Olszewski Announces Small Business Grants for COVID


In the latest effort to support Baltimore County’s small businesses, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced the Small Business COVID-19 Reimbursement Grant Program, a $3 million grant fund to reimburse service industry businesses for investments in critical improvements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of employees and patrons.

“Baltimore County’s service industry is a critical link of our local economy and we must do whatever we can to be a strong partner in their recovery,” said County Executive Olszewski. “These establishments have had to quickly adapt to new ways of doing business and we’re proud to offer these new funds to help support their efforts to keep visitors and employees safe.”

Through the program, the County will offer grants of up to $10,000 to reimburse Baltimore County-based service industry businesses that had to limit or cease indoor operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic for investments in capital improvements or the purchase of furniture, fixtures, and equipment to protect employees and patrons. Examples of items eligible for reimbursement under the COVID-19 Reimbursement Grant Program include:
• Capital improvements, such as Plexiglas shields, carryout window installation, and hand-washing stations;
• Outdoor tents, and other outdoor equipment;
• Additional or new furniture or fixtures necessary to safely serve customers;
• Services necessary to open and operate safely, such as cleaning and disinfecting services
• Equipment and signage to help ensure customers and employees can observe safety requirements.
Establishment operators will be required to provide paid invoices, receipts and contracts as well as describe how these improvements will promote safety and public health.

Beginning Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 9 a.m., grant applications will be posted online at baltimorecountybusiness.com and funds will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

To qualify for this grant program, establishments must:
• Be a for-profit enterprise,
• Be registered and in good standing with the State of Maryland, if required by law,
• Have been in operation as of January 1, 2020,
• Not be in default on any loans from Baltimore County or delinquent on County taxes, and
• Have between two and 25 full-time employees per Baltimore County establishment. Establishments may have more than 25 part-time employees.

This is the latest effort from Baltimore County to support small businesses and individuals impacted by the severe financial pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, Baltimore County made millions in grant funding for small businesses through the Small Business Relief Grants Program, $200,000 to assist professional artists, musicians and performers, and $1 million in rental assistance to households at risk of losing their current housing.

Pizza John’s Products Now Available at Kingsville Store


Pizza John’s in Essex has had to follow the same protocol as all restaurants across the state by closing its dining room down since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The popular pizza site on Back River Neck Road still offers carryout, but they have provided another opportunity for customers to bake their own Pizza John’s pizza at the comfort of their home.

Pizza John’s announced that their pizza and sauce are now for sale at a Kingsville store.

“We are excited to announce our large and small Bake-At-Home pizzas along with our pasta sauce are now available at Greene’s Family Butcher Shop!!! Located in Kingsville,” said a statement on the Pizza John’s Facebook page.

Greene’s is located at 12037 Belair Road in Kingsville.

County to Provide Session on Small Business Relief Resources


The first “Baltimore County Business Forum—COVID and Beyond,” will be presented live via Cisco WebEx on Tuesday, April 21 at 1 p.m., and webinar access information will be posted on the County website at baltimorecountybusiness.com. Recorded video of the completed webinars will be posted on the webpage.

The 60-minute session will be moderated by Baltimore County Director of Economic and Workforce Development Will Anderson and will feature an expert panel with a live question and answer session with local subject matter specialists. The panelists include experienced legal and financial professionals who are advising clients every day on COVID-19 issues, and are themselves members of the Baltimore County small businesses community.

John Fiedler, CPA, Wolfe & Fiedler, PA
Charles R. Kassouf, Attorney, Managing Member of The Law Office of Charles R. Kassouf, LLC
David Miller, CPA, Partner at Kenneally & Company
Carla Nelson Chambers, Managing Principal of The Nelson Ideation Group, LLC

“It can be overwhelming to figure out what local, state and federal stimulus programs you qualify for and which programs may be most helpful given individual circumstances,” said Baltimore County Director of Economic and Workforce Development Will Anderson. “This first webinar will provide an overview, plus offer business people the chance to ask specific legal and financial questions of our expert panel.”

The Department of Economic and Workforce Development (DEWD) has compiled an overview of resources and assistance available to affected employers and employees. This information is available on the department’s website and updates are posted on Facebook.

Essential County Workers Get Essential Pay for Pandemic


In recognition of the critical role first responders and other essential public-facing employees are playing in the County’s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, County Executive Johnny Olszewski today announced an essential pay program for those County employees.

“Our public-facing employees are on the front lines of this crisis, and their extraordinary efforts deserve recognition and compensation,” Olszewski said. “I know I speak for all of Baltimore County when I say we are incredibly grateful for their dedication to keeping our communities safe and healthy during this challenging time.”

All first responders and essential public-facing employees are eligible for additional pay under the new program. For these employees, essential pay will be $200 per two-week pay period for the duration of the County Executive’s Declaration of Emergency, or up to five pay periods and $1,000.

First responders and essential public-facing employees will include, but are not limited to, police, fire, corrections, 911 center employees, and certain workers in Health and Human Services, Public Works, Aging, and Recreation and Parks.

Some other employees performing mission-critical functions who are unable to telework will be eligible for essential pay of $100 per pay-period for the duration of the County Executive’s Declaration of Emergency or up to five pay periods and $500.

The essential pay program is the latest step in the County’s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. For additional information, visit the COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates and Guidance page.

CBD Supply Maryland Opens in Overlea


Over the past year, there have been many shops that have opened with the letters CBD.

According to Brett Wilson and Ryan Nawrocki of CBD Supply Maryland in Overlea, CBD stands for Cannabidiol and can be delivered in all different forms including as an oil that can provide natural treatment for health issues.

Nawrocki said he followed the growth of cannabidiol (CBD) when he worked on Capitol Hill. Studies were conducted and the wellness alternative had momentum for a few years until it finally passed into law in 2018. The current rules regarding CBD were put in place by the federal 2018 Farm Bill.

With its legalization over the past 18 months, hemp-based CBD products and stores have hit the open market. Nawrocki and Wilson said they decided they wanted to take part in this new business. CBD Supply Maryland opened in January at 7690 Belair Road in the Belair Beltway Plaza. The four primary areas at Supply Maryland are wellness, pantry, pet and beauty.

“Some might think this is the latest fad like a diet or when everyone was eating avocados but I believe this is more. Cannabidiol is a breakthrough,” Nawrocki said.

With the opioid crisis in the state and country, Nawrocki pointed out that CBD oil is not addictive compared to opioids and a bottle of oil can run between $20 to $60 and above. A bottle of opioid pills can run over hundreds of dollars.

CBD Supply Maryland stated that studies show that CBD can help with the backpain and the FDA has recently approved a CBD based drug called Epidolex to treat children and adults with epilepsy. It has been reported the CBD can also alleviate mental symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Wilson and Nawrocki still recommend customers consult with their physicians.

“The products sold at the store require no medical card for purchase and you don’t need a prescription,” Wilson said.

There has been question if CBD should be compared to marijuana. Nawrocki explained that this product is hemp-derived CBD and fully federally legal. The difference is that marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and there is no THC in CBD.

“CBD is not addicting at all. Marijuana makes a person high because of THC. There is no THC in this product,” Nawrocki added.

Since CBD is in its infancy, Nawrocki and Wilson expect more regulations from the federal government. Both men believe there should be more oversight.

“We welcome regulation because we know our product is safe and effective. We have extensively researched our products and have visited many of our suppliers manufacturing facilities to ensure that they are producing high quality CBD,” Wilson said.

According to Nawrocki, the difference between hemp seed oil and CBD oil is that there is simply no CBD in hemp seed oil. Cannabidiol (CBD) occurs in the leaves, stalks and flowers of the hemp plant. Since hemp seed oil is created from the seeds of the plant there is no CBD content in that product.

“A regulatory structure that ensured the quality and consistency of CBD products would be useful to consumers because not all companies have gone through the processes we have to ensure that they are offering quality CBD products,” Nawrocki explained.

For more information, go to cbdsupplymaryland.com

LIDL to Open in Perry Hall on Wednesday


Perry Hall is getting a new grocery store.

LIDL will open its doors on Wednesday morning, Jan. 22 on Silver Spring Road. According to its website, the European-based grocery store is operating in 32 countries and started in Germany in the late 1970s.

LIDL will be located across the street from ALDI, another German-based grocery store on Silver Spring Road.

There has been an empty spot on Silver Spring Road since the old Mars Supermarkets closed in the summer of 2016. Many Mars locations were bought and became Weis Markets, but the old Mars location has remained vacant for the past four years, Finally, the Silver Spring Road location will now be filled with a grocery store.

“Ever since the Mars supermarket closed in 2016, I have pushed to fill this vacant space at Belair and Silver Spring Roads,” said Councilman David Marks.

“Instead of building across from Dunfield Road or at Forge Road, our office encouraged LIDL to repurpose the Mars site.”
LIDL will open two stores in Baltimore County on Wednesday as Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, Jr. announced on his social media page that a store will also open in Catonsville.

“See you Wednesday morning, Lidl… Welcome to Baltimore County,” Olszewski wrote.

Perry Hall Driving School Has Closed Down


Councilman David Marks has reported that Perry Hall Driving School located at 9539 Belair Road has closed.

Their website is also down. There were a few posts by customers on the Perry Hall Driving School Facebook page that claim the driving school was shut down by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Association.

No word on the reason for the closure.

Olszewski Urges General Motors to Retain White Marsh Manufacturing Jobs


County Executive John Olszewski, Jr. reached out to the head of General Motors (GM) to emphasize the value of the state-of-the-art White Marsh manufacturing facility, both to GM and to the Baltimore region, after it was announced that the White Marsh plant is closing. In a letter sent on Dec. 11, he called on GM Chairman and CEO Mary Teresa Barra to find a product or alternate use for the plant that will keep all of its 300 high-performing employees working.

“We know that Eastern Baltimore County is one of the most competitive areas for manufacturing on the East Coast with our highly skilled workforce and proximity to transportation networks,” Olszewski said. “I wanted to make sure that the leadership at GM understands the importance and value of this facility to their bottom line and to Baltimore County.”

The full text of his letter is below:
December 11, 2018
Ms. Mary Teresa Barra
Chairman and CEO
General Motors Company
300 Renaissance Center
Detroit, Michigan 48243
Dear Ms. Barra,
As the newly-elected County Executive of Baltimore County, I was shocked to learn about General Motors’ (GM) decision to cease production at GM’s White Marsh facility. This facility has been an anchor and source of pride within our County since it opened in 2000. The facility’s importance to the region became even more significant upon the opening of the $245 million electric motor facility in 2012. Hundreds of millions of federal, state, and local dollars have been invested since its opening and it has been lauded as a “state of the art” facility that embodied American resiliency in the wake of the great recession.
As you know, our region has strong and deep roots in manufacturing. Our proximity to major highway and rail networks and the Port of Baltimore has made eastern Baltimore County one of the most significant areas for logistics and manufacturing – and we continue to remain competitive. We attract talented and qualified workers and have demonstrated our commitment to embracing 21st century workforce solutions through bolstering trades, job training and workforce development. And we will continue to do so.
Therefore I respectfully request that GM find a product or alternative use for the plant that will keep all 300 of those employees working in Baltimore County. I understand that according to GM’s own corporate metrics, the employees at White Marsh are among the top performers across the entire company. Furthermore, I understand these employees have had very few grievances with GM management. The facility is both modern and effective, and I know these hard-working men and women remain committed to achieving high performance standards.
If GM does not reverse the decision to cease production in White Marsh, we must work collectively with our state and federal partners to do everything we can for the employees and families impacted. As such, I have asked my team to immediately engage with local GM and United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 239 in an effort to protect the career-paths of affected GM workers. At my direction, Baltimore County’s Department of Workforce and Economic Development will serve as the central agency responsible for communications, coordination with area employers interested in recruiting GM workers, and hosting career fairs. We will also offer workshops and direct career counseling, assist with resume development, interview preparation, and other unemployment essentials.
Earlier this week, a team of economic and workforce development professionals from my administration met with GM’s human resource manager, Erin Spitzer, to discuss collaboration on these efforts. I have every confidence that we will continue to have GM’s cooperation and partnership in these efforts.
While we are bracing for a possible closure, I would like to reiterate my strong request to maintain operations at the White Marsh facility. As soon as possible, I invite you and/or members of your senior leadership team to join me in a tour of the White Marsh operation to observe the world-class operation there firsthand. I am available to discuss this matter at your convenience. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

John Olszewski, Jr.
County Executive

White Marsh GM Plant, Don Pablo’s & Red’s Market to Close


It was a rough day for local businesses in eastern Baltimore County as the General Motors (GM) plant in White Marsh, Don Pablo’s in the Avenue and Red’s Market in Kingsville all announced they are closing their doors.

In a press release from GM, it announced that the White Marsh plant and a plant in Michigan will be “unallocated in 2019”. The White Marsh powertrain plant on Philadelphia Road opened in 2000 and GM reported it has over 300 employees.

Many local officials were upset with the news and released statements on the GM closure.
“Baltimore County stands with the workers and their families who are part of a decades-long GM manufacturing legacy in Baltimore, from advanced hybrid motors in White Marsh to vehicle production at Broening Highway. Our workers are second to none,” said interim-Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler.
“The county’s workforce development team is available immediately to assist with job and career counseling services for the 300 GM workers whose jobs will be affected next year. The Eastpoint Career Center will help match GM workers with other employers looking for their skills in advanced manufacturing and connect them to training and job search workshops.”

Congressman C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger was also not happy with GM’s decision.
“This plant has always been a source of pride for the Second District, Baltimore County and me, personally. It’s a modern manufacturing facility with a workforce to match and we are not ready to close this door yet. In the meantime, we stand ready to assist affected workers any way we can,” Ruppersberger said.

The owners of Red’s Market on Belair Road in Kingsville also announced their closure due to a leasing dispute.
“With the saddest of hearts we have an announcement: REDS MUST CLOSE it’s DOORS.
Where Mr. Kurrle loved the store and considered us partners, the children that inherited the store, not so much,” said a social media statement from the Red’s Market Facebook page.
“On November 16th the new landlords sent us an email via their lawyer stating, ‘we will not negotiate a new lease’. To say this was a shock, is an understatement. We are only given six weeks [Dec. 31] to exit and close the business we love and worked so hard to create.”

Councilman David Marks, who represents the Kingsville area, hopes that Red’s will find a new home before the end of the year
“It’s always a shame to lose a small-town business, one valued by so many customers. I talked to Mike Tull with Red’s Market and offered my assistance – as I would provide to any business. I am optimistic that they will find a location,” said Marks.

In addition, multiple outlets on social media have posted a note on the doors at the Don Pablo’s in the Avenue that reported the closure of the Tex-Mex restaurant.