Young Professionals Network Headshots and LinkedIn Panel Discussion Event
August 14, 2023

​Join the GSSCC Young Professionals Network for a LinkedIn Panel Discussion + Headshot Session this Wednesday, August 16, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Home 2 Suites by Hilton Silver Spring.

This is a great opportunity for any young professional looking to update their headshot at an affordable price, plus learning how to leverage their LinkedIn profile to advance their careers, and network with their fellow peers.

General admission is free for members, $10 for non-members. Headshots are $25 per person and must be paid for in advance.

​LinkedIn Panel of experts include:

• Danielle Ricks, Montgomery Community Media Director of Education and Community Engagement
• Marisol Euceda, CCI Health Services Marketing and Communications Director

THIS WEEK!
Wednesday, August 16
Home 2 Suites by Hilton Silver Spring
8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Register

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​Joint Business After Hours with Montgomery County Small Business Association
August 14, 2023

Double the organizations, double the connections! Join the GSSCC and the Montgomery County Small Business Association (MCSBA) for a joint business after hours on Wednesday, August 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Enjoy networking, delicious lite bites from All Set Restaurant & Bar, and a cash bar.

Admission is $10 for GSSCC and MCSBA members and $25 for non-members.

Wednesday, August 30
All Set Restaurant & Bar
5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Register

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​Closure for Paving on Colesville Road Notice
August 14, 2023

Paving work is scheduled to take place on Colesville Road (US 29) between Spring Street and Woodside Parkway in Silver Spring beginning Monday, August 14, through Thursday, August 17, between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., all weather permitting.

During these closures, the paving company will provide skilled crews to expedite the work and utilize all proper traffic control signage to adjust and manage a sage traffic control pattern.

For more information and contact information, read here.

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Chamber Sponsoring Thrive 2050 Montgomery County Commercial Real Estate Event
​August 14, 2023

You are invited to join the Chamber at the Thriving in 2050 and Beyond: The Latest of Development Plans in Montgomery County commercial real estate event on Wednesday, September 6, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Avocet Tower. From mixed-use to retail, learn how Montgomery County is handling the demand for new projects, investments, economic growth and more. For tickets and more information, read here. Use the following code for a 20% discount: NSMC20zs8N.

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Travel to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast with GSSCC
August 14, 2023

GSSCC is returning to international travel in partnership with CI Destinations. We will be visiting Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast from March 20-28, 2024 and you are ALL invited. Only $3599. Space is limited, secure your spot today.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Amalfi Coast
• Ravello
• Naples (optional)
• Capri (optional)
• Salerno & Paestum
• Pompeii
• Rome
  
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INCLUSIONS:

• Round Trip Airfare from Dulles
• Airline Fuel Surcharges, Taxes, Fees
• 7 Nights First Class Hotel
• 10 Meals (7B, 3D)
• Sightseeing Per Itinerary
• Admissions Per Itinerary
• Professional Tour Manager
• Baggage Handling
• Hotel Transfers

Register

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Phase III Purple Line Construction Impact Grants Open for Businesses Affected by Construction
August 7, 2023

Montgomery County will be offering funding support for independently owned and operated businesses with 20 or fewer employees impacted by the Purple Line construction through Phase III of its Purple Line Light rail grants program. Eligible businesses can start submitting applications on Tuesday, August 15.

This is the third round of grants through which the County’s Business Center will offer $5,000 to qualifying small businesses in the construction corridor. This grant program is made possible through an $815,000 grant provided by the Maryland Department of Commerce.

The County’s Business Center will host informational webinars on the program on August 29, 30 and 31 in English, Spanish, and Amharic languages respectively at 8070 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring.

Learn more about the grant program here and access the application here.

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GSSCC OEC Business Tips: The Innoficiency Problem
August 7, 2023

From left front to back: Stacey Brown, Signarama Silver Spring; Andrea Dunathan, Dunathan Consulting; Brad Eisenberg, BE Lean; Peter Cwalino and Marsha Smedshammer, The Hotel Silver Spring; Phill Scott, PVI Office Furniture Plus; Walter Carlton, Carlton Creative; and Jennifer Meltzer, All Set Restaurant & Bar.

Members of the GSSCC Owners & Entrepreneurs Circle recently discussed the roles efficiency and innovation play in growing their businesses at their recent meeting at J. Hollinger's Waterman's Chophouse. Attendees offered a few tips that might be useful for all businesses:

• Innovation is often thought of as inventing new products or services, but it also includes changing the way you do things internally or externally.
• Innovation requires a real commitment of time and budget, and a culture that supports trying/failing/trying again, to succeed. You can’t give lip service to innovation and expect your team to trust that it’s ok to take risks and try something new.
• Innovating everywhere all at once is disruptive to operational efficiency. But it may be possible to focus innovation efforts in a specific area, with a specific commitment of budget (time and money), to balance the company’s need to both innovation and efficiency.
• Efficiency can generate the extra resources (time and money) needed to innovate.

The next OEC meeting is Thursday, September 7, at 5 p.m. at All Set Restaurant & Bar. Topic: AI - The Scary/Exciting Unknown. Register here.

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Two Webinars from the Governor's Office Available for Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses​
August 7, 2023

The Maryland Governor's Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs offers free webinars curated to help small, minority, women, and veteran business owners improve core competencies and gain an insightful understanding of the State's procurement processes. There are two coming up in late August that may be of interest to Chamber members.

Navigating eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) is Tuesday, August 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon via Zoom. The instructor is Shaw Cronin, Instructional Programs Administrator, Office of Sate Procurement with the Maryland Department of General Services. Learn more about the webinar here.

Prime Contracting in the Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program is Thursday, August 24, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon via Zoom. The instructor is Lisa Mitchell Sennaar, SBR Compliance Manager, Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs. Learn more about the webinar here.

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GSSCC Welcomes New Members in July
August 7, 2023

GSSCC welcomes companies that became Chamber members during July and encourages you to check out the services they offer. We're pleased to link readers to these businesses and the products and services they provide.

NEW MEMBERS

Far East Motors Auto Repair
Jonathan Moser
963 Selim Road
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 495-7300
www.fareastmotors.com
Automobile Repair/Parts/Services


Streamline Property Management
Scott Goldberg
4845 Rugby Ave., Suite 201
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 656-8765
www.StreamlineManagement.com
Real Estate and Construction

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Registration Open for 2023 Chamber Cup - Annual Business Golf Classic
July 31, 2023

The beautiful Argyle Country Club course, your favorite foursome, and a chance to win one of several contests throughout the day – it’s the event we wait all year FORE! Registration is now open for the GSSCC 2023 Chamber Cup - Annual Business Golf Classic on Monday, September 18.

New opportunities like Lunch Sponsor and Branded Golf Ball Sponsor join member-favorite Gold and Silver sponsorships as well as multiple course sponsorship options. From the moment you sign up as sponsor, your business will start reaping the benefits from strategic logo placements to mentions in our emails and newsletters as well as social media communications.

Hurry, these exclusive opportunities will sell fast!

Golfer & Sponsorship Opportunities

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Thank You to Our Sponsors

​​Title Sponsor

Gold Sponsors
Adventist White Oak Medical Center
Downtown Silver Spring
Joseph W. McCartin Insurance
Montgomery College

​Supporting Sponsors
The Fillmore Silver Spring - Beverage Cart

Don't golf but want your business or organization represented at the event? There are plenty of volunteer opportunities! Email Julie Pawlikowski for details.

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Chamber Cuts Ribbon in BethMichaels Floral & Events' Grand Opening Celebration​
​July 31, 2023

GSSCC President & CEO Stephanie Helsing, Montgomery County District 4 Representative Kate Stewart, and Silver Spring Regional Services Director Jacob Newman join BethMichaels Floral & Events owner Ayobami Akindele, third from left, for a ribbon cutting celebration.

GSSCC President & CEO Stephanie Helsing was honored to cut the ribbon in celebration of the grand opening of BethMichaels Floral & Events, a new full-service event planning, management, and design company owned by Ayobami Akindele. BethMichaels Floral & Events is the first florist to have a brick and mortar shop in downtown Silver Spring in the past 12 years and is located at 8735 First Avenue. Learn more about BethMichaels Floral & Events here.

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Members Network, Enjoy Business After Hours​
July 31, 2023

From left to right: Maryclaire Griffin and Elise O'Leary, The Fillmore Silver Spring; Mona Tinaza, WorkSource Montgomery; and Chris Robles, Trippy Tacos.

Jeff Ansah and Robert Williams, Elite Bodies, LLC.

From left to right: Jordan Smith, Edward Jones Investments; Walter Carlton, Carlton Creative; Jennifer Meltzer, All Set Restaurant & Bar, Money Muscle BBQ, and Fryers Roadside.

From left to right: Stephanie Helsing, GSSC; Jonathan Moser, Far East Motors Auto Repair; Shawn Broadhurst, Citizens & Culture General Manager.

Last Wednesday, members gathered for a rooftop Business After Hours bathed in golden hour light where they exchanged business cards and grew their connections. Thank you to host Citizens & Culture for the delicious food and for the beautiful space. Learn more about Citizens & Culture here, visit the Chamber Calendar for upcoming networking opportunities, and email Julie Pawlikowski for more details on hosting a networking event of your own.

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Economic Development Committee Host WMATA Representatives for Georgia Ave Tactical Bus Lane Discussion
July 31, 2023

Recently, at the invitation of the GSSCC Economic Development Committee, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) representatives joined the Chamber to discuss the quick-build bus lanes project to enhance bus service on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring between 16th Street and Wayne Avenue.

Some key takeaways from the committee meeting include:

• The tactical bus lanes are proposed for Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Georgia Avenue between 16th Street and Wayne Avenue
• The design is projected to be completed by December 2023, construction to begin Spring 2024, and bus lanes expected to open Summer 2024
• Feedback from a meeting with business owners on both sides of Georgia Avenue between Wayne Street and Spring Street revealed that most business are not affected by the use of public curb space near their businesses as residents park in parking garages and deliveries primarily occur in off peak hours
• There will be signage, pavement markings, red thermoplastic, and more to alert drivers to the bus lanes and there will be adjustment to traffic timing to mitigate Beltway ramp buildup
• Right now the project is not funded and WMATA is working with the State Highway Administration to identify funding for both this project and the Silver Hill Road project in Prince George county

To view the presentation slide deck, read here. For additional discussion materials, read here and here. Learn more about the Georgia Avenue Bus Lanes here and email buspriority@wmata.com for general inquiries.

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Purple Line Opening Delayed Again to Spring 2027
July 31, 2023

Back in February, Purple Line NOW News reported on a potential delay occurring later this year after an analysis of the project status was conducted on behalf of the new builder. It seemed very likely then that the project would face a seven-month delay into early 2027.

In the monthly newsletter from the Purple Line MDOT team, Project Director Ray Biggs II writes, “The Maryland Transit Administration and Purple Line Transit Partners (PLTP) today requested approval from the Board of Public Works (BPW) of a modification to the Purple Line Public-Private Partnership (P3) Agreement that formally extends the contractual deadline for achieving Revenue Service Availability to Spring 2027.”

Director Biggs explained that the revised schedule for opening day, “reflects the ongoing challenges and complexities of completing construction in a dense urban environment, the ongoing national workforce and supply chain issues, delays in completion of utility relocation activities, and the unique history of the Purple Line Light Rail Project.”

He notes the larger context on this delay and cost increase. The new concessionaire discovered complications that contributed to cost increases and delays at some of the work sites that had been dormant for two years. This dormancy had been a result of two significant and “highly uncommon” events: 1) the initial lawsuit that allowed a lengthy delay before finally being dismissed, and 2) the need to replace the design-build contractor after the initial concessionaire left the project.

Once complete, the Purple Line will have 21 stations and offer east to west transit for jobs, school, shopping and recreation. It will also provide connections to the Metrorail, three MARC commuter rail lines, Amtrak and bus services.

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Council Votes to Approve Rent Stabilization Bill
July 24, 2023

Last Tuesday the Council voted to approve rent stabilization Bill 15-23 which will cap annual increases at the region's consumer price index plus 3%, with a hard cap of 6% of the base rent.

The Council voted 7-4, with councilmembers Gabe Albornoz (D-At-large), Andrew Friedson (D-District 1), Marilyn Balcombe (D-District 2), and Dawn Luedtke (D-District 7) voting against the legislation.

The Chamber opposed the rent control legislation and believes that implementing rent control in Montgomery County will exacerbate the housing shortage, increase the cost of rental housing, and decrease the quality of existing housing stock. It urged the Council to consider the message legislation like this would send to those interested in investing in our region.

Read the full article here for more information.

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Silver Spring Garages to Change from Gated Facilities to Master Meter Stations
July 24, 2023

On Monday, July 31, the Wayne Garage 60 and Town Square Garage 61 will be converted from gated facilities to Master Meter stations.

Customer can pay for parking using coins, cash, and credit cards, or purchase daily/monthly permits. The new system will also offer the convenience of using pay-by-cell phone Applications. These services will be provided by ParkMobile and Passport.

Read here to learn more about this change.

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GSSCC Opposes Rent Control Legislation
July 17, 2023

The Chamber recently submitted an updated letter to the Montgomery County Council reiterating its opposition to the rent control legislation currently moving through the Council legislative process.

The Chamber believes that implementing rent control in Montgomery County will exacerbate the housing shortage, increase the cost of rental housing, and decrease the quality of existing housing stock and it urges the Council to consider the message that legislation like this sends to those interested in investing in our region. Our community would benefit from proposals that instead clearly invite those who might be interested in investing in locating or growing their businesses here.

For the complete opposition letter, read here.