Jan. 16 • Oaked at the Globe
4pm Welcome | 4:30pm Ribbon Cutting
12 Broad St., Berlin

OC Chamber of Commerce 2025 Legislative Priorities

Maryland’s Impending FAMLI Program: What Employers Need to Know Now
The Maryland Department of Labor released proposed regulations to implement the state’s paid family and medical leave insurance (FAMLI) law. The FAMLI law will provide benefits to workers in the state who take leave from employment for certain medical and family care reasons starting July 1, 2026. Proposed employer responsibilities may include creating and maintaining an online account with the FAMLI Division for reporting contributions; responsibility for 100 percent of contributions but can withhold up to 50 percent from employees’ wages (small employers with fewer than 15 employees have reduced contribution obligations); and notifying employees about FAMLI leave and benefits at hire, annually, and when an employee’s leave may qualify for FAMLI.

Important dates: Employers will start payroll deductions for the FAMLI program on July 1, 2025, remitting the first payment to the state on Oct. 1 of next year. Benefits will be available to employees beginning July 1, 2026.

Jan. 16 • Life Crisis Center Lunch & Learn: Human Trafficking and How to Prevent It
BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH and learn about human trafficking, what it looks like on the Eastern Shore, services for survivors, and how to get involved.
12-1pm • OC Chamber  12320 Ocean Gateway, Conference Room

MD Capital Enterprises (MCE) & Women’s Business Center Educational Workshops

SCORE Small Business Webinars

Eastern Region MD SBDC FREE Webinars

Jan. 15 Deadline • The Art League of Ocean City Seeks Sponsorships for 2025 Film Festival
Maximize your brand’s impact by reaching a vibrant and loyal audience attending the celebrated 4-day Ocean City Film Festival! The program will have a 45,000-print run and be featured in 4 regional newspapers. We are seeking locations for "Film Viewings," morning "Coffee Chats" and nighttime “After Parties" that would be printed in the program.

Feb. 2 Deadline • Please Take the Semi-Annual Eastern Shore Business Sentiment Survey
BEACON, along with the three Eastern Shore Regional Councils, and Economic Development departments of the 9 Eastern Shore counties, are conducting a semi-annual survey on the sentiment of businesses on Maryland’s Eastern Shore as 2023 concludes. The results of the survey are reported by BEACON and available to the public on the Delmarva index.

Jan. 11 • Comedy Night at Oaked at the Globe
7:30-9pm • Oaked at the Globe, 12 Broad St., Berlin

Jan. 17-23 • Berlin Restaurant Week
Dine 3 times for a chance to win restaurant gift cards and $100! Pick up an entry card at Berlin Welcome Center or any of the participating restaurants, dine at 3 different participating restaurants & get your card stamped, then drop in the Entry Box located at the Berlin Welcome Center. Random drawing for the winner!