Thursday - July 14, 2016


Table of Contents
Circle of Champion Sponsors


welcome new members button
(As of the last 45 days)

Showcase Your Photography! 
Photo Credit: Geoffrey S. Baker


Want to get your name in print? And your photos too? We're looking for images pertaining to Howard County's 1) Growth and Development, 2) Health & Wellness, 3) Education, 4) Shopping & Dining, 5) Arts & Culture, 6) Sports & Recreation. 
We'll credit you and send you a printed copy of the section in which your photo appears. High resolution photos (300dpi) suitable for printing. Please send all photos

here.


Fine print: Selection of photos is dependent on the designer. 

Come with us to beautiful, sunny, Costa del Sol, Spain!


October 18-26


Includes Granada, Alhambra Palace, Rock of Gibraltar, airfare, hotels, 13 meals, professional tour manager, transfers, baggage handling...and more!
Members: $2,799
Non-members: $2,999

DETAILS

Looking for Howard 
County Government Procurement 
Opportunities? 

WANTED:


Hiring Now!
Application Deadline: Friday,
July 29, 2016.



 
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!


Member Savings!
Chamber members get up to 25% off Constant Contact subscription.


Call: 888-606-7316 or email




SAVE $25

on your next qualifying purchase of $100 or more when you use your Chamber Program Account



Join Our Mailing List
Of those that responded to our question, none had ever nominated a company or person for an ACE award. Let's hope that changes! Nominate those in our community that go above and beyond.


We'll be having some discussions with County Executive Allan Kittleman in the coming weeks. We'd like to let him know...What is your opinion of Howard County as a place to do business? 
Signature Event 2016 - Lighting Up the Night with Roy Firestone!


Join us October 7, 2016 for a rousing evening of fun, frolic, and celebration at the Howard County Chamber of Commerce's Signature Event! 
We're pleased to welcome Roy Firestone - a seven-time Emmy Award-winning host, interviewer, narrator, writer, and producer.  As the ground-breaking, original host of ESPN's legendary Up Close, Up Close Classic and Up Close Primetime, Firestone has interviewed more than 5,000 athletes, musicians, actors and political figures, as well as scores of writers and filmmakers. He's also a critically acclaimed comic impressionist, musician, singer and storyteller, enlightening and motivating audiences with stories from the lives he's covered.


Register Here button

Time for ACE Nominations! Deadline July 29!
We're gearing up for our Awards for Chamber Excellence. Nominate those Chamber members that just jump right to the front of your mind when you think about excellence in the business community. They deserve an Award of Chamber Excellence (ACE), presented at the annual Signature Event gala celebration, which this year will be held October 7, at Turf Valley Resort. 
The Chamber will celebrate outstanding leaders in small business, large business, Entrepreneur, Business Person, and government contracting. 
Chamber members are invited to download the application and submit nominations for these awards to the Chamber's Business Recognition Committee. Please note that the nominee must be a member in good standing with the Chamber. And yes, you can nominate yourself. The deadline is Friday, July 29.
TCC Verizon Ribbon Cutting!


Check out the ultimate experience in interactivity while shopping for wireless devices, accessories and home solutions. TCC Verizon is designed as a destination for guests to get hands-on with the latest wireless devices. 
Park Ridge Trading Co. Ribbon Cutting!
8080 Main Street, Ellicott City

The Chamber helped welcomed a new neighbor today in Ellicott City. Park Ridge Trading Co. stocks extra virgin olive oils and infused balsamics, regional specialty foods, new and vintage kitchen and barware, fresh spices, local crafts and original art. They're also sponsors of August 27 2 Miles for 2 Hearts Memorial Race. Stop by and say "hi."


July 20 - Member Orientation
July 21 - GovConnects CFO Rountable
August 4 - Elected Officials Meet & Greet
August 11 - GovConnects CFO Roundtable
More August events coming soon!

Member Events





5:00 - 8:00 pm 
Tino's Italian Bistro


Join Howard County professionals at Tino's Italian Bistro for food, fun, and fundraising. All Chamber members and guests are invited to the Network for a Cause Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 from 5pm - 8pm.
Drink a few, meet a few, and eat a few - all for a good cause!
If you're unable to attend the fundraiser, please consider ordering takeout or delivery, as Tino's will donate 10% of sales for the entire day to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Contact Sarah Lane for more details

Of Interest

Did you Know that Howard County Shares Employee Training Costs?
Incumbent employee training provides both staff and businesses with the opportunity to build and maintain a quality workforce. Incumbent employee training can be used to help avert potential layoffs of employees, or to increase the skill levels of  existing employees so they can be promoted within the company and therefore create additional job opportunities to back-fill those positions.  Priority is given to private sector businesses with under 50 employees.
Up to 50% match of approved training costs for full time (32 hours a week or more), benefited employees only with a maximum reimbursement of $2,500 per employee.


For More Information...
Contact Lili Melendez-Dendy at the Howard County Office of Workforce Development, 410-290-2620 or via email: [email protected] or Elexis Lawson at 410-290-2609 or [email protected]

Reminder: Tax Credit for Companies that Hire Veterans
 
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a Federal tax credit available to employers who hire veterans and individuals from other eligible target groups with significant barriers to employment. WOTC can reduce an employer's federal income tax liability by as much as $9,600 per veteran hired. In addition, there is no limit on the number of individuals an employer can hire to qualify to claim the tax credit. Application for this credit is fairly simple, and more information can be found here.

 
Thanks to Dina Bernstein, CPA at KatzAbosch for passing along this reminder!
Copyright 2016  Howard County Chamber of Commerce   All Rights Reserved 


Howard County Chamber of Commerce | 5560 Sterrett Place | Suite 105 | Columbia | MD | 21044