CHAMBER BLOG

The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce
  • Who We Are
    • Mission & Strategic Plan
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Team
  • Membership & Benefits
    • Join The Chamber
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Membership Directory
    • Affinity Partners
    • Member2Member Discounts
    • Annual Sponsorships & Forum Club
    • Committees & Groups
    • Member Login
  • Calendar & Events
    • Calendar
    • Sponsor, Host & Advertise
    • Annual Events
  • Community & Advocacy
    • Advocacy
    • Community Resources
    • Business in Greater Bethesda
  • EMPLOYEE RESOURCES
  • Blog
  • Connect With Us
    • Contact Us
    • ChamberWatch
    • Social Media

Restaurants Connect with Councilmember Friedson

4/1/2020

0 Comments

 
​Restaurants have been greatly impacted by the state-wide business closures. The Chamber is encouraging everyone to help support our local restaurants – by ordering takeout or purchasing gift cards to use in the future! To provide additional support to these members, the Chamber pulled together a meeting on 3/26 with our local restaurants and Andrew Friedson, County Councilmember for District 1, to provide some clarification on new regulations and create a space for conversation about the current situation.
 
Councilmember Friedson provided an update on the $20 million grant program Montgomery County will be launching. The bill passed on Tuesday and, as an emergency legislation, immediately went into effect. The grant can be applied toward any business operating expenses: payroll, debt, rent, etc. About 98% of businesses in Montgomery County should be eligible for a grant.
 
The county is also launching a program in partnership with Visit Montgomery to provide subsidized hotel rooms for healthcare workers. Hotels can contact Kelly Groff at Visit Montgomery for more information about this program.
 
Councilmember Friedson encouraged anyone with questions to contact his office; they will help direct businesses on accessing other pools of funding at the state and federal level.  **Add his social media [email protected]
 
You can also visit our resource page for helpful inks and community updates.
 
Questions from the call:
If you get one loan/grant, does it affect your ability to qualify or receive another?
No. The county grant program does not limit any other funding or take other funding into account when awarding grants.
 
Is the grant first come first served? Or will certain amounts be earmarked for different industries and businesses?
It will most likely be first come first served. There may be some tiering and bucketing, but this has not been finalized.
 
What is the maximum amount a business can receive from the grant program?
The maximum amount a business can receive from the county’s program is $75,000 depending on demonstrated need and losses. The limit through the state’s $175 million plan is $10K.
 
In other locations, places are buying back unopened alcohol – for example from people that bought preparing for St. Patrick’s Day. Is Montgomery County considering this?
There has been discussion with ABS about buy-backs for unopened liquor.
 
What information can we take back to our furloughed or laid off employees?
Expedited unemployment – furloughed employees qualify for unemployment insurance and the wait periods are gone. There also is a 4 month extension on unemployment insurance.
SafetyNet programs – $5 million appropriation for healthcare needs, food insecurity, housing/homelessness issues and needs
There is a stay on all evictions – commercial and residential - this order is reassessed and extended every 15 days.
 
I’ve been having trouble accessing the Maryland unemployment application…
It seems to be a traffic problem – people have suggested accessing the site between 7pm and 7amm when traffic is lower.
 
My business has been harmed but I don’t have the proof yet; it is going to be a delayed loss. What is the criteria going to be for the grant program?
The Executive branch is working through it, but the county cannot be in the position to pay for prospective losses. Each business applying for a loan/grant will have unique needs and should consider all possible sources of funding. Councilmember Friedson’s office can help businesses navigate access to different programs.

0 Comments

    Welcome!

    Our Chamber Blog is designed to provide you information about The Chamber, our members, advocacy and legislative updates, and important business tools.

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019

    Categories

    All
    Advocacy
    Committees And Groups
    Community
    COVID
    Events
    Finance
    Goodwill Dinner
    Guest Blogger
    Health & Wellness
    Member Benefits
    Networking
    Professional Development

    RSS Feed


​​​Member Directory
Event Calendar

Become a Sponsor
​
BLOG
​Contact Us
Privacy Statement
AI Policy
Member Login
Picture
Copyright 2025 The Greater Bethesda
​Chamber of Commerce.  ​
​All Rights Reserved.



​Phone: (301) 652-4900
​​​[email protected] 
​7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1204
​Bethesda, MD 20814
​

MemberClicks
  • Who We Are
    • Mission & Strategic Plan
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Team
  • Membership & Benefits
    • Join The Chamber
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Membership Directory
    • Affinity Partners
    • Member2Member Discounts
    • Annual Sponsorships & Forum Club
    • Committees & Groups
    • Member Login
  • Calendar & Events
    • Calendar
    • Sponsor, Host & Advertise
    • Annual Events
  • Community & Advocacy
    • Advocacy
    • Community Resources
    • Business in Greater Bethesda
  • EMPLOYEE RESOURCES
  • Blog
  • Connect With Us
    • Contact Us
    • ChamberWatch
    • Social Media