Weekly Message From The Chair, March 8, 2021

Message #10- 3/8/21

Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce Members and Friends,

In this week’s message, you will find:

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60 DAYS OF GROWTH
Now is the time to renew or join! As low as $30 per month! Click here to learn more!
FEATURED EVENT: 
Loyola University has invited me to participate on a panel this Wednesday morning, March 10th as a part of their “Building a Better World Through Business” series. This annual event celebrates the ways that businesses create sustainable economic and social development in their communities. Register here. WHC is a proud sponsor of this event.
Here are 10 things you should know:

First, as of Sunday, March 7th, we have grown to 393 Members! We are almost at our goal of reaching 400 Members by March 30th!!! To give you perspective, we were 265 Members strong when I became Chair in January 2020. We are growing! If you value connections to resources and one-on-one support, I invite you to join today at www.baltimorecitychamber.org. Also, please attend our March Virtual Happy Hour this Thursday at 6pm! Register at https://whc.as.me/2ndThursdays.

Second, in recent weeks, Chamber Member, Kimberly Royster has helped us explain the PPP and EIDL to Members. If you are hesitant to utilize these valuable resources, contact Kimberly Royster for assistance. Click here to read the latest updates from the SBA.

Third, are you interested in obtaining federal contracts? If so, join the Governor’s Office for a basic overview of the federal procurement (acquisition) process. The federal contracting market in Maryland was $36.5 billion over the last 12 months. Learn the what, the how, and the who of the federal marketplace. Hear about B2G resources available to guide and support your efforts so you can compete with greater confidence in the federal arena. Click here to register. If you are interested in attending the webinar on new State contracts, register here.

Fourthregister here for our webinar with Peter Franchot, Comptroller of Maryland. This webinar is scheduled for April 8th at 6pm and we’ll discuss relief programs and Maryland’s economic outlook. Special thanks to Chamber Board Member, James Dorf for putting this together! Thank you, James!

Fifth, March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Chamber Member, The American Cancer Society is available to answer your questions and connect you to help if you need it. Click here to learn more. You can also contact Christine Schifkovitz for more info.

Sixth, please join the Women’s Leadership Initiative on March 18th 2021 at  6:15pm for “3 Keys to Break the Stuck and Catapult Your Business and Life”. Speaker: Felicia Searcy. RSVP here.

Seventh, M&T Bank is hosting a virtual event on March 11th called “Moving Your Business Forward in 2021”. They will discuss how to create generational wealth. Click here to register.

Eighth, does your nonprofit want to raise money AND promote cleaner air? CleanChoice Energy is seeking active 501(c)(3) organizations for our new Clean Electricity fundraising program. For each household that enrolls in 100% Clean Electricity through their campaign, CleanChoice will donate $50 to your organization. Email kathleen.wojtowicz@cleanchoiceenergy.com to learn more about this fundraising opportunity.

Ninth, Chamber Member, Colette Colclough is hosting the 2021 Women’s Leadership Forum on March 18th. The Women’s Leadership Forum is looking FORWARD to welcoming national White House correspondent and author, April Ryan. Join the conversation as they discuss 2021 and the future of women. Register for the virtual event at Forwardwlf.org.

Tenth, the Baltimore Means Business program is accepting applicants earning under $75k for the May 2021 cohort. The deadline to apply is April 12th! Apply at www.baltimoremeans.business. Or, schedule a call to learn about this free program before you apply.

Keep reading for this week’s OffersLoans and GrantsJobs and Events

If you are an active Baltimore City Chamber Member and you have a special offer for our Members, or if you would like to discuss Membership, schedule a call with Will Holmes at https://whc.as.me/baltimorechamber.


OFFERS 

Reach the African American Market
Looking to reach a targeted audience for your product or service? The free, online art & entertainment magazine, “What’s HOT”, reaches over 7,000+ monthly, primarily African American, over 40, college-educated, middle-income individuals who are patrons of diverse recreational activities including music, theatre, dining, fitness, and more. We offer affordable rates. Contact Cheryl at yourgirlcheryl@gmail.com or 410.370.8994.

Web Design
Chamber Member, Wayne Stewart is offering special pricing for all current Chamber Members. 25% OFF ALL WEB DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. If you are interested in this great offer, schedule your free consultation by contacting Wayne directly. His website is www.sdagency.net.

Meditation
Chamber Member, Kadampa Meditation Center-Maryland welcomes Members to a complimentary meditation and special offer. Baltimore’s only Buddhist Temple offers ancient wisdom and practical tools for taking on today’s challenges. Click here to learn more and register.

Outsourced Accounting
Chamber Member, Hologram Financial Solutions is an outsourced accounting firm. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Hologram Financial Solutions LLC, and receive up to 15% off your first month’s bill by signing up by the end of February. Schedule a FREE consultation at https://hologramfinancial.com/contact-us or by calling them at 410-891-6218. Receive a $50 referral fee for referring a small business owner that closes a deal with them. Speak with CEO Nicholas Lowe for full details.

Marketing, Videography and Photography
Chamber Member, Vonnya Pettigrew, Owner of Root Branch Media Group has a new office and studio on Union Avenue in the Clipper Mill area! Please contact her for Chamber Member specials on media marketing, videography and photography services at VONNYA@rootbranchmediagroup.com. Learn more at https://rootbranchmediagroup.com/.

Workforce Development 
Morgan State University’s Center for Continuing and Professional Studies (CCPS) offers customized courses to meet the workforce development and/or training needs of Maryland employers. The benefits of partnering with MSU’s Center for Continuing and Professional Studies are numerous: MSU is the premier public Urban University in the state of Maryland, MSU has a well-credentialed faculty; MSU offers services that are cost-effective and CCPS has nearly 60 years of experience offering non-credit, Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Professional Development Hours (PDHs), professional development opportunities, customized workshops, and institutes for adult learners. To partner with us, please click here.

Career Training and Professional Development
Morgan State University is equipped to offer online learning convenient training solutions for businesses. Our catalog of over 300 online courses will allow you to provide training solutions to employees quickly and effectively as they learn on their own and in their preferred learning environment. Our six-week online courses are designed to teach individuals valuable skills that they can apply immediately on the job. Explore the full catalog here.

Teaming and Contracting Opportunities
SCB Management Consulting (SCB) is a certified WBE/MBE, WOSB and HUBZone company. SCB core services include Project and Program Management, Strategic Planning, Business Process Solutions (BPR / BPI), Change Management, Supply Chain Management, Risk Management consulting, and Professional Development Training. We specialize in System/ERP Implementation Management across various industries and the public sector. We are always looking for great teaming partners with public and private sector past performance. If you provide Auditing/CPA, Information Technology—Data Warehouse, Business Intelligence (BI), Cybersecurity, etc.,  Marketing, DEI or Professional Development Training, or other services to federal, state or local governments and looking for teaming opportunities, send me an email to set up time to discuss potential opportunities: scarter@scbmgmt.com.

Save with Community Solar in Maryland
Subscribe to a Community Solar Farm in Baltimore County and save up to 10 percent on your energy costs. Chamber Members who subscribe will receive $150 for supporting clean energy in Maryland. Email Kathleen.Wojtowicz@cleanchoiceenergy.com for more information or to enroll today.

Need Health Care?
Chamber Member, Dr. Shawn Dhillon offers concierge medical care for $99 per month. Have a dedicated physician for less than you would pay for medical insurance. Learn more at https://www.anytimedrs.com.

Need Medical Insurance?
Chamber Member, George Faber can help you find medical coverage. Send him a message at George.Faber@USHAdvisors.com.

LOANS AND GRANTS
PPP
If you don’t have an accounting system in place to prepare the documentation to apply for PPP, I recommend hiring a bookkeeper or accountant, or at minimum, using a free tool like www.waveapps.com. If you need assistance, email me and I will connect you to additional resources in the Chamber. If you don’t have a relationship with a financial institution, Karla Posada from LEDC can help. Her email is Kposada@ledcmetro.org. Also, Lendistry’s Tucker McNully can assist. His email is tucker.mcnulty@lendistry.com and you can click here to apply.

Latino Economic Development Center
As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), LEDC provides alternative micro loan options to start-ups and existing businesses that have difficulty obtaining credit from mainstream financial institutions. We offer loans ranging from $500 to $250,000 to qualified start-ups and existing businesses. Uses capital include: Vehicles & equipment; Renovation or business expansion; Working capital; Hiring additional personnel; Inventory; Bridge financing for government grants; Expansion to new locations; and Business acquisition. Our loan officers are trained to access each transaction beyond traditional credit underwriting guidelines. At LEDC, we believe in the unleashing power of economic fairness and access to opportunity to all. Learn more at https://www.ledcmetro.org/smallbusiness.

Baltimore Community Lending
Baltimore Community Lending provides loan capital to small real estate developers and small business owners in Baltimore City who have no relationship with or are unable to get a loan from a bank, and who are committed to developing underserved neighborhoods. They work with the government, foundations, financial institutions, community stakeholders, anchor institutions, and small business owners early in the planning process to provide small-to-mid size capital solutions leading to a more diverse and economically balanced Baltimore. Learn more about Baltimore Community Lending’s programs at https://bclending.org/.

KIVA Loans 
KIVA has funding options for businesses. Click here to learn more. 

Short term commercial loans not based on credit…
If you have submitted an invoice for services and you are waiting to be paid, or if you have a purchase order to fill, but need funding to get started, learn more about WHC’s programs that can help.

Click here for an additional list of Grants offered by various entities.

JOBS

Looking for Talent?
If you are looking for the right person with the right skill sets and experience, contact Chamber Member, Steve Braun of Search Consultants at sbraun@searchconsultants.org.

Jobs at the Small Business Administration 
The SBA has a variety of temporary jobs to assist with the COVID-19 response. Click here to learn more.
Jobs in Baltimore
The Mayor’s Office of Employment Development has compiled job openings in the area. Click here to learn more.

Department of Labor
The Department of Labor has compiled some job opportunities. Click here to learn more.

EVENTS

3/11/21
M&T Bank

M&T is hosting a virtual event on March 11th called “Moving Your Business Forward in 2021”. They will be discussing how to create generational wealth. Click here to register.

3/11/21
Baltimore Main Streets

You are invited to learn more about the Baltimore Main Streets: The Avenue Market Project. This meeting is scheduled to offer in-depth information about The Avenue Market project (Pennsylvania Avenue Main Street) and recruitment of new vendors (Small, Minority, Women Veterans) for the venue. Carry-Out, Baked Goods, Merchandise, Produce and Service Vendors are invited to attend and hear special Guest Presenter, Jayson Williams, CEO of Mayson-Dixon Companies give details. For additional information, feel free to contact Sean Stinnett, Director of Baltimore Main Streets Deputy Director of Minority and Women-Owned Business (443-642-0671 and/or Sean.Stinnett@baltimorecity.gov). Click here to register for this Zoom webinar.

3/11/21 at 6pm
Baltimore City Chamber Virtual Happy Hour
Connect and meet with Chamber Members every 2nd Thursday! Wear your logo and share what you do! We have a toast every 15 minutes, so be ready to celebrate and network. Register at https://whc.as.me/2ndThursdays.

3/18- 3/20/21
Women’s Leadership Forum

Chamber Member, Colette Colclough is hosting the 2021 Women’s Leadership Forum. The Women’s Leadership Forum is looking FORWARD to welcoming national White House correspondent and author, April Ryan. Join the conversation as we discuss 2021 and the future of women. Register for the virtual event at Forwardwlf.org.

3/18/21 at 6:15pm
Women’s Leadership Initiative

Join the Women’s Leadership Initiative on March 18th 2021 at  6:15pm for “3 Keys to Break the Stuck and Catapult Your Business and Life”. Speaker: Felicia Searcy. RSVP here.

3/18/21 at 6:30pm
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Open House 

Join us for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Open House at 6:30pm! Learn how this program has helped over 10,000 business owners nationwide add jobs and grow revenue. Click here to register! You can also schedule a one-on-one call to discuss how this program can help your business.

4/1/21 at 6pm
Baltimore City Chamber General Membership Meeting

This event is open to all! Learn about resources for your business and opportunities to help you in your career. Register at https://whc.as.me/1stThursdays.

4/8/21 at 6pm
Baltimore City Chamber Virtual Happy Hour
Connect and meet with Chamber Members every 2nd Thursday! Wear your logo and share what you do! We have a toast every 15 minutes, so be ready to celebrate and network. Register at https://whc.as.me/2ndThursdays.


Talk to you next week!
Sincerely,

 Will Holmes

 Chairman of the Board of Directors
Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce

 Schedule a call with me: https://whc.as.me/baltimorechamber
 Management and Tech Consulting: http://www.whcusa.com 
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 Check out my podcast: http://www.anchor.fm/whcusa