CSM foundation prepares for 26th Golf Classic
The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Foundation invites area golfers and CSM supporters to participate in its 26th Annual Golf Classic. The tournament will take place Aug. 10 at Swan Point Yacht and Country Club in Issue. This annual event has raised more than $770,000 for CSM scholarships and college programs and features prizes, raffles and three meals.
“The Golf Classic is one of those signature traditions in Southern Maryland that continues through the years because of the generosity of so many partners,” said CSM Foundation Director Gary Simpson, chair of the golf committee. “These partners are individuals, organizations and businesses — people who realize that the funds generated through this tournament are going to support a great cause, our students and their education.”
A chance to be coached on the game and enjoy a four-course food and wine tasting, while still supporting the college, is available through the Sip and Swing for an Impact. The Sip and Swing event, sponsored this year by the Southern Maryland Women’s League (SMWL) and presented by the CSM Alumni and Friends Connection, will run simultaneously with the 26th Annual Golf Classic. The event features a later start than the tournament and will include several interactive clinics about putting, chipping and full-swing techniques and will end with an awards ceremony.
Econ. development to hold Business Roundtable July 26
The Charles County Economic Development Department is hosting a Quarterly Business Roundtable on Wednesday, July 26, at the Waldorf West Library, 10405 O’Donnell Place, Waldorf, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Come to learn more about Charles County economic development and what is happening in the county, as well as network with the local business community.
A progress update and recommendations to the five-year strategic plan will be covered, as well as topics on business development, infrastructure, and marketing. The event will conclude with a Q&A session. The agenda: 8-8:30 a.m. — Networking and continental breakfast; 8:30-9 a.m. — Presentation; 9-9:30 a.m. — Q&A
session.
This event is free, but space is limited. Register today at www. MeetCharlesCounty.com/Quarterly-Business-Roundtable, or email the department at info@ MeetCharlesCounty.com.
Hospice seeks volunteers for upcoming events
Hospice of Charles County is recruiting event volunteers for upcoming events throughout the year. Volunteers will be assisting in registration, silent auctions and overall set up for events such as the Luau, 5K Run/Walk, Quarter and silent auctions, Dine and Donates, etc. For more information, contact Michelle Johnson, assistant events coordinator, at 301-861-5315 or msjohnson@hospiceofcharlescounty.org.
Girls on the Run seeks volunteer coaches
Girls on the Run Southern Maryland is looking for two coaches for the newest Charles County site at C. Paul Barnhart Elementary. Meetings will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-5:15pm. Go to www.gotrsomd.org to sign up to be a coach. Voluntary, but very strongly encouraged, free CPR/ AED/First Aid training is on Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Charlotte Hall library from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mandatory coach training is on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. at the Charlotte Hall library. Already signed-up coaches will receive a separate and more detailed email mid-July.
Hazardous waste collection expands to 12 months
The Charles County Department of Public Works has announced that the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program has been expanded to include the first Saturday of the month for January, February and March.
The household hazardous waste collection site is located in the parking lot of the Department of Public Works building, located at 10430 Audie Lane, off of Radio Station Road in La Plata. Collection hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. This service is free of charge. The next household hazardous waste collection is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 5.
Items accepted free of charge include: pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, gasoline, oil-based paint, cleaning supplies, pool chemicals, fluorescent lights, mercury thermometers, and other poisons found in the home. Remember to mark any container that does not have a readable, original label.
Unacceptable materials include bio-medical waste (sharps, needles, anything with bodily fluids), latex paint, prescription drugs, and ammunition. Used motor oil, anti-freeze, propane tanks, and batteries are accepted on a regular basis at various collection sites. Go to www. CharlesCountyMD.gov/ HHW for a list of prescription and non-prescription medication dropped off locations.
For more information, call the Charles County Department of Public Works, Environmental Resources Division at 301-932-3599 or 301-8702778, or the landfill and recycling information line at 301-932-5656. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800735-2258.
SMADC announces three new grants for farmers
The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) has announced three new programs specifically targeted to individual farmers.
SMADC’s Agricultural Mini-Grant Program is open to applicants age 16 and older, residing and farming in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s or St. Mary’s counties.
Grant awards will be made up to $2,000 per applicant, as a one-to-one match and can be used for a variety of projects. Examples include the purchase of foundation livestock, purchase of plant stock, marketing and promotion activities, fencing, hoop house, and on-farm upgrades to enhance food safety. Administrative expenses and events are not eligible for program funding.
“The mini-grants program is great for young or beginning farmers that need some assistance getting started and also for more experienced farmers who would like a little capital to try out new ideas on the farm, or diversify their existing operations. We’re excited about this program and we hope that many farmers will be able to take advantage of it,” said Shelby Watson-Hampton, director of SMADC, in a press release.
Along with the minigrant program, SMADC announced two additional programs, offered in partnership with the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO).
The Southern Maryland Agricultural Equity Incentive Matching Fund was established to incentivize loan requests from Southern Maryland farms and aquaculture producers and to help them meet certain down-payment (equity) requirements.
“Commercial lenders typically require borrowers to contribute some of their own money towards the funding of a business project,” said Steve McHenry, executive director of MARBIDCO, in a press release. “The equity incentive matching money is going to be a significant help to Southern Maryland farmers, especially young and beginning farmers.”
Under this program, the farmer applies directly to one of MARBIDCO’s existing loan programs. SMADC will contribute up to a maximum of $20,000 towards a Maryland Resource-Based Industry Financing Fund Loan (MRBIFF) application and up to $5,000 towards the other loan programs to be used as a down payment (per applicant), not to exceed 5 percent of the project costs.
SMADC and MARBIDCO also established the Southern Maryland Revolving Loan Fund to assist Southern Maryland farmers with smaller agricultural projects that may not typically be financed by a commercial lender. “This loan fund is intended to stimulate the agricultural economy in Southern Maryland and enhance the viability of existing operations,” said Watson-Hampton.
Loan amounts range from $10,000 to $20,000, targeted to three specific areas: livestock, small fruits, and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and food safety upgrades.
Under the livestock section of the loan, eligible uses include the purchase of livestock or artificial insemination to improve herd genetics, refrigeration facilities, fencing and animal shelters, etc.
The loan’s small fruit section is intended to incubate the production of small fruits and increase acreage of existing small fruit operations. Producers may apply loan funds towards perennial, vine and root stock for blueberries, raspberries and blackberries and/or trellising and netting for small fruits.
The third section of the revolving loan program is for GAP and food safety upgrades such as drip irrigation, water treatment, irrigation wells, compost structures and equipment, harvesting supplies and packing house structures.
Additionally, the Revolving Loan Program includes an incentive for borrowers in good standing, forgiving 20 to 25 percent of the loan amount due at the end of the loan term (by foregoing the final one-quarter of amortizing loan payments).
Watson-Hampton said the three new programs, along with the Regional Agricultural Program (RAP) grant announced last week, complement SMADC’s mission to promote market-driven and profitable agriculture businesses in Southern Maryland.
“Farmers in Southern Maryland have already overcome production challenges while transitioning away from tobacco. Our focus now is to help them to enhance, expand and diversify their operations, so that we can promote a thriving regional agricultural economy,” said Watson-Hampton.
Applications for the Mini-Grant Program open and must be submitted online on the “Farm Grants” page under “Farmer Resources” at www.smadc.com. Minigrant applications are accepted year round, but only reviewed on a quarterly basis in January, April, July and October.
To qualify for the Southern Maryland Agricultural Equity Incentive Matching Fund, producers should follow MARBIDCO’s regular application process for the program of interest. Matching funds will be considered in the application process and applied to approved loans for farmers residing and doing business in the five-county Southern Maryland Region. Producers interested in the Southern Maryland Revolving Loan Fund should apply directly through MARBIDCO at marbidco.org.