Your Chamber Newsletter
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Dear POM Members,
It's been a busy fall! Hopefully you had a chance to attend our Virtual Annual Meeting in October. We had over 100 attendees! Our Annual Meeting featured Keynote Speaker County Executive Johnny Olszewski, along with Comptroller Peter Franchot. We also brought you our county councilmen, Councilman Julian Jones of District 4 and Councilman Izzy Patoka of District 2. Many thanks to ZMB Media for all of the behind-the-scenes tech work that it takes to create a virtual "green room" with multiple guests of honor. If you missed the Annual Meeting, you can see it on Facebook here.

New Board Chairman
Our chamber is proud to announce our new Chairman, Marc Hertzberg. Learn more about Marc below. Many thanks to outgoing chairwoman Marcy Gorman, who took over as chairwoman in 2019. This was her second time serving as a chairwoman. Thank you, Marcy!

Virtual 5K
Not even a pandemic can slow down our chamber of commerce! We are still networking safely and holding safe virtual events, like our Virtual Pikesville 5K, November 6-9. We plan to be back at Festival at Woodholme next summer for our traditional 5K.

Stay tuned for meaningful virtual networking and programming for 2021.

Pikesville Farmers Market
Our Pikesville Farmers Market is offering fresh produce for your holiday meals and retail shopping in a safe, outdoor environment every Tuesday from 1-4pm. Vendors have a great selection of gifts, wine, whiskey, produce, meats, cheeses, desserts, and so much more to make your upcoming holidays at home special this year.

Maryland Announces COVID Exposure Phone Alert
Information included below.

Please support our local merchants and businesses this holiday season by shopping local.

This newsletter is chock-full of resources, so please read through carefully.

Wishing you and your family a safe and healthy Thanksgiving.

Kind regards,
Beth Rheingold

POM Chamber President

BALTIMORE COUNTY BUSINESS RESOURCES

Find Help Fast: Relief Wizard
The Maryland Business Relief Wizard is a free tool—built for Maryland businesses, by Maryland businesses—that helps them connect with resources relevant to their organization and programming for which they’re eligible, streamlining the process of finding support.

Tourism
Baltimore County is working to assess the critical needs in the Tourism and Arts and Sciences sectors.

Apply for Essential Business Status
The State will collect information from businesses that deem their services essential. Complete the Essential Status Request form to apply if you would like to be included. Only requests that are submitted through this form will be reviewed.

Ways Your Business Can Help
The Baltimore County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund will support the County’s efforts to promote public health and support residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals, foundations and private sector donors can contribute to the fund in order to assist the County’s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If your company has resources and capabilities that the State may need to assist in COVID-19 efforts, specifically the needs of the health care industry, email Resource.MEMA@Maryland.gov.
Health professionals wishing to volunteer their services can register for Maryland Responds. Learn more about other opportunities to help your fellow Marylanders on the Maryland Unites web page.

Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Manufacturing Fund
Maryland's COVID-19 Emergency Relief Manufacturing Fund—This $5 million incentive program helps Maryland manufacturers to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) that is urgently needed by hospitals and healthcare workers across the country.

Small Business Reserve Program
Through the Small Business Reserve (SBR) program, certified small businesses have access to over $400 million in prime contracting opportunities on state-funded contracts. Once certified, firms must recertify annually. If your business is not in the program or needs to recertify, complete the SBR certification process immediately. Read more in the reference guide (PDF).

MARBIDCO Pandemic Adjustment Loan Fund
The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) established the Pandemic Adjustment Loan Fund program to help Maryland’s food and fiber producers, harvesters and primary processors adjust to business disruptions caused by the pandemic. The program offers low-cost loans with flexible terms for working capital or equipment purchases. The maximum individual loan amount is $10,000 and no collateral security is required. Loan applications must be submitted by May 31. Call 410-267-6807 to learn more.

Tax Assistance
The Comptroller of Maryland has extended business tax filing deadlines to June 1 for some businesses with March, April and May due dates. Find more information online or by emailing taxpayerrelief@maryland.gov.
Miles That Matter Pikesville Virtual 5K a Success!
The Miles That Matter Pikesville 5K went virtual this year and was a huge success, and we want to thank all of our participants and sponsors! Runners and walkers alike had the most wonderful fall weekend to participate in our 5K. Registrants picked up their t-shirts, designed by Social Squids, at the outdoor Pikesville Farmers Market (or had them mailed to their address). Participants logged their time on the RaceJoy app and got to hear cool motivational messages from our sponsors, cheering them on.

Special shout-out to the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company who had the largest number of registrants from any one group.

Many thanks to Miski Peruvian Chicken for being our lead sponsor!

A portion of the proceeds from the 5K will be donated to our nonprofit partner, There Goes My Hero. There Goes My Hero, a 501(c)(3), supports those impacted by blood cancer. TGMH works closely with the National Bone Marrow Registry and other organizations to provide a support system to blood cancer patients and their families, including transportation services, parking coupons, and housing during treatment.

Pikesville Volunteer Firefighter & Hero, Kathleen Resnick!
Mark Your Calendar for these Upcoming Chamber Events

Click the links to register & for more information

November 25-30 POM Chamber closed for Thanksgiving
December 2 Brown Bag Lunch (virtual)
December 17 Chamber 101 (virtual)



Events are added to our calendar weekly. Check our Calendar and Facebook page for regular updates.

Members can add events too by logging into our website!
New POM Board Chairman & New Board Members
At our Annual Meeting, we inducted our new Board Chairman, Marc Hertzberg. Marc Hertzberg has been a member of the POM Chamber for over ten years, and has served as Vice Chairman of the board for two years. Marc is President of WBH Advisory and is an attorney, CPA, and CFA. Learn more about Marc Hertzberg here.

The POM Chamber is also pleased to welcome these new members to our Board of Directors:
Michael Rossbach, CPA, Hertzbach & Associates
POM Board Treasurer
Pikesville Farmers Market
New Winter Hours!
Do Your Holiday Shopping at the Market!
Gifts Galore!
The Pikesville Farmers Market has over 30 vendors to support your healthy lifestyle in a safe, fresh air environment. The market features two farmers who offer fresh seasonal produce.

The Pikesville Farmers Market has one-way lanes, hand sanitation stations to keep you safe. We require masks at all times because the safety of our community is our first priority.

Thank you for supporting our local farmers, bakers, juicers, pickle makers, distillers, wineries, and artisans. For a list of vendors, visit our website: Pikesville Farmers Market
Help us Help Jilly's
Jilly's, a Pikesville restaurant and favorite of locals, was set on fire in the early morning of October 28. This was a three-alarm fire.


Pikesville Volunteer Firefighters answered the call and were later joined by Baltimore County Firefighters. The POM Chamber provided lunch to our brave firefighters and grieving Jilly's employees. Lunch came from The Pikes Diner next door, owned by Will Reich.
Jilly's employees gathered together the morning of the fire to console one another. Many have worked for Jilly's owner Scott Reich at for ten years or more. Many POM Chamber businesses have stepped forward with job openings for Jilly's employees. If you have openings, please let us know! Email here.
We Welcome these New Members
this Month!
Governor Larry Hogan announces a new $250 million “Maryland Strong: Economic Recovery Initiative,” to provide assistance to businesses throughout Maryland that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. 

This initiative will provide funding to aid the following:
 
$50M: Expansion of the Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Fund
This initiative will provide a third installment of funding to the Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Fund, which awards grants up to $10,000 to businesses of 50 or fewer employees.
 
While no new applications will be accepted, this funding will clear the backlog of remaining qualified applicants in the queue.
 
$20M: Expansion of COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund
This initiative expands total funding to $30 million for the State’s COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund, which has helped small businesses with an average of 20 employees stay open and saved nearly 9,000 Maryland jobs.
 
$5M: Expansion of Small and Minority Business Low-Interest Loans
This initiative doubles funding to $10 million for low-interest loans to small and minority businesses. Administered through the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority (MSBDFA), the program provides financing to businesses owned by economically and socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs.
 
MSBDFA uses include working capital, supplies and materials, machinery and equipment acquisition, land acquisition, or real estate improvements.
 
$3M: Expansion of Arts Organization Funding
This initiative increases funding to $7 million for the Maryland State Arts Council’s (MSAC) Emergency Grant Program. In response to the COVID-19 State of Emergency, MSAC has created special grant opportunities that provide emergency funding to arts organizations and artists for losses sustained because of programming, operations and events that have been modified or canceled.
 
$2M: Hometown Tourism Program
This initiative provides $2 million for local Destination Marketing Organizations to support hometown tourism efforts that promote local restaurants, attractions, and shops.
 
For more information, please visit here.
POM Chamber Members Save through Energy Co-op

The POM Regional Chamber of Commerce has partnered with energy management experts, CQI Associates, to administer and manage the Chamber Energy Purchasing Cooperative.

On average, since 2004, the Cooperative electricity rates have been lower than both market rates and the weighted annual utility standard offer service rates. During our recent campaign, participants saw a combined savings of $889,600
Guide to Curbside
Restaurants are again limited to 50% capacity and many are offering heated outdoor seating.

Our restaurants and event caterers still need our support!

Click here for a list of restaurants with various options for curbside, outdoor dining, and more.
Member to Member Benefits

Chamber businesses regularly offer savings to other chamber members as a way of supporting local business. Current offers include:

ME Nail Salon 20% OFF nail treatments for chamber members
First Financial Federal CU: chamber members are eligible for credit union membership
OfficeMart Savings: enter promo code Promo Discount POM555 when ordering from officemart.com for a 15% savings on any cart over $100
Beyond: switch to save on credit card processing & get a free chamber membership. Contact Mike Sproge
Join First Financial Federal Today!

POM Chamber members can now join First Financial Federal Credit Union, thanks to our partnership with FFFCU.

START SAVING ON BANK FEES NOW: CORPORATE & PERSONAL ACCOUNTS

Contact the office for more information: Lisa Reynolds: lreynolds@firstfinancial.org
News from Baltimore County Important Links &
COVID Updates
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