of the efficacy of vaccines and why the regulation is in effect. 

13. What if any technology will the County be deploying to implement this requirement  and how will businesses and residents access it? 

There is no technology requirement. There will not be any technology unless MDH changes  its position on software systems accessing the Immunet database. 

14. What coordination, if any, is happening with DC government to make it easy for  residents and patrons to move back and forth between jurisdictions? Will the two  systems operate in separate silos? 

As drafted, the resolution closely mirrors DC’s vaccine requirements. 

Executive Branch Responses to County Council Vaccine Required Regulation Questions January 14, 2022 

Page 4 of 4 

Ongoing Conversations occur with D.C. Dept. of Health about implementation to inform our  policies and procedures. 

Consistency with DC’s program will reduce confusion for residents, visitors, and  businesses. 

15. Has there been a cost/benefit analysis done to determine how much this will cost in  county dollars to implement and enforce, and to private entities to carry out, versus the  real-life public health benefits? What financial resources does the County plan to  provide impacted businesses and nonprofit organizations to support this initiative, and  how is it proposed to be funded? How many FTEs do you estimate to administer the  passport program and what departments will provide staffing? Will you be contracting  out any of this work? 

No formal cost/benefit analysis was done on this proposal. But reports from other  jurisdictions that implemented similar programs were reviewed to identify potential financial  impacts. 

We know that the cost of unfettered COVID spread in the community is significant. The  potential impact of additional requirements (e.g. capacity limits, outdoor dining only, etc.) on  business is also significant. 

Existing County resources will be used for enforcement and is part of the routine inspection  process. 

Many COVID related enforcement requirements are reimbursed by Federal  funds. E.g. signage for enforcement of this proposal is anticipated to be reimbursed. 

16. How long does the Executive Branch recommend that this passport requirement  remain in place, what are its specific objectives, and what metrics will be used to  determine its effectiveness?  

This program is intended to curb the spread of COVID that is less deleterious than  previous measures. The key to living with COVID-19 is increasing vaccination and booster  rates. We believe this proposed regulation helps toward meeting those objectives. 

Therefore, metrics around this regulation should be based upon the above goals. 

Some metrics to consider are transmission and vaccination rates. A reevaluation  period like the indoor face covering regulation is also suggested.

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Rockville Chamber of Commerce Years In Review 2020-2021

The Rockville Chamber of Commerce was able to continue all of its offerings throughout COVID without skipping a beat or having to dip into any reserves!  We were able to obtain 8 grants.

We were an information HUB between the State, County and City of Rockville to provide updated information to the business community.  We called every member to see how they were doing and what resources we could bring to them.

We pivoted all of our programs to zoom.  All of our monthly programs continued to run:  Our quarterly education series, Good Morning Rockville; Our monthly lunch and learn program, Let’s Do Lunch (virtually); and our monthly networking events,  Mix and Mingles.  We partnered with other Chambers and Associations so our members could meet other businesses in different areas.  We also provided monthly webinars with the SBA, Aronson, SHS, and held panel discussions regarding Economic Development, Entrepreneur Panel, Real Estate panel and our professional development series, Leadercast.

We held our Annual events on zoom in 2020.  State of the City, Public Safety Awards and Rockstar Awards.

In 2021 we began outdoor hybrid events.  State of the City, Public Safety Awards, Golf Tournament, Economic Development panel discussion and Rockstar Awards.

We walked the business communities with the County, REDI and Board Chair to have a presence and show the businesses we were there for them and could provide the resources they might need.  We had an up-to-date Resource page on our NEW website with all COVID related information about PPP loans/grants.  We were active participants on a weekly Small Business committee by the County and represented our small businesses.  i.e shuttered Venues to reopen Adventure Theatre and Escape rooms.

We worked with the City of Rockville and Rockville Economic Development to assist businesses with outdoor seating and PPE.

We pivoted our previous program, Rockville Rewards, and created a new website with downloadable cards and new ecommerce offerings.  We also integrated the program under the Rockville Chamber of Commerce umbrella, not just a stand-alone program.  We were still able to give our non-profit partners the critical funds they have come to enjoy by splitting all sales evenly amongst those participants.  

2020/2021 our Non-profit partners generated $22,690.65 as a result of selling 972 Rockville Reward cards and products.

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Patient First – Aspen Hill Opening December 2

New center serves residents of Aspen Hill and surrounding areas

Richmond, VA – Patient First announces the expansion of its urgent and primary care services in Maryland with the opening of a new medical center Aspen Hill, MD, on Thursday, December 2, 2021. The new center, located at 13671 Georgia Ave, Aspen Hill, MD 20906-5214, will provide area residents with walk-in, non-appointment access to urgent and primary medical care services 365 days a year, including all holidays.

The Aspen Hill center will be the 20th Patient First in the Washington, DC, area. “The goal of Patient First is to provide convenient, cost-effective medical care on a walk-in basis,” says R.P. Sowers, M.D., founder and CEO of Patient First. “At the same time, our physicians and staff always work closely and in a collaborative fashion with the area’s existing medical community to provide care.”

Like all Patient First medical centers, the Aspen Hill facility will feature a wide range of on-site services, all available each day during the center’s operating hours, including:

Urgent Care

Patient First provides treatment for routine injuries and illnesses – offering a convenient, lower-cost alternative to visiting a hospital emergency department. Services offered include care for colds, flu, allergic reactions, ear and sinus infections, pneumonia, minor burns, skin rashes, sprains, minor fractures, lacerations and sports injuries.

Primary Care

Patient First physicians provide preventative and primary medical services for patients
who do not have a regular physician. While appointments are not necessary, a patient
selecting a Patient First physician for primary care can refer to the Patient First web site
at www.patientfirst.com to see when their preferred physician is scheduled. Patients may
also call the center for a three-day physician schedule.

Telehealth

Patient First provides telehealth service making it even more convenient to visit a Patient First
physician. A patient may visit with a Patient First health care provider directly through their
smartphone, tablet, or computer. Patients may register through the Patient First website at
www.patientfirst.com or dial (866) 990-2533. Telehealth visits are available from Monday through Friday.

Digital X-Ray Services

Like all Patient First centers, the new Patient First – Aspen Hill location will be
equipped with on-site digital x-ray equipment for routine x-rays.

Lab Work

The new Patient First facility’s CLIA-approved laboratory will provide on-site services
for routine office labs and send-out service for more complex tests.

Prescriptions

As a convenience, Patient First dispenses routine prescription drugs on-site.

Occupational Health

Since 1981, Patient First has provided Occupational Health services for employees and
employers. These services include treatment for workplace injuries covered by Workers’
Compensation, as well as DOT physicals, and drug screenings.

For continuity of care, Patient First routinely transmits a copy of the visit record to the patient’s primary care physician, according to the patient’s wishes.

Patient First accepts major insurance plans including Aetna, Amerigroup, Beech Street, CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Healthcare, Great-West Healthcare, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare and TRICARE. A complete listing of participating insurers can be found at www.patientfirst.com. Patient First offers simplified pricing for patients without insurance.

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About Patient First
All Patient First Medical Centers are open every day of the year, including holidays. Patient First provides non-appointment urgent care for routine injuries and illnesses, as well as primary care for patients who do not have a regular physician. Each Patient First center has on-site digital x-ray, on-site laboratory, and on-site prescription drugs. Patient First was founded in Richmond, Virginia, in 1981 and currently operates medical centers in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

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‘Online Sales and Telework Grants’ Applications Available from Nov. 12-19 for Montgomery County Small Businesses to Assist with Online Product and Services Promotion

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has announced a new grant program for Montgomery County small businesses to help them promote their products and services prior to the holiday shopping season. Applications for the “Online Sales and Telework Grant Program” will be available from Nov. 12 through midnight on Nov. 19. Grants of up to $10,000 each will be available.

Each applicant will receive a pro-rata share of the $789,000 of total funding available. Therefore, the actual grant amounts will be determined by the total number of eligible applicants.

“Small businesses are the foundation of our economy and many count on year-end retail sales to survive,” said County Executive Elrich. “We are committed to assisting them in as many ways as possible. This is a great opportunity to help with their holiday and winter marketing. Visit Montgomery has a strong track record helping our restaurants and others through their effective use of technology and promotion.”

Funding for the Online Sales and Telework Grant Program was appropriated to the Maryland Department of Commerce under the American Recovery Act and will be distributed through a partnership between Montgomery County and Visit Montgomery, pending approval by the County Council.

The grant funds can be used for costs such as developing or improving their websites and social media presence or providing assistance with telework expenses to help support customer activities. Grant recipients will have increased visibility of their products and services through participation in a free centralized online “Discover MoCo” directory site.

To maximize access to Montgomery County’s diverse business and customer base, the Discover MoCo directory will be free for businesses and customers to use, mobile friendly, and multilingual.

The grant application process requires two steps:

Both steps must be completed by midnight on Friday, Nov. 19. In addition, businesses must:

  • Have been established prior to March 9, 2020, and currently be in operation.
  • Be registered and in good standing with Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (not applicable for sole proprietors).

Priority will be given to:

  • Businesses that have not received a COVID-19 Business Relief grant or loan from the Maryland Department of Commerce or a grant from the Maryland Department of Labor for the purchase of equipment to assist in the expansion of opportunities for telework.
  • Businesses that have 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.

For more information or an Online Sales and Telework Grant application, go to https://montgomerycountymd.gov/Biz-Resources/covid19/index.html.

For questions regarding the grant or application process, email bizportal@montgomerycountymd.gov.

For questions regarding the Discover MoCo directory, email marketing@visitmontgomery.com.

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