Black History Month is a moment to reflect, recognize, and recommit.

It is a time to honor the resilience, innovation, and leadership of Black Americans whose contributions have shaped our economy, strengthened our communities, and expanded opportunity for generations. It is also a reminder that history is not only something we look back on. It is something we are building right now.

At the Central Maryland Chamber of Commerce, we believe economic growth is strongest when opportunity is inclusive. Black-owned businesses are job creators, innovators, and community anchors across our region. They are launching startups, scaling legacy companies, and opening doors for the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders.

As the first Black President & CEO of the Central Maryland Chamber and its Educational Foundation, I take this month personally and professionally. Representation matters. Access matters. Leadership matters. And progress happens when businesses come together to support one another, share networks, and create pathways for growth.

This Black History Month, we are proud to spotlight Black leadership within our Chamber and across Central Maryland. We are committed to elevating Black-owned businesses, investing in workforce development, and creating platforms where diverse voices are heard and valued.
I encourage every business leader reading this to be intentional. Be curious. Be supportive. Spend your dollars locally. Make introductions. Mentor emerging leaders. Small actions, when multiplied across a business community, create lasting impact.

Black history is not confined to one month. It is woven into the past, present, and future of our regional economy.
Let’s celebrate it.
Let’s support it.
And let’s continue building an economy where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Happy Black History Month.

By Dewan Clayborn, President & CEO, Central Maryland Chamber of Commerce
​###

Key Insights from the Gonzales Maryland Poll (January 2026)
Commissioned by One Fair Wage

Overview
A statewide January 2026 poll conducted by Gonzales Research & Media Services surveyed 808 likely Maryland voters to gauge public opinion on raising Maryland’s minimum wage to $25 per hour over several years, including tipped workers. The results reveal strong public support, deep political divides, and significant implications for Maryland’s business environment.

Key Findings

• 65% of Maryland voters support raising the minimum wage to $25/hour
• 49% strongly support
• 16% somewhat support
• 34% oppose the proposal

        
​Support for higher wages is broad and crosses demographic lines, but political and economic concerns—particularly among business owners and Republicans—remain substantial.
 
Why This Matters to Maryland Businesses
Maryland employers are already operating in a challenging environment marked by:

• High operating costs
• Workforce shortages
• Slower business formation and survival rates
• Residents and employers relocating to more business-friendly states

​
The strong public support for wage increases reflects real cost-of-living pressures, but it also highlights a growing tension:

• Workers seek livable wages
• Businesses fear higher labor costs, reduced hiring, price increases, and closures—especially for small businesses and restaurants

 
The Business Community’s Challenge
This poll reinforces that Maryland’s economic issues are complex and interconnected:

• Wage policy cannot be addressed in isolation
• Businesses need predictability, affordability, and support, not one-size-fits-all mandates
• Policy decisions must balance worker needs with business sustainability

Why Regional Chambers of Commerce Are Engaged
Regional Chambers of Commerce are committed to:

• Advocating for balanced, data-driven policy
• Ensuring lawmakers understand real-world impacts on employers
• Supporting solutions that strengthen:
  1. Business creation
  2. Long-term job growth
  3. Worker opportunity
  4. Regional economic competitiveness

Chambers serve as the bridge between public sentiment, business realities, and smart economic policy.

Bottom Line
The Gonzales Poll shows Marylanders want an economy where work pays—but it also underscores the urgency of addressing the broader business climate. Sustainable growth requires policies that support workers without pushing employers out of the state.
​
Strong businesses and strong wages must move forward together.
​

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Central Maryland Chamber President & CEO Dewan Clayborn Selected to Serve on AHEAD Model Statewide Advisory Committee

Central Maryland — The Central Maryland Chamber is proud to announce that President & CEO Dewan Clayborn has been selected to serve on the AHEAD Model All-Payer Total Cost of Care Target Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), a key statewide body guiding Maryland’s next generation of health care policy.
The AHEAD Model — All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development — represents Maryland’s transition to a more accountable, equitable, and cost-effective health care system. The Technical Advisory Committee plays a critical role in helping state and federal partners set realistic cost targets, assess risks, and ensure the model supports both health outcomes and economic growth.

​“This appointment ensures that the voice of employers, small businesses, and regional industries is represented at the highest levels of health policy decision-making,” said Clayborn. “Our goal is to help shape a system that improves care while protecting affordability and competitiveness for Maryland businesses.”

As the only truly regional chamber in the state, representing eight jurisdictions and more than 2.7 million residents and businesses, the Central Maryland Chamber is uniquely positioned to provide cross-county perspective on the economic impacts of health policy.

Clayborn’s service on the TAC strengthens the Chamber’s role as a trusted partner to hospitals, state agencies, and federal stakeholders while advancing its mission to advocate for a stronger, more competitive business environment.

For more information about the AHEAD Model or the Central Maryland Chamber’s policy priorities, visit www.centralmarylandchamber.org.
###

Today, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Central Maryland Chamber is closed.
We made this decision intentionally.
Dr. King did not envision this day as a pause from responsibility, but as a call to action. A reminder that leadership is measured not by titles, but by service. That progress is driven not only by policy and profit, but by people stepping up for one another.
For our Chamber, this day matters because strong businesses depend on strong communities.
Taking today to serve, reflect, and give back reinforces values that are essential to long-term economic growth:

• Equity of opportunity strengthens the workforce.
• Community investment fuels entrepreneurship.
• Service-driven leadership builds trust and resilience.

Whether it’s volunteering, supporting a local nonprofit, mentoring a young professional, or simply checking in on a neighbor, today is an opportunity to lead with purpose.
As business leaders, we often talk about growth, innovation, and competitiveness. Dr. King’s legacy reminds us that sustainable growth also requires compassion, courage, and collective responsibility.
I encourage every member of our business community to use today not just to remember history, but to help shape the future.
Service is not separate from leadership.
It is leadership.


Dewan Clayborn, IOM

By Dewan Clayborn, President and CEO
If you lead or work for a business in Maryland, I want to be very clear: the next 90 days will matter more than any in recent memory.
This is not business as usual in Annapolis.
Maryland is entering Session 2026 under real economic pressure. Business growth has slowed. Costs are rising. Competition from neighboring states is intensifying. And this all unfolds in an election year that will shape our state’s direction for years to come.
What lawmakers decide over the next three months will directly impact your costs, your workforce, your ability to grow, and your long-term competitiveness.
Why This Session Is DifferentThis legislative session comes at a critical moment for Maryland’s economy. Businesses across our state are already navigating:

• Increased operating and compliance costs
  
• Workforce shortages and retention challenges
  
• Uncertainty that makes long-term planning harder
  
• A regional race for talent and investment we cannot afford to lose
  

Against that backdrop, legislation will be introduced that, if enacted, would raise costs, increase regulation, and make it harder for businesses to operate and expand.
We will work tirelessly to fight proposals that threaten economic growth and job creation. Protecting Maryland employers is not optional for us. It is our mission.
But we cannot do it without you.
Silence Is Not an Option in an Election YearThis is an election year, and that matters.
Legislators are listening more closely right now. They are paying attention to the voices of the people creating jobs, signing paychecks, and investing in Maryland communities.
That means your voice has never been more important.
You built something here.
A company.
A team.
Opportunities for Marylanders.
Your experience is not theoretical. It is real. And it carries weight.
Your story. Your challenges. Your perspective.
Those are the things that influence decisions in Annapolis.
Engagement Is the Difference-MakerOver the next 90 days, decisions will be made that determine whether Maryland becomes:

• More competitive or less
  
• More predictable or more uncertain
  
• A place businesses choose to grow or a place they are forced to reconsider
  

When business leaders engage, policymakers understand the real-world impact of their decisions. When they do not, policies are shaped without the full picture.
That is a risk Maryland’s economy cannot afford.
Standing Up for a Pro-Growth MarylandWe will fight every day for a competitive, predictable, pro-growth Maryland. One that recognizes businesses are not the problem to be managed, but the engine that drives opportunity, innovation, and economic stability.
Still, the most powerful voice in Annapolis is not mine.
It is not an organization’s.
It is yours.

The Call to ActionThe next 90 days will define what comes next for Maryland’s business community.
Stay engaged.
Speak up.
Stand with us.
Together, we can protect what you have built and push Maryland toward a stronger, more competitive future. Make yourselves heard. Hold policymakers accountable. Help us move Maryland forward.
Session 2026 starts today. Now is the time to act.

Maryland’s 2026 legislative session has begun at a pivotal moment for employers, job creators, and the families who rely on a thriving economy here in our state.

Recent data shows Maryland opened 19,289 businesses in 2024 but saw 17,008 close that same year. That means only 2,281 net new business starts — a significant slowdown from prior years. Worse yet, just 12 percent of new businesses survived long enough to create jobs. These trends tell a deeper story about the challenges facing our economy and the urgency for policy that supports, not hinders, growth.

Maryland carries one of the highest overall tax burdens in the country. That tax load affects employers, families, and workers and plays a measurable role in both workforce mobility and business location decisions. From 2020 to 2024, more than 120,000 residents left the state, taking income and taxable earnings with them.

Our state has assets. Maryland is home to world-class research institutions, strategic military and federal infrastructure, and talented professionals across industries. These strengths should translate into economic dynamism and population growth. But the current combination of high costs, regulatory complexity, and fiscal uncertainty is creating headwinds instead of momentum.

Competition Doesn’t Wait
Neighboring states actively pursue business investment, tax reform, and regulatory predictability. Many offer more competitive tax rates and incentives designed to attract companies at all stages of growth. Maryland must match or exceed those incentives if we want employers to invest here rather than across state lines.

The 2026 General Assembly must prioritize policies that:

• Create a tax environment that encourages business formation and retention, not one that drives companies away.
• Ensure regulations are clear, efficient, and consistently applied so businesses can plan for the long term.
• Address workforce shortages with practical solutions that align education and training with employer needs.

These are not abstract ideas. They are the building blocks of economic growth and community stability. A competitive business climate means more jobs, higher wages, and stronger local economies across Central Maryland and beyond.

Legislative Decisions Will Impact the Next Decade
With a projected $1.2 billion budget gap confronting lawmakers this session, tough decisions lie ahead. Lawmakers have signaled they intend to address the shortfall without adding new taxes after recent increases, but that means hotly debated budget cuts and prioritization across programs.

Those choices have real consequences for our business environment. Funding priorities, tax policy, licensing requirements, and fiscal discipline all impact whether Maryland becomes a magnet for investment or continues to lag behind peer states.

Businesses cannot afford to remain on the sidelines while these debates unfold. Decisions made in Annapolis this session will echo through our economy for years.

Business Must Be at the Table
At the Central Maryland Chamber, we believe that strong, engaged business leadership must drive this conversation. Employers of all sizes have firsthand insights into the challenges of operating here. Your voice matters.

When business leaders engage with policymakers we achieve results. When we act together we are more influential. Chambers of commerce are not just advocates; we are builders of economic opportunity.

Join the Central Maryland Chamber and Be Part of the Solution
Maryland’s competitiveness and prosperity should not be left to chance. We can shape it — but only if business speaks with one powerful voice.

Membership in the Central Maryland Chamber means:

• Being part of a collective voice that lawmakers hear and respect.
• Access to insights on legislative priorities and economic data that affect your bottom line.
• Opportunities to shape policy that expands job creation and business investment.

Maryland can be a leader in business growth. But it will take coordinated effort, clear priorities, and the strength that comes from unity.

​If your business is not yet part of the Central Maryland Chamber, now is the time to join. Together we are stronger. Together we can make Maryland more competitive.

​www.centralmarylandchamber.org