Martin Luther King, Jr.
In This Issue
Strategic Planning
We need your input to make your Chamber better. We're doing a 3-year plan. Please give us your thoughts as to how we can serve you and the businesses in Howard County better. Or be a part of a focus group on Feb. 10.

Take the Survey!

Event Links
Fulfilling the Dream Through Entrepreneurship - Jan. 19
Coffee with the President- Jan 21
State of the County- Feb 18
Our Platinum Sponsors


 
Our Premier Sponsors






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Member Coupons
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GIVE A LITTLE TO THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN A LOT



Are you taking full advantage of your membership?



 
Share the story of your business with others. 
Why did you start, keep, and/or expand your business into the region?
Any unexpected benefits? Drawbacks that you overcame?
Would you do it again? 
Anything you would change the next time?

We'll publish your story in an upcoming E-Weekly newsletter!


COME TO SPAIN
WITH US!
 

October 18 - 26
Our Price: $2,799

Includes Granada, Alhambra Palace, Rock of Gibraltar, airfare, hotels, 13 meals, professional tour manager, transfers, baggage handling....

 
January 18, 2016
CHAMBER EVENTS

MLK
LAST CHANCE!! January 19
Fulfilling the Dream Through Entrepreneurship
Howard Community College
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Keynote speaker will be C. David Moody, Jr., CEO of CD Moody Construction, an Atlanta, GA based minority construction firm, which consistently ranks as one of Black Enterprise Magazine's top 100 minority businesses.
Following the keynote will be a panel discussion on Howard County small business development  programs and related initiatives. Attendance is free, but registration is required in case we need to contact you if there is inclement weather.
 
 
Made possible with the support from the following companies:




Coffee
LAST CHANCE! January 21
Coffee with the President
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. 

Join President & CEO, Leonardo McClarty, for an informal chat about his plans for 2016. How can we help your business succeed? We'll be meeting at the new Columbia Association offices at 6310 Hillside Court, Suite 100, in Columbia. Please RSVP to Terri Carpenter by Monday, January 18.

Focus
Make Your Chamber Better for YOU!
Strategic Planning Session - February 10

There are one or two ways in which you can participate in the strategic planning process. The first is to click here and complete a brief survey pertaining to Chamber strengths and weaknesses and community opportunities and threats. This survey must be completed no later than February 10
 
The second way is to participate in one of our two focus groups. The focus groups will take place on Wednesday, February 10 from 8:30 AM to 10 AM and 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. Simply click here no later than January 22 to indicate your interest in participating in one of the focus groups. Someone from the Chamber staff will respond as to whether you have been accepted as a participant.


SOC
February 18
State of the County
11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 

Reserve your seat early for this hot ticket event!
REGISTER

MEMBER NEWS

Welcome Block Advisors
Centre Park Dr., Columbia
Tis the season! Welcome to Block Advisors, a reliable, year-round tax advice and services company.
Maryland Business Reception
Loews Hotel - Annapolis
January 20, 5:00 - 7:30 p.m.
$140 members/$200 non-members

Meet face to face with those who work on the issues that have a great impact on Maryland businesses. Take advantage of this opportunity to interact with our representatives and talk about regulations and policies that affect the way we work and live in Maryland.
Contact Jessica Palmeri at (410) 269-0642 x129 or (301) 261-2858 x129 or jpalmeri@mdchamber.org

Long-Term Care Insurance Public Hearing
The Insurance Commissioner, Al Redmer, Jr., will hold a public hearing on the state of long term care insurance and appropriate regulatory guidelines including discussion of premium rate increase requests and policyholder protections. In order to hold an effective hearing, the Commissioner is reaching out to consumers, insurance carriers, and other interested parties to provide the opportunity to share statements or testimony about the state of the long term care insurance industry. More...

The hearing will be held on: 

Friday, January 22, 2016 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. 
Community College of Baltimore County
Center for the Arts, Theater
800 S. Rolling Rd., Catonsville, MD 21228
 
Written comments and RSVPs should be sent to Adam Zimmerman by January 20, 2016, either by email to adam.zimmerman@maryland.gov or by mail to 200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700, Baltimore, Md. 21202 or by fax to 410-468-2038. 
Any questions regarding this matter should be directed to Adam Zimmerman, Actuarial Analyst by phone to 410-468-2048, or by e-mail to adam.zimmerman@maryland.gov.

Affordable and Accessible Housing Challenges
January 20, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
New Hope Lutheran Church
8575 Guildford Rd., Columbia
Join with ACS member colleagues to hear about housing challenges from representatives of organizations serving low income households, seniors and individuals with behavioral health problems, disabilities and physical limitations. Guest panel includes:

Mary Becker, Howard County Department of Citizen Services - Office on Aging
Keisha Benjamin, Bridges to Housing Stability
Tom Carbo, Howard County Housing
Steve Gray, NAMI Howard County
Brenda Sackandy, The Arc of Howard County
Patricia Schupple, Howard County Dept. of Corrections


Following the presentation, break into groups and share your expertise in identifying the most challenging barriers and potential solutions to closing the housing supply gaps for these groups. 
Register here

Howard County Tobacco Retailer Training
HC DrugFree has been contracted by the Howard County Health Department to provide compliance training for Howard County tobacco retailers.

Training session options are:
February 9, 2016 at 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Miller Library, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD 
 
February 11, 2016 at 5:15 PM - 6:15 PM
Howard County Health Department, Potomac Room
8930 Stanford Boulevard, Columbia, MD 21045

RSVP to Training@hcdrugfree.org by January 20 to guarantee your spot in the training session of your choice.
If you have any questions, please call HC DrugFree at 443-325-0040 or email Training@hcdrugfree.org
SOC
March 15
Lunch with Governor Hogan 
Turf Valley Resort & Conf. Center, Ellicott City
11:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Maryland Business for Responsive Government (MBRG) invites you to attend our 2nd Annual State of Business Address.
 
Maryland business leaders will enjoy lunch while Governor Larry Hogan discusses Maryland's current business climate and plans for improvement. REGISTER

OF INTEREST

Economic Impact of Howard County's State-Leading School System 
Read Sage Policy Group's report on Howard County's school system, and the assessment of Howard County student performance on home values. Read more...

Maryland Companies Attract $451 million in Venture Capital in 4Q15.

Venture capitalists invested a whopping $451 million in Maryland companies in the last three months of 2015, the largest quarterly amount in the state in 15 years.
The surge in funding followed a larger national trend, according to a report released Friday.Venture capitalists invested $58.8 billion across the United States in 2015, the second-highest yearly total in the last 20 years.  Read more...