Volume 31, Issue 2 | February 2023

2023 Board of Directors                        Donna Frankowski Vice Chair ERA Martin/Shamrock Division                           Tylor Lennox Treasurer Coastal Wealth Management                               Ashley Haldeman Secretary Lakeside Assisted Living Allen Duncan GSB Media Nancie Corbett Bluebird Farms Rich Cropper Cropper Services, LLC Tina Simmons Atlantic General Hospital Don Robertson Seafloor Carpets, Hardwood, and More Amy Hedger Coastal Home Care Stephanie Gamm Wor-Wic Community College Diana Dovel Lakeside Title Don Boger Home Instead Nicole Zeien OC Tax Service Celeste Rayne Past Chair Farmers Bank of Willards

February 9 - Chamber Connections Meeting 16 - BAH Original Greene Turtle 17 - Board of Directors Meeting 21 - Ambassadors Meeting 1:30 23 - Chamber Connections Meeting 28 - YP Monthly Mingle Tall Tales March 9 - Chamber Connections Meeting 10-16 OP Restaurant Week 17 - Board of Directors Meeting 21 - Ambassadors Meeting 23 - Chamber Connections Meeting 29 - Ribbon Cutting - Coastal Home Care April 13 - Chamber Connections Meeting 18 - Ambassadors Meeting 21 - Board of Directors Meeting 27 - Chamber Connections Meeting *April 29 Community Expo Save the Date!! Stay up to date on all our doin's. You can add your events too! Community Calendar

THIS MONTH'S FEATURED PARTNERS: J3 Mobile Shredding Lakeside at Mallard Landing Maryland Tourism Coalition

President's Corner

Caught a glimpse of my silly daffodils and tulips the other day, poking up, trying to give me hope of Spring. Come on little buddies, you can do it! As the flowers poke up into the sunlight, so do we. Starting our event calendar with our always awesome, Spring Community Expo in White Horse Park. We hold it adjacent to the OP Farmers and Artisans Market and are extra excited this year. J3 Mobile Shredding will be there for everyone and anyone to bring their must-shreds. This addition is certain to bring more residents to our Expo. You will definitely want a space. Save Saturday, April 29 (Saturday, May 6 rain date) and reserve your spot today! Another thing we are gearing up for is the annual Business Directory. In the next week or so, watch out for our ad pricing. It's never too soon to warn you of deadlines - April 21. Our directory is truly the "yellow pages" for the community. Make sure your business stands out this year. We are in the throws of the State Legislative Session. I was in Annapolis just last week and will be going for Tourism Day next week. There are several pieces of legislation out there that will directly impact your business. Your area chambers are on it! However, nothing beats direct testimony from business owners. If you'd like to become more involved, just yell, we can help you be heard in Annapolis. Take a lesson from my silly daffodils. Keep your face to the sun, and never stop reaching upward! Be well.

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Why are there logos and ads in the newsletter? The first week of each month (if I'm on the ball), over 900 businesses, media outlets, community leaders, and residents receive this newsletter. Do you want those eyes to see your logo or ad? Call us! 410-641-5306

Declutter, Protect, Shred! J3 Mobile Shredding LLC was established in 2021 with the vision to provide a shredding service for the lower shores of Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.  We provide document and hard drive destruction for businesses and residential customers. We also provide free quotes and never apply a fuel surcharge. J3 Mobile Shredding offers on-site mobile document shredding and destruction of all media data in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and the surrounding areas. Your business generates large amounts of private paper documents and sensitive media data that can't just be thrown in the trash. Our mission is to be your one-stop shop for all your business shredding needs. We make this process easy by coming directly to you with our brand new mobile shredding truck. We pride ourselves on listening to your needs and creating a personal solution. J3 Mobile Shredding promises prompt, respectful customer service that will exceed all your expectations. We hope to earn your business by saving you money and offering the convenience of on-site document destruction with the ease of scheduling for future services. Bring your shreddables to the Chamber's Spring Community Expo on April 29. We will be there!

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Marathon Service Company Ocean City Lions Club Born Good Dog Training TC Backer Construction

Chamber Partnership Exclusive Offer

Get to Know Lakeside at Mallard Landing in Salisbury Lakeside At Mallard Landing features comfortable amenities, a friendly, welcoming environment, and the highest standards of personalized care that continue to enrich lives for years to come. Our exclusive senior living lifestyle programs allow each resident to live life to the fullest while receiving the support they need. Our team of dedicated and caring health and wellness professionals will see to it that your needs are taken care of with their many years of experience. When exploring your choices for a senior living community, it’s important to understand what they can offer you. You’ll find that some communities feature regularly scheduled outings, senior-equipped fitness centers, housekeeping services, and more. The community you end up moving into should fit your unique lifestyle. In addition, you want to find a community that provides medical services and attention so that you can feel safe. From the moment you arrive at Lakeside At Mallard Landing, you’ll be greeted with elegance and comfort. Stylish finishes and inviting rooms are at every turn in our community. Residents enjoy a host of resort-style amenities that help them live their best lives, regardless of their unique hobbies. These include the following: Mallard Landing Grande Clubhouse with professional team available 24/7 Sensations dining room with table side service and chef-prepared meals daily Private dining room available, pub available for casual dining Packed calendar of professionally curated Celebrations activities & events Inviting living rooms and common areas for gatherings Onsite beauty salon and barbershop Scheduled day trips and recreational outings Snow and trash removal Impressions landscaping and maintenance Our Exclusive Lifestyle Programs provide an extra layer of convenience, as well. These include transportation to private outings or trips with your neighbors, housekeeping, and more. Lakeside At Mallard Landing is located in beautiful Salisbury, MD, close to parks, shopping, and dining destinations. Here, residents enjoy socializing with their neighbors, the safety of a senior living community, and beautiful finishes throughout our campus. In addition, we provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee for the first three years. You will never have to worry about hidden fees or unexpected increases to your rent or hidden fees. At Lakeside At Mallard Landing, all you need to do is focus on enjoying life.

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OPCC YPP Joint Chamber Monthly Mingle Feb 28 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at Tall Tales

The Young Professionals of the Pines (YPP) aims to unite the next generation of professionals. YPP creates opportunities for emerging business leaders to build relationships, expand their leadership skills, and develop their careers while paving the way for the future success of the Ocean Pines community. The group is designed for professionals between the ages of 21 and 35.  If you can’t make it to our meeting in person, the option to join us via Zoom is also available. Keep an eye on our Facebook page (Ocean Pines Chamber YPP) as well as our LinkedIn Group for more information on upcoming events!

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Have you looked at your utility bill lately?

Learn About Saving on your Energy Costs with CQI

Join the Chamber Energy Purchasing Cooperative The war and the economy continue to escalate utility prices to historic levels. Join The Chamber Energy Co-Op today! The Chamber of Commerce has partnered with nationally recognized energy management experts and consultants, CQI Associates, to run the cooperative. The Chamber Energy Co-Op program provides competitive electric and natural gas rates for your business and your home. CQI’s 25-plus years of experience provides the best option for stabilizing your utility expenses. There is no better time for members to enroll in the Chamber Energy Purchasing Cooperative Program and gain price stability, budget control and peace-of-mind. Since 2004 cooperative participants have consistently realized electricity and natural gas rates below both market rates and the weighted annual utility standard offer service rates. JOIN THE FIGHT! TAKE CONTROL * REGISTER NOW in the current campaign which runs from February 6, 2023, to March 3, 2023. To learn more about the purchasing cooperative simply watch this short video.

Maryland passed the Climate Solutions Now Act requiring a 60% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2031. Any business with a 35,000 sq. ft. or more facility, schools, and municipalities that do not comply will be assessed a penalty of $51 or more per ton. Penalties could start as early as 2024. This could cost a small facility, school or municipality thousands of dollars. Watch this video to learn more.

Welcome to the Ambassador Corner!  Next Ambassador's Meeting is February 21

Want more exposure for your business while advocating for the community and chamber? Become an Ambassador! We welcome all new partners to the chamber and ensure that they get the most out of their partnership. We meet every third Tuesday of the month at 1:30am at the chamber office. Stop by!

Save the date and stay tuned for more details

 Our partners renew their support on their anniversary months. The below list are those who renewed since the last edition of the Chamber Chatter. Thank you for your continued trust and support!

1 - 4 years Comfort Keepers Seaside Plumbing Paradise Grill Trimper Rides and Amusement Park Covenant Contractors Gifts Fulfilled Mermaid Tasha Nurse Professionals Home Care and Staffing Titan Fitness Visiting Angels 5-10 years Shore Grounds Maintenance 5 Star Plumbing Heating and Air BrightStar Care Calvin B.Taylor Museum By the Ocean Flooring Ferris Shades and Blinds Debbie Bennington/Berkshire Hathaway Webb, Cornbrooks, Wilbur, Douse, Mathers, and Illuminati, LLP Custom Tile Works Matt Ortt Properties

11 - 19 years Delmarva Printing LPGA Amatuer Golf Assoc Wo Co Habitat for Humanity Azar Eye Institute Bennett Pest Control Paul's Home Improvements Deeley Insurance Coastal Hospice Maryland Capital Enterprises Atlantic Orthopaedics Pine'eer Craft Club 20+ years AJ Future Financial Planners ERA Martin and Assoc/Shamrock Division Hileman Real Estate Custom Mechanical Atlantic Physical Therapy/Phoenix

Maryland Tourism Works Governor Larry Hogan announced on November 4, 2022, that, according to an economic impact report released by the Maryland Department of Commerce, the state’s tourism industry is continuing a strong recovery, recapturing nearly 90% of pre-pandemic visitor spending. In addition, the state reported increases over pre-pandemic levels in the key sectors of lodging and restaurants. The state continues to experience a strong economic recovery as a whole, including an unemployment rate below pre-pandemic levels. “This report is another milestone showing that Maryland is experiencing one of the strongest recoveries in the nation,” said Governor Hogan. “The hard work and resilience of our hundreds of tourism professionals, along with aggressive efforts by our Maryland Office of Tourism to promote new ways to enjoy our state and its resources, has brought visitors back to Maryland in a big way.” “Maryland’s tourism industry is well positioned and open to welcome visitors to our state,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “It is our intention to continue to finish strong with the tourism industry leading the recovery in visitor spending and job creation.” The report also showed that spending by overnight visitors increased nearly 6% from $784 in 2019 to $830 in 2021. When comparing 2021 to 2020, the report found that visitor spending grew 42% from $11.6 billion in 2020 to $16.4 billion in 2021. Domestic and international visitors also increased, up to 35.2 million in 2021 from 24.7 million the previous year. Another key measure of economic output is the “Sales and Use Tax” as reported by the Maryland Comptroller. This is reported on a Fiscal Year rather than on the Calendar Year and it also reports increases in two important tourism industry sectors, taking into account inflationary pressures: Lodging: FY 22 vs. FY 21 increased 170% FY 22 vs. FY 19 increased 10% Restaurant: FY 22 vs. FY 21 increased 97% FY 22 vs. FY 19 increased 31% “One reason attributable to the recovery was the continuation of marketing efforts by The Maryland Office of Tourism promoting the “Big Five”: The Most Powerful Underground Railroad Storytelling Destination in the World; The Chesapeake Bay; Fish and Hunt Maryland; Trail System Second to None; and Scenic Byways,” said Liz Fitzsimmons, managing director of the Maryland Office of Tourism. “These truly ‘only in Maryland’ experiences have proven to be successful in the past – we relied on them to guide our efforts and we will continue to build upon them in the future.” The Maryland Office of Tourism is an agency within the Maryland Department of Commerce. Visitors to the state spent $16.4 billion on travel-related expenses in 2021. The Maryland tourism industry also generated $2.1 billion in state and local taxes, essentially saving each Maryland household $923 in annual taxes, and directly supported Marylanders with nearly 113,000 jobs.

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Wicomico Youth and Civic Center Salisbury, MD

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