The Maryland Chamber of Commerce has compiled resources to help keep our members and the Maryland business community informed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Maryland Chamber Foundation COVID-19 Webinar Series
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce remains dedicated to supporting our state’s business community throughout the COVID-19 crisis. There continues to be an overwhelming amount of information being circulated about the virus and its public health and economic impact. We will continue to share resources from various subject matter experts and convey them in real time.
Maryland’s Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance Program | August 13, 2020
In 1984, the Maryland General Assembly enacted legislation establishing the Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance Program. Work Sharing is a voluntary program that provides an alternative to layoffs for employers faced with a temporary, non-cyclical decline in business due to lower economic activity. The program is designed to avoid layoffs by preserving jobs for current employees and to assist businesses that have already undertaken layoffs to reopen and resume operations gradually. Employers who participate in Work Sharing can retain employees by temporarily reducing the hours of work, within a range of 20% to 50%, among employees within the affected unit(s). The employees with reduced work hours receive partial unemployment insurance benefits to supplement lost wages.
During the current COVID-19 pandemic, Work Sharing can mitigate or prevent the adverse effects of the current economic crisis by keeping businesses connected to their employees, and ensuring employees continue to receive compensation. Work Sharing can also serve as a means of bringing most or all of a temporarily laid off workforce back to the job, even if social-distancing measures, a decline in business or other factors prevent operating at full staffing levels immediately.
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond presents: Impact of COVID-19 on Maryland’s economy | June 24, 2020
Join the Maryland Chamber Foundation for a conversation with Andy Bauer, vice president and regional executive for the Baltimore branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Mr. Bauer will share the Federal Reserve’s recent and unprecedented actions and share his thoughts on the U.S. economy.
Over 350 Maryland businesses recently participated in a survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond regarding the effects of COVID-19 on their business. Bauer will break down the data and the key components to a successful recovery.
- Resources from webinar: PowerPoint presentation
Get Maryland’s citizens and businesses back to work with the Talent Exchange | June 9, 2020
Join the Maryland Chamber Foundation and Eightfold.ai to discuss how the crisis is impacting work – and how you can help:
- Hear how COVID-19 is impacting workers and businesses in Maryland
- See a demonstration of Talent Exchange, a technology that is matching impacted workers with businesses hiring now
- Learn how you can help get Marylanders back to work
The Eightfold Talent Exchange matches people impacted by COVID-19 job loss with employers who are hiring. More than 700,000 positions are currently available in North America.
Preparing for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) | June 5, 2020
Join the Maryland Chamber Foundation for a free webinar with a panel of cyber experts who will discuss the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). The CMMC is the DoD’s next step to ensure cybersecurity controls and processes adequately protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), based on five different levels of maturity expectations. This is a timely and relevant discussion for those with current DoD contracts or those looking to become a DoD contractor in the future. This certification will be required for both Prime and Subcontractors.
Our discussion will focus on the next steps required to prepare your business for CMMC compliance. By starting with your Policy and Procedures, followed by their implementation, you develop a roadmap of prioritized projects in preparation of the audit. It is critical to prepare for compliance now or potentially miss out on future business opportunities.
Understanding cyber basics to protect your expanding Attack Surface | May 29, 2020
Join us as our guest speaker, Will Palm, Security Solutions Architect with Tenable, helps you recognize
and address potential pitfalls in your current cybersecurity practices. He’ll break through the technical
jargon and share fundamental ways you can better protect your business from cyber attacks.
- What is your Attack Surface? And how is it changing?
- What are the most common factors impacting your cyber exposure?
- What steps should you take now to better protect your business?
A conversation with Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kelly Schulz | May 19, 2020
Please join us for a conversation with Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kelly Schulz where she will discuss the Department’s ongoing COVID-19 response, including the work of the industry-specific advisory groups, their recommendations and next steps in the Roadmap to Recovery.
A conversation with Comptroller Peter Franchot | May 15, 2020
Please join us for a conversation with Comptroller Peter Franchot and Andy Schaufele, Director of the Bureau of Revenue Estimates. Our guests will discuss the current fiscal and economic situation facing Maryland during this pandemic and provide us with their predictions about the future. Participants will learn more about recently released data and revenue indicators from the Bureau of Revenue Estimates.
- Resources from webinar: PowerPoint presentation
The Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 | May 12, 2020
Join the Maryland Chamber Foundation for a free webinar as representatives from Whiteford Taylor Preston discuss the new Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019. The Maryland Chamber Foundation remains dedicated to supporting our state’s business community—and maintaining continuity of operations—as we grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.
Small business owners now have the lifeline they need to work through a rough patch, cyclical downturn or other unexpected problem by taking advantage of the new Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (the “SBRA”).
SBRA is a significant change in existing bankruptcy law that greatly reduces or eliminates many of the costs associated with a bankruptcy reorganization, expedites the process for a quick turnaround, and preserves ownership and control of the business.
Given the number of businesses suddenly faced with the prospect of insolvency, the SBRA feels like must-know law. It is described as a game changer for small and medium-sized businesses, as it allows access to a quicker and less expensive reorganization, at the same time making it easier for a business to maintain equity interests.
COVID-19: SBA Paycheck Protection Program updates and implications | May 8, 2020
Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration Baltimore field office will join us to provide updates on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
COVID-19: Economic outlook and prospects for recovery | May 1, 2020
Join us for a conversation with Tom Barkin, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Mr. Barkin will discuss the Federal Reserve’s recent and unprecedented actions and share his thoughts on the U.S. economy, including what the Richmond Fed is learning through business outreach, and the key components to a successful recovery.
Emotional well-being and your workforce in the time of COVID-19: Taking care of your employees | April 28, 2020
Representatives from Kaiser Permanente will discuss emotional wellbeing in the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics include: understanding stress/anxiety facts, impacts on your workforce and tools and resources to care for your employees.
- Resources from webinar:
COVID-19: Update from U.S. Chamber on PPP and Path Forward | April 24, 2020
Representatives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will provide updates on the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), including the U.S. Senate’s recent vote to replenish the fund. They will also discuss the U.S. Chamber’s recently released “The Path Forward,” an initiative to address how Americans and businesses can return to work safely, successfully and sustainably.
- Resources from webinar: PPP frequently asked questions and small business PPP loan guide
COVID-19: Leadership conversation with S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen on the federal government’s response to COVID-19 Webinar | April 14, 2020
Recently, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors and other Chamber leaders had the honor of participating in a conversation with U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen on the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic thus far.
COVID-19: Resources from Maryland Small Business Development Center webinar | April 10, 2020
Representatives from the Maryland Small Business Development Center will discuss the resources and programs it is offering to support employers and employees.
COVID-19: Resources from Maryland Health Connection webinar | April 7, 2020
Representatives from the Maryland Health Exchange will discuss the emergency open enrollment extension and how to access health programs, resources, and information being offered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19: Economic resources available from the state of Maryland | April 3, 2020
Representatives from both the Maryland Department of Commerce and the Maryland Department of Labor will provide an overview of the states COVID-19 business relief programs, information and updates on applying for unemployment insurance, as well as existing programs and resources, as listed on the “Maryland Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Business” webpage.
COVID-19: Understanding the CARES Act and partnering with local banks webinar | April 2, 2020
Stephen McAllister of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Kathleen Murphy of the Maryland Bankers Association will provide an overview of the CARES Act, review financial options and available resources from the SBA, and discuss how to partner with banks to receive needed funds.
COVID-19: Maryland Chamber’s response & resources webinar | March 24, 2020
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce remains dedicated to supporting our state’s business community—and maintaining continuity of operations—as we grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.
We’d like to invite all members and partners of the Maryland Chamber to join us to share important resources, receive an update on the federal and state response to the crisis, and ensure we are addressing our members’ challenges and concerns during this trying time.
- Resources from webinar: Recap of Topics Covered (3/24/20)
ALL COVID-19 RESOURCES FROM THE MARYLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CHAMBER RESOURCES
Resources include: the ReNEW Maryland Initiative, the Safe Workplace: Best Practices and Baselines for Reopening Maryland PDF, Essential Employee Designation Letter, MDCC advocacy communications on behalf of our membership, recordings and resources from Maryland Chamber Foundation webinar series, and more.
STATE RESOURCES
Resources include: Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery, information for businesses from the Maryland Interagency, Maryland Business Relief Wizard, resources from the Maryland Department of Health, Maryland Unites, resources from the Maryland Small Business Resource Center (SBDC), state legislative resources, resources for rural businesses, and more.
FEDERAL RESOURCES
Resources include: resources from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), updates on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) from the U.S. Department of Treasury, resources from NFIB, resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Resource Toolkit, federal legislative resources, resources for rural businesses, and more.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Resources include: Resources from Maryland Chamber of Commerce Members such as BGE, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Johns Hopkins, The Maryland Bankers Association, and Shawe Rosenthal; resources from the World Health Organization; the McKinsey and Company Talent Exchange; resources from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM); and more.
For more information contact mdchamber@mdchamber.org or (410) 269-0642.
