Friday Five | September 4, 2020
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. Governor Hogan announces that Maryland is moving into Stage 3 of its coronavirus recovery plan.
As Maryland moves into the third and final stage of its coronavirus recovery plan, certain businesses will be allowed to reopen at 50-75% capacity starting Friday, September 4, at 5 p.m. The most recent executive order allows retail and religious establishments to open at 75% capacity, however restaurants will still be kept at 50% for indoor dining.
As announced by Governor Hogan at Tuesday afternoon’s press conference, businesses have the state’s permission to reopen but counties will handle most of the effort—jurisdictions can remain in Stage 2 and adjust to Stage 3 when they see fit. Additionally, masks are still required in all public places in Maryland where social distancing is not possible; this includes indoor and outdoor areas alike.
“I want to remind the people of Maryland that moving into stage three does not mean that this crisis is behind us,” Hogan said. “We must remain vigilant so we can keep Maryland open for business.”
For more details on the Stage 3 re-opening, click here.
2. Maryland plans to beam internet to rural students—but officials say it will not be ready until next year
Students across the country are being asked to learn virtually this fall but many of them are facing an obstacle: lacking internet access.
A partnership with the Office of Rural Broadband, Maryland Department of Education, and an unnamed non-profit are building a wireless network for education that will beam reliable, high-speed internet to Maryland’s most isolated pockets. The network will take approximately one year to build and should be fully operational across the state by August 2021.
Maryland has an estimated 324,000 rural residents and officials don’t have a clear picture of the students who live in these unserved areas. The state also plans to commission a feasibility study this fall to find where the students without internet access are located and what it will take to deliver the network to them. For now, school systems are developing a patchwork of solutions to help those rural students as they wait for this new network to be built.
Read more here.
3. Moratorium extended on utility shutoffs through Nov. 15 for Maryland, citing coronavirus pandemic
The Maryland Public Service Commission extended the moratorium on terminating residential gas, water, and electric services through November 15, citing the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The original moratorium authorized by Gov. Larry Hogan was set to expire Sept. 1 and prohibited utility providers from cutting off service or charging late fees. Monday’s actions now allow residential customers 45 days to work out payment plans with utility providers. Additionally, providers are not allowed to send out termination notices until October 1—45 days in advance of a termination.
For the full article, click here.
4. Maryland Chamber of Commerce upcoming events
2020 Congressional Roundup – virtual
On September 9th, starting at 10:00 am, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual Congressional Roundup. Do not miss the opportunity to hear directly from policy experts and Maryland’s congressional delegation regarding the current legislative and electoral landscape and how it intersects with the challenges presently being faced by the business community. Through this virtual event, attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions and to convey their concerns directly to lawmakers.
Click here to register for the Congressional Roundup
Current confirmed speakers of Maryland’s congressional delegation and U.S. Chamber of Commerce include:
Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD4)
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD1)
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD8)
Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD2)
Rep. David Trone (D-MD6)
Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy expert, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Thank you to the Maryland Chamber’s Trustee sponsors:
Thank you to our supporting sponsor:
Thank you to our federated partner sponsor:
Click here to register for the Congressional Roundup
*This event is $25 for members, $75 for non-members. You will need your member login to receive the member rate. If you need help accessing your member login please contact Kimberly Reach at kreach@mdchamber.org or Nicole Seay at nseay@mdchamber.org.
For more information on upcoming webinars and other events, please visit our Events page. If you are unable to participate, please note that we provide links to full recordings of all past webinars here. If you have any questions, or wish to discuss a sponsored webinar, please contact Whitney Harmel at wharmel@mdchamber.org or (410) 269-0642, ext. 1117.
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. Masks on Maryland Campaign, “Only You Can Keep Maryland Open for Business”
Masks on Maryland is a statewide campaign launched by the Maryland Department of Commerce to encourage Marylanders to wear a mask so that the state can remain open for business. In a series of announcements being aired throughout the state on local radio stations, along with social media outreach, the campaign encourages residents and visitors alike to wear masks properly, practice social distancing and adhere to the CDC hygiene guidelines to fight the surge of COVID-19 cases.
Catch the Maryland Chamber of Commerce’s own CEO & President Christine Ross’s radio spot among those airing for the campaign.
More details on the campaign can be found here.
Upcoming calendar of legislative briefings and hearings
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
- 9:30 a.m. – Environment and Transportation Committee
- Briefing on the End of CARES Act COVID-19 Eviction Protections – Effects on Renters and Property Owners
- See MGA Website for additional information.
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
- 3:00 p.m. – Economic Matters Committee
- Briefing by the Maryland Department of Labor
- See MGA Website for additional information.
Thursday, September 3, 2020
- 9:30 a.m. – Environment and Transportation Committee
- Workgroup on Waste Reduction and Recycling (#2)
- See MGA Website for additional information
Friday, September 10, 2020
- 10:00 a.m. – Education Subcommittee
- Brief on Remote Learning for Students with Disabilities.
- See MGA Website for additional information.
Click here to view up-to-the-minute COVID-19 resources on the Maryland Chamber of Commerce’s COVID-19 resources page.
