Montgomery County to Host COVID-19 Economic Revitalization and Recovery Virtual Town Hall on Friday, March 5, on Legal Advice Program for Small Businesses During the COVID-19 Crisis

For Immediate Release: Friday, February 26, 2021

“Legal Advice During the Pandemic” will be the theme from noon-1 p.m. on Friday, March 5, when Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Economic Revitalization and Recovery program continues its series of virtual town hall meetings to keep businesses informed on strategies for doing business as the health crisis continues. The upcoming town hall will feature Judy Stephenson, the County small business navigator, and Marla Bilonick, the executive director and CEO of the Latino Economic Development Center.

County Executive Marc Elrich initiated the series of town halls held every other Friday as a way to share timely updates on COVID-19 topics of interest to the business community. The town halls give businesses an opportunity to hear directly from County leaders. Jerome Fletcher, the County’s assistant chief administrative officer (ACAO) for economic development, hosts the sessions. He also provides updates on grant programs available to County businesses and offers ideas that can help economic recovery.

During the March 5 town hall, Ms. Stephenson and Ms. Bilonick will share information on a new legal advice program that the County will sponsor. In addition, the Latino Economic Development Center will provide information on the program to small businesses. The new program will include legal clinics and webinars.

Among the topics the legal program will cover will be rent issues, renegotiating contracts with vendors, renegotiating contracts with clients, renegotiating loans, employee/personnel issues, insurance concerns,  starting a business and closing a business.

If business owners, employees or residents have questions they would like to see addressed at the March 5 town hall, they can be submitted by Wednesday, March 3, to [email protected].

“Montgomery County understands that small and minority-owned businesses have an urgent need for legal assistance, particularly related to commercial leases,” said ACAO Fletcher. “We are partnering with the Latino Economic Development Center to help meet this need. Local businesses will have access to legal clinics to address specific issues and webinars on more general topics.”

The town hall will be broadcast live via Teams. To join the broadcast, go to https://tinyurl.com/4kknxdmp.

The town hall will be broadcast on County Cable Montgomery (cable station CCM), which is available on Comcast and RCN (channels 6 and HD996) and Verizon (channel 30). The town hall can be viewed live via County social media at https://www.facebook.com/montgomerycountyinfo.

Town halls are recorded and available for 90 days at the Montgomery County Business Portal at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/biz-resources/covid19/.

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Release ID: 21-150
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915
Categories: Business