February 22, 2024

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 QAC CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS - On Tuesday, Clerk of the Court Katherine Hager sworn in the 2024 Chamber Board Members. From left to right: Secretary Bill Caughey with Edward Jones; Jenny Bowie with UMD Shore Regional Health; Chris Williams with Kram, McCarthy, Ayers & Frost LLC; Chair Heather Bacher with Shore United Bank; Clifford Coppersmith with Chesapeake College; Brad Lundberg with Lundberg Builders; Past Chair Louis Costanzo with Mid-Atlantic Facility, Vice Chair Eric Johnson with Queenstown Bank; Ryan Eber with The Atlantic Title Group; and Treasurer Greg Edwards with Bay Tech Team. The Chamber is grateful for your dedication and looking forward to a prosperous year!

On Monday, QAC Chamber of Commerce President Linda Friday, escorted by Sheriff Gary Hofmann and Warren Wright with the Drug Free Coalition, distributed 11 ONEbox reverse opiate overdose kits, at no charge to local businesses. The grant-funded ONEbox kits are the result of a close collaboration with the QAC Health Department, QAC Commissioners, QAC Drug Free Coalition, QAC Sheriff Department, and the QAC Chamber of Commerce.

Edwin L. Gibbs, Director of the Queen Anne's Department of Health Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services whose office has also been distributing the kits stated, "The Queen Anne’s County Department of Health is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community members. As part of our Harm Reduction and Prevention Strategies we have allocated funds to purchase the ONEbox emergency opioid overdose reversal kit, that contains naloxone, (a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose)."

Gibbs also added, "The kit is portable and easy to use, with on-demand training available for individuals who may need to administer Naloxone in emergency situations. We would like to get a ONEbox in the hands of every merchant, church, or other venues in Queen Anne's County where residents gather, at no cost."

Linda Friday has been working with the QAC Health Department for over two years to make these life-saving kits a possibility. Linda stated, "QAC businesses give back all the time to worthwhile community causes." She added, "My goal is to give something back that can make a difference in our community."

If your business is interested in a ONEbox kit, please contact the Queen Anne's County Dept. of Health (Nielson Center), 410-758-1306 or the Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce, 410-643-8530. For more information click the link below to watch Linda Friday explaining the ONEbox in detail to David Anderson of Silver Swan Bayside.

SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL ECONOMIES. Through $10 million in small business and community development grants, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development plans to target investments to activate vacant spaces in business corridors and support small businesses with start up or expansion funds while creating jobs and increasing local economic activity. READ MORE

FEBRUARY - ONGOING TRAINING EVENTS Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) REGISTER

FEBRUARY - ONGOING TRAINING EVENTS, SCORE REGISTER

FEBRUARY 22 - CHAMBER MIXER, Churchill Theatre, 5 - 6:30 PM REGISTER

MARCH 1 - EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY

MARCH 6 - BUSINESS & HOME EXPO, 3-7 PM, Kent Island Fire Department.

REGISTER

For more information call 410-643-8530 or email tracy@qacchamber.com

Sponsored by:

CHAMBER DIRECTORY 2024 - The latest edition of the QAC Chamber Directory was released and mailed to all Chamber members. More copies are available at the Chamber office. You can also access the digital directory HERE.

ARE YOU A FORMER CHAMBER MEMBER? IF SO WE WANT YOU BACK! If you are a former QAC Chamber member and rejoin today, we will eliminate the processing fee and provide you with a complimentary email blast. (A value of $75) Email Tracy for more information tracy@qacchamber.com

Do you have an upcoming event that you would like to publicize? Add it to the Chamber's COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR.

Are you a Chamber member who is hiring? Post your open positions on the Chamber's JOBS PAGE.

If you would like to share a story about how the QAC Chamber has helped your business please email Becky at rgroff@qacchamber.com.

Learn more about QAC Chamber benefits by clicking:

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS - JANUARY

Anchor Title & Escrow

Bay Area Electric Inc.

Bay Manor Apartments & Shops

Bayside CPR & AED Training Center

C Greene Photography

David A. Bramble, Inc.

H.L. Ward (Retired)

RENEWALS

Abay Palace

BayVanguard Bank

Braden, Thompson, Mundy & McQueeney, LLP

BSC Group, LLC

CASA of the Mid-Shore

Central Sod Farms Inc.

Chesterwye Center

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage- DeeDee McCracken

Comfort Keepers

Crossroads Community, Inc.

Digital Architects, Inc., The

Easton Dermatology Associates

Economy Tree Service

Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam, Funeral Home, P.A.

Fence and Deck Connection

First National Bank

Fisherman's Inn

Haven Ministries, Inc.

Island Eyecare

Kent Island Beach Cleanups Inc

Love Point Deli, Wine, & Spirits

McCartin Financial Svcs (MFS)

Minuteman Press of Kent Island

New Vertical Technologies

Peoples Bank, The

Piney Narrows Yacht Haven

Prince Limousine Inc.

Promark Partners

Silver Swan Bayside at Queen Anne Marina

Small Business Development Center

Smokehouse Grill, LLC

Ten Eyck Brewing Company

Tidewater Properties Real Estate

Wye River Upper School

www.QACchamber.com • 410-643-8530

2024 Chamber Board of Directors

Heather Bacher, Chair, Shore United Bank

Eric Johnson, Vice Chair, Queenstown Bank

Greg Edwards, Treasurer, Bay Tech Team

Bill Caughey, CFP, Secretary, Edward Jones

Louis Costanzo IV, Past Chair, Mid-Atlantic Facility Services

Jenny Bowie, Director, University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

Clifford Coppersmith, Director, Chesapeake College

Ryan Eber, Director, The Atlantic Title Group

Brad Lundberg, Director, Lundberg Builders

Alex Jurado, Director, Kent Island Resort

Chris Williams, Director, Kram, McCarthy, Ayers, and Frost LLC