News & Information for January 2017

Happy New Year!!!! The Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce is working on our agenda for 2017 and we are growing by leaps and bounds. It is an exciting time to be part of the MBCC!

First, welcome to our first official newsletter! We will begin sending out the newsletter regularly to our members and potential members. Feel free to spread the word and share it with your friends, coworkers, neighbors, and other professionals you think might be interested. In the newsletter we will be spotlighting members, events, and information that is helpful to black business owners and entrepreneurs in Maryland. Spotlighting members is very important to us and we will be connecting with all of our new members to make sure you are highlighted in the newsletter. All members will receive a separate email with this information early next week.

Board of Directors Meeting
The Maryland Black Chamber will be hosting the first Board of Directors meeting in January. We will come together and set the agenda for the remainder of the year. The MBCC will focus on 4 signature quarterly events and other opportunities for networking regularly throughout the year. More details to come in our next newsletter. If you have not joined a committee or are interested in a board position, send us an email and let's talk.

2017 MBCC Business Survey
We are also working on collecting information in the 2017 MBCC Business Survey. This information will let us know what issues you are interested in pursuing with the Maryland legislature. We will use use information to put together a legislative agenda for Maryland black businesses. To complete the survey, click here. It will only take about 5 minutes to complete. The survey will close on January 18, 2017.We appreciate your support.

Share Your Stories
Finally, if there is something you want us to include in the newsletter, send it over. We are looking to highlight articles and information from our members. Do you write a blog? Have an event coming up? If so, email us and we can get the word out. Let us put the spotlight on you - it's part of your membership! If you are not a member yet, why not? Join the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce now! Deadlines for inclusion in the newsletter is COB on the last Thursday of the month.

MBCC hosts the 2017 State of Black Business

Register for the 2017 Annual State of Black Business Event on February 8, 2017. This is a can't miss event which will focus on the business climate for black businesses going forward in 2017. Hear from Rob Busby, President of the US Black Chamber, as he addresses business owners about what has transpired in 2016 and some of the opportunities available to black business owners going forward.

Highlights, Tips & Resources...

Here is a quick run down on some things you may find interesting.

Listen to this...
Trailblazers.FM podcast by our own Stephen Hart. The podcast focuses on black business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Try using this to make things easier...
Zapier - it is an app that helps to create workflows for your most important business apps - helping them talk to one another. Try it out, you can use up to 5 "zaps" for free.

Resource of the month...
Neighborhood BusinessWorks loan program provides flexible financing to new or expanding small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Sustainable Communities and Priority Funding Areas throughout the state.

One thought to carry you through...
"Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism." – Oprah Winfrey, HARPO.

This year, let's try to be good to one another, support one another and be accountable to one another. There may be a great many challenges going forward, but if we stick together, we can grow and prosper while supporting one another.

Upcoming Events

Join us for one or more of these great upcoming events. All events listed are either hosted by the MBCC or by members of the MBCC. Please support our network - that's where we find the best value in our community. Click on the links below for more information.

1.10.17 Employment and Trademark Law Check-Up Webinar
1.18.17 QuickBooks Online Training: Accounting Made Easy in the Cloud
1.19.17 Connections, Capital and Customers: A New Vision for Economic Development in MoCo.
2.8.17 MBCC Hosts The State of Black Business

For more events and updated information, please check our Facebook page, Instagram and our website.
Members events are posted to our Facebook and newsletter free of charge. If you have an event that would be beneficial to our members, feel free to share it with us.

MBCC Hosts The State of Black Business Event
Wednesday, February 8 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

We will be hosting our first annual 2017 State of Black Business. This event will be hosted at the Silver Spring Civic Center on Wednesday, February 8 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM. The keynote will be delivered by Ron Busby, CEO of the US Black Chamber. He will give us an overview of some of the challenges and successes from 2016 as well as opportunities for black businesses in 2017. The event is $30 for non-members and $15 for members. Register here to attend and learn more about what you can look forward to in 2017 to grow your business. Members will receive a registration code in a separate email. We look forward to seeing you at the event.

Connections, Capital and Customers: A New Vision for Economic Development in MoCo
Thursday, 1/19/17 from 7:00 AM - 9:30 AM

I know it's early in the morning, but this event is worth it! It is a monthly networking event, hosted by Montgomery Community Media, and is located in their offices at 7548 Standish Place, Rockville. Our very own Kelly Leonard of the Taylor-Leonard Corporation is the emcee of the event. This month the featured guest is David Petr, President & CEO - Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC). Registration to open soon so for now, click here to join the meet up group.