Chamber Update

Please welcome our newest members to the chamber: TruSeal Asphalt Maintenance LLC, Severna Park Kitchen and Bath, Involve Your Body Holistic Health Coaching, Scoville Creative, FX Physical Therapy, Annapolis College Consulting, Maid Healthy Inc., CBS Imaging Solutions and Minuteman Press of Crofton.

We are thrilled to see new businesses opening! Especially during COVID, the spirit is alive and well to start and run a small business or nonprofit.

People start businesses for many reasons. Primarily, they want to be their own bosses, enjoying independence from the constraints of a corporate culture that views them as replaceable and expendable. If they have planned correctly and directed their operations at the right target market, their hard work will pay off substantially more than working for someone else.

There are very few barriers to entry in starting a business. You can be young or a seasoned citizen, any race or creed, man or woman, and you do not need a college degree. Basically, anyone with a great idea, a little money, grit and courage can start a business.

We hear all the time that “small businesses are the backbone of the economy,” but what does that mean? What is so great about small business when you can order anything you want with a click of a button. Amazon, Chewy, and chain stores all offer the convenience of home shopping and delivery at a lower cost to you.

But is there really a savings in the long run if small businesses are hurt by online shopping?

Small businesses that overcome start-up hurdles become major contributors to the local economy and that is why they are so vital to a healthy economy. They give us jobs, desired goods and services, convenience, and they keep dollars circulating locally. They give donations to fundraisers, they work with other businesses to enhance product lines, and they are typically neighbors and friends who have a vested interest in our community, schools and issues.

Because of COVID, our businesses have worked quickly to implement ecommerce. Almost anything you can buy on Amazon you can find at our small businesses. Before you click that button on your computer, do a search on local businesses to see if they offer the products.

Now more than ever, our small businesses need our support. You may pay a little more, but isn’t it worth it to have these businesses in our communities? We urge you to always shop local when possible!

Speaking of a new business, we held a ribbon cutting celebration for JPAR Real Estate/Maryland Living in Arnold. It was a well-attended event and the new location in Arnold Station is beautiful. Owners Joe Natoli and Greg Fisk are enthusiastic and excited about the real estate market in Maryland.

Under the new COVID-19 restrictions, we are unable to hold our “Open for Business” Labor Day parade in September. However, if conditions allow, we are already planning a wonderful Independence Day celebration for 2021.

We are happy to announce that on September 14, we are holding our annual Driving Force for Business golf tournament at the beautiful Chartwell Golf and Country Club. Chartwell has recently been recognized as a “Distinguished Club,” one of only 94 in the country. This rating reflects the excellence of the facilities and services.

We would like to thank our generous sponsors, which include Chick-fil-A Severna Park, Emerald Financial Partners, Lean-on-Dee Senior Care Advocates, The Matt Wyble Team of Century 21 New Millennium, Wilkins Automotive, Griswold Home Care, Reliant Management Consultant, Consolidated Insurance + Risk Management, the David Orso Real Estate Group, Barranco Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Bernward Construction, Alexander Animal Hospital, The MWE Partnership, the Bank of Glen Burnie, Landmark Roofing and Cedar Square Homes.

We still have foursomes and singles available, so come on out and play. The tournament features specialty hole-in-ones, Beat the Pro contest, breakfast, libations, a banquet, great prizes and much more. Some proceeds will benefit the Severna Park Community Center to help cover the cost of the new pool.

As our businesses reopen, they are using the utmost in safety measures to protect you, their employees and themselves. This is an incredibly difficult time for all of us, and we ask that you be patient with our businesses as they bring back staff or have to hire and train new staff. Understand that supply chains have been interrupted, so they may not have what you are used to, but they are doing the best they can.

Please join our chamber! Go to www.gspacc.com or contact us at 410-647-3900 or info@gspacc.com for more information.