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…
GGCC Partners with Other MoCo Chambers to Oppose State Budget Reconciliation Financing Act of 2025
The GGCC has partnered with the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce to oppose the MD Budget Reconciliation & Financing Act (BRFA) of 2025. The Annual BRFA codifies the Governor’s budget proposals into legislation. We are deeply concerned about several proposals but focus on Combined Reporting and the proposed increase to income taxes for small businesses who are passthrough entities. Read the House statement here. Read the Senate statement here. View on LinkedIn
GGCC comments regarding M-83 and MPOHT
Please see attached PDF file for complete comments. January 23, 2025 Comments to Montgomery County Planning Board Position: Support keeping M-83 in the County Master Plan of Highways & Transitway (MPOHT) Submitted by: Paula Ross, President & CEO, Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) represents over 450 businesses along the upper I-270 corridor. I offer the following comments regarding M-83, and the proposal to remove M-83 from the Master Plan of Highways & Transitways (MPOHT), on behalf of our membership. The GGCC is opposed to removing M-83 from the Master Plan for several reasons,…