MoCo Chambers Affirm Mutual Cooperation and Respect at 2nd Annual Chamber Mixer with 250+ Business Leaders
The 2nd annual Mega Chamber mixer, held at The Crossvines in Poolesville, invited 250 business leaders, all members of nine different Chambers of Commerce together for networking on June 5, 2025. Those Chambers were joined by leaders from an additional three Chambers for a special signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Chambers of Commerce, all serving Montgomery County business communities. See below for full text of the MOU. County Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe, Andrew Friedson, and Laurie-Anne Sayles joined business leaders at the event. Jinal Contractor, Small Business and Community Development Director for Comptroller Brooke Lierman,…
Announcing: Summer 2025 Upcounty Taste Tour!
Visit the website for an updated list of participating restaurants and to enter to win: Summer 2025 Upcounty Taste Tour – GGChamber Printed passports to the Upcounty Taste Tour will be available at the Chamber office and at many of our Chamber member restaurants starting in early June. *Visit Chamber member restaurants/caterers between June 1 – August 30, 2025 to dine-in, carryout, or order catering. *Check the boxes in your printed passport or this form online to track your progress! *You’ll receive one prize entry for each restaurant that you visit, and an extra FIVE entries if you visit…
Germantown Town Center project featured on En Sintonía con el Concejo
View the web broadcast for En Sintonía con el Concejo May 16, 2025: click here. The Germantown Town Center project is featured at approximately 21:00 – 42:00. Thank you very much to Host/Producer Marcela Rodriguez Villagran for this opportunity to share information about this important economic development project. Press Releases for this episode of En Sintonía con el Concejo (en espanol abajo): Montgomery County Public Libraries’ Summer Reading Challenge will be the Focus on “En Sintonía con el Concejo” Friday at 2 p.m. on Radio America For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 15, 2025 The Germantown Town Center: Your Voice Shapes…
County Council: vote no on new taxes and fees
View the latest correspondence to the County Council from GGCC here. May 12, 2025 County Council President Kate Stewart Members of the County Council Council Office Building 100 Maryland Avenue Rockville, MD 20850 Council President Stewart and members of the County Council, I am Paula Ross, President & CEO of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, writing to you on behalf of over 450 businesses along the upper I-270 corridor. Our Chamber serves Gaithersburg, Germantown, Clarksburg, and Damascus, with over 65% of our members comprising small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. We celebrate the rich…
Join GGCC in Opposing County Income Tax Increase, Property Tax & Fees Increases! (updated 5/8/25 and 5/13/25)
The Issue: Montgomery County’s proposed FY2026 budget now includes am income tax increase, in addition to two major tax and fee increases that will burden businesses and residents. GGCC is taking action – and we need your voice. There is strength in numbers. Let’s stand together. View the latest correspondence to the County Council from GGCC here. What’s at Stake? A 0.1% income tax increase – raising the County’s income tax rate from 3.2% to 3.3%. (retroactive to 6 months ago!) A 3.4% property tax increase – following a 4.7% hike just two years ago. A sharp rise in the…
GGCC opposes proposed increase in county property tax & fees
The Issue: Montgomery County’s proposed FY2026 budget includes two major tax and fee increases that will burden businesses and residents. GGCC is taking action – and we need your voice. There is strength in numbers. Let’s stand together. What’s at Stake? A 3.4% property tax increase – following a 4.7% hike just two years ago. A sharp rise in the systems benefit charge, increasing costs for all property types. Why We Oppose These Increases: Another property tax increase would unnecessarily raise costs for both businesses and residents. In addition, the proposed increase to the systems benefit charge would mean a…
GGCC encourages members to oppose 3% State “tech tax”
GGCC joins with the MD Chamber of Commerce and other Chambers across the state in opposing the newly-proposed “tech tax.” At a time when Maryland already ranks 46th in business tax climate and the third most expensive state to do business in, now is not the time to increase costs on small businesses. From the MD Chamber of Commerce: Last week, Governor Moore and General Assembly leaders announced a 3% tech tax on small businesses. This policy would be disastrous for Maryland’s economy, businesses and jobs, undermining our future as a tech hub and leader. This tax will affect…
GGCC and other Chambers support More Housing N.O.W. legislative package
GGCC has issued joint testimony with the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce, Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, and Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce to support the More Housing N.O.W. legislative and budget package. GGCC believes this is a piece of the housing puzzle in Montgomery County. “Our chambers commend the goals of the More Housing N.O.W. initiative, which aims to increase housing supply, reduce costs, and expand pathways to homeownership. Notwithstanding the extreme headwinds facing Montgomery County’s housing market, which include rent control and the specter of increasing property taxes, the availability of attainable…
GGCC Opposes State Proposed Legislation to add Sales Tax to B2B Services
ACTION ALERT (UPDATED 3/13/25) Members – please see March 7 email regarding the state budget proposal (HB 1554/SB 1045) to add a 2.5% sales tax to B2B professional services. This legislation was filed late, testimony is due Monday, hearings are scheduled in the House and Senate on Wednesday, March 12. Read an article from Maryland Matters about it here. Read a detailed post about the potential taxes from the MD Chamber here. The bottom line (MD Chamber): “The proposed small business services tax in HB 1554/SB 1045 trades short-term budget gains for long-term economic damage. While it may generate immediate…
GGCC shares comments on State budget proposals
The GGCC has shared additional comments on the various state budget proposals that would impact the business community in Maryland, and disproportionately impact Montgomery County. Read the full statement here in PDF. View previous testimony on LinkedIn video. ———————————————————————- February 26, 2025 Letter to the Members of the Montgomery County MD State Assembly Delegation Re: SB 321 & HB 352 – Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2025 Dear Members of the Montgomery County MD State Assembly Delegation: The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) was founded in 1949. Since then, the organization has grown to…