Friday Five | September 11, 2020
Today marks the nineteenth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93. We all remember where we were that day, the images seared indelibly into our minds. As we go through our day, we will surely mark the passing minutes with those memories. The Maryland Chamber of Commerce would like to take a moment to honor the service and sacrifice of those lost that day and to those who continue to serve and protect, providing us the ability to carry on and enjoy our freedoms.
“No day shall erase you from the memory of time.”
Each Friday, the Maryland Chamber will bring you the top five news stories from the intersection of business and government. Here are this week’s top five stories.
1. Senior Maryland lawmakers push Senate bill limit proposal.
Under a new proposal crafted by Sen. Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), and other senior lawmakers, members of the Maryland Senate would face a limit on the number of bills they can introduce. This move is intended to reduce the workload for legislative bill-drafters and lead to shorter committee hearings.
Under the proposal, each senator would be allowed to request that 30 bills or resolutions be drafted in a legislative session. They could then submit 25 of the 30 for formal consideration by the body.
To encourage lawmakers to get their requests in early — before the legislature convenes — senators would be allowed to pre-file up to five bills without it counting against their cap.
Read the full story here.
2. Comptroller Franchot urges the state to direct the $585 million fund balance to small businesses.
Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot (D) wants the state to direct a general fund surplus to small businesses coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Franchot announced on Wednesday final close-out numbers for the 2020 fiscal year that ended June 30, which includes a $585.8 million unallocated balance in the state’s general fund.
Citing the state’s existing $1.2 billion rainy day fund, Franchot said he would urge the governor and General Assembly to devote the entire general fund balance to a stimulus and rescue program for small businesses.
“These small businesses will simply not survive this economic devastation in the absence of state support ― and Maryland would be in danger of losing thousands of jobs, direct and indirect economic benefits, and community investments that they generate,” Franchot said in a written statement.
For the full story, click here.
3. Lockheed Martin accelerates Caring for Maryland charitable giving amidst COVID-19 crisis
Since the pandemic began in March, corporate companies have been finding ways to pivot and support the communities they live in. With Lockheed Martin’s corporate air fleet stationed at Martin State Airport (located in Baltimore County), they were uniquely poised to aid the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
From flying missions to transfer bone marrow donations to shuttling critical medical personnel into coronavirus hotspots, Lockheed’s pilots served in a key role in the combat against COVID-19.
Additionally, they were able to produce and donate 2,340 sets of PPE and deliver 9,800 throughout the state of Maryland—their charitable giving alone totaled $658,000.
For the most up to date information on Lockheed Martin’s support, click here.
4. Maryland Chamber of Commerce upcoming events
9th Annual Maryland Chamber Cup
#Maskup, get out from behind the screen and join us at stunning Cattail Creek Country Club on Monday, October 26, for a fun and relaxing day on the golf course. Early-bird pricing is extended to the end of September. Round up your colleagues, invite your clients, or come on your own and we’ll team you up. Reserve your spots today!Maryland business leaders and Maryland Chamber members look forward to this event all year, this year more than ever. We look forward to connecting with you and promise to deliver an experience that’s truly “above par”!Registration includes:
- Access to the driving range to warm up
- Outdoor lunch
- Complimentary beverages and snacks throughout the day on the course (yes, we are bringing back the orange crushes!)
- Outdoor evening awards reception with dinner
Your participation in Chamber Cup and other MDCC fundraisers allows us to continually enhance our members’ experience and work toward achieving our shared goal of growing jobs, expanding our economy and supporting our communities, now and into the future.
Click here to register for the Chamber Cup
Thank you to the Maryland Chamber’s Trustee sponsors!
Thank you to our Eagle Sponsors!
Thank you to our Tee Sponsors!
In response to the covid-19 pandemic, Cattail Creek Country Club has implemented the following measures per CDC guidelines that we ask all attendees to follow:
- Masks are required indoors, such as in the locker rooms and professional shop, and outdoors, especially where social distancing is not possible. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own masks. Cattail Creek has masks available for purchase at $5.
- Cattail requires participants to stay 6 feet apart during registration and warmup.
- Cattail will have 3 different putting greens and the driving range open to add space before the tournament.
- Each foursome will be provided two golf carts. Masks are required while riding in golf carts.
- The lunch and evening reception will be hosted outdoors, with a social distancing seating arrangement.
- No more than 6 people are allowed per table during food service.
- Mask must be worn at all times during food service except when seated at your table.
- Cattail asks once you are seated at a table, you do not move to another table.
5. Maryland Small Business Development Center, University of Maryland, and a bipartisan group of Senators launch policy “Hack-A-Thon” to develop small business recovery solutions.
Thursday, September 10th, the Maryland Small Business Development Center and the University of Maryland announced the launching of the inaugural Small Business Policy Hack-A-Thon. Their goal is to bring together Maryland’s brightest, most creative minds from across the State to craft innovative policy solutions to combat the economic hardship that small businesses are facing in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and make sure they recover from this crisis stronger than ever.
Register for the event here.
Upcoming calendar of legislative briefings and hearings
Monday, September 14, 2020
- 2:00 p.m. – Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission
- Briefing on the Funding of Reinsurance Programs in Other States
- See MGA Website for additional information
Monday, September 14, 2020
- 2:00 p.m. – Maryland Manufacturing Advisory Board
- Conference call: 912-712-4180; Pin: 468 124 879
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
- 3:00 p.m. – Joint Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee & House Appropriations Subcommittee
- Briefing on the Operation of Public Institutions of Higher Education during the Upcoming Fall Semester
- See MGA Website for additional information
Reminder: Fill out your census.
Maryland Planning Secretary Robert McCord is asking the business community to help spread the word by asking their employees and customers to complete the census. The date to complete the 2020 Census has been bumped up to September 30, 2020, from the end of October. Census data is important beyond simply determining congressional lines and it may play a factor in federal COVID-19 vaccine distribution to states when one is developed. Make sure you’re doing your part by filling out the census and encouraging others to do so as well. You can find more information at www.census.maryland.gov.
Click here to take the 2020 Census
Click here to view up-to-the-minute COVID-19 resources on the Maryland Chamber of Commerce’s COVID-19 resources page.
