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Jan. 21 •
Maximize Your Membership Workshop
BRING YOUR
OWN LUNCH & LAPTOP! Whether you're a
prospective, new, or existing member, our Maximize Your
Membership workshop offers a deep dive into your Member
Information Center, Chamber Benefits, and all the support the
Chamber provides to help your business grow!
12-1:30pm • OC Chamber of Commerce, 12320 Ocean Gateway, West OC
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NEW DATE!
Feb. 4 • Mayor's Prayer Breakfast Featuring Keynote
Speaker Harry Swayne! Sponsorships and Tickets
Available
Join community leaders, local citizens, elected officials,
clergy, first responders, and the business community as we come
together to start 2026 with unity, purpose, and hope. This
year's keynote speaker is Harry
Swayne, three-time Super Bowl champion, former NFL
standout, and longtime team chaplain. His powerful story of
faith, leadership, and finding purpose on the biggest stage in
sports is one you won't forget.
VIP 7:15am; 8:15am General Admission and Breakfast; 8:45am Event
Begins • Roland E. Powell Convention Center, Bayfront Ballroom,
4001 Coastal Hwy.
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SCORE
ASSOCIATION Offers Free Mentoring to
Entrepreneurs
Primarily funded by the SBA, this organization is comprised of
experienced business people who volunteer their knowledge to you
at no charge. These volunteers are available to help any
business owners grow. To meet with a volunteer mentor, visit
SCORE.ORG. If you wish to volunteer as a mentor, visit SCORE.ORG/VOLUNTEER
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Financial Resources & Grants
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MD
Dept of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Offers
New Programs to Provide
Financial Assistance to Small
Businesses
NourishMD
Grant
Program provides certain retailers that
sell, or aspire to sell,
healthy and fresh foods with grants of up to $150,000 for
equipment, capital improvements,
inventory, operating costs, and more. Grant application process
available 1/20-2/20/26. This
program bases eligibility on the Maryland
Community Business
Compass.
Own
Your Future
Program provides participation loans of up
to $5 million to help small
businesses purchase property to operate in. Loans under the
program come with flexible terms
and can be used to purchase a building that a business is
currently renting, purchase a new
building, or construct or renovate a new building to operate in.
The loans require a 1:1
private capital match with DHCD in a subordinate position, and
the senior lender 20% at
risk.
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Official
Update About the Route 50 Bridge Closure
The project officially begins in early January with single-lane
daytime closures. The bridge will be fully closed to all traffic
beginning January 20 at 7:00 am. During the closure, the bridge will
be completely impassable to vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles,
scooters, fishermen, and marine vessels. The planned reopening is
February 3 at 12:00 am, but single-lane daytime closures are
expected through March 20.
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WGMD
Radio: Your MD General Assembly Station
'Mike Bradley & the WGMD Morning Team', weekdays 5-9am on 92-7 &
98-5 WGMD-'The Talk of Delmarva' wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
Tune in for all the latest from Annapolis with the 448th Maryland
General Assembly Session. Mike will have all the Eastern Shore
Delegation on a regular basis to keep you up to date on the bills
that affect you. He will also keep you up to date with the latest
from Washington with his regular interviews with 1st District
Congressman Andy Harris. Listen over the air or stream News, Talk
and Sports at WGMD.com
or the WGMD App.
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Feb.
1 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 2025 concludes. This survey gives a
localized view of our business community and their concerns and
expectations for the next year. The results of the survey are
reported by BEACON and available to the public on the Delmarva
index.
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Jan.
19-26 • 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 to get your card stamped, then drop in the Entry Box
located at the Berlin Welcome Center. Random drawing for the winner!
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