Month: April 2020

Signing a form.

Commissioners hear concerns about minority business eligibility for COVID recovery funds

Incomplete business records and outstanding balances with the county could disqualify some small businesses from receiving county grants and loans to help them weather the pandemic shutdown until they can reopen — and some are concerned about the impact those restrictions could have on minority businesses struggling to stay afloat.

The economic development directors of Anne Arundel, Charles, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties recently signed a joint statement pledging a regional approach to economic development.

Charles County joins regional economic development alliance

The Board of Charles County Commissioners voted at the end of March to authorize economic development director Darrell Brown to sign on to a regional cooperative agreement with five other Maryland counties, a decision that did not happen without some political theater. The non-binding joint statement, which was signed by

Charles County Economic Development Department director Darrell Brown, left, and deputy director Marcia Keeth.

County commissioners approve emergency grant funds for businesses, nonprofits

The Board of Charles County Commissioners voted on Tuesday to allocate $300,000 from the county’s fund balance for grants to county businesses and nonprofit organizations and also approved new payback terms for two business development loans. During a virtual open session held online due to social-distancing restrictions, the commissioners debated