Did you know that Montgomery Count offers a variety of services geared towards helping businesses succeed? The Montgomery County Department of Economic Development office has experts in Marketing and Business Development, Finance, Agriculture and Employment.

They also offer a variety of programs designed specifically to support our local business community. Their economic development professionals are available to provide information and consultation to help you take advantage of the following opportunities:

• Financial & Tax Incentives: Targeted tax credits, grants and loans.
• Workforce Development: Support to help companies identify and train employees.
• Local Small Business Reserve Program: Access to local government contracting opportunities.
• Business Innovation Centers (incubators): A network of facilities and assistance to help emerging enterprises.
• Technology Transfer: Assistance to facilitate cooperative technology development between federal laboratories, academia and businesses.
• Minority Business Outreach: Networking, mentorship, and technical assistance to ensure the success of minority businesses.
• Small Business Mentorship: The County's Small Business Mentorship Program pairs local entrepreneurs with established business owners with expertise in their field.
• Agricultural Services: Land preservation programs to limit commercial, residential or industrial development of agricultural land.

Attend the January Capital College to hear Steve Silverman, Director of the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, discuss how the County can help your business succeed.

Helping Others at the Holidays

If the holidays put you in a giving mood, consider volunteering at a local homeless shelter, nursing home or hospital. These organizations always need help to prepare meals and visit with the residents. By volunteering, you can make your own holiday more meaningful, less stressful and feel more connected with your community. If you find that your time is limited, here are some other creative ways to donate during this season.

• Adopt another family for the holidays. Instead of buying gifts for one another, sponsor a needy family. If you have kids, talk to them about the difference the gesture can make to the other family and make sure they're okay with giving up presents (you can always get them something little). You can find a needy family through your local Salvation Army branch, which will provide a wish list to shop from.
• Put a charitable spin on secret Santa. Jeanne Benedict, an entertaining expert, suggests adding a philanthropic twist to the game: Instead of buying material gifts, make a $20 donation to a charity your recipient would support. For instance, is he or she an animal lover? Donate to the ASPCA. It makes a more meaningful gift than another stocking stuffer.
• Swap toys with Santa. Along with cookies and milk, leave (gently used) old toys under the tree on Christmas Eve for Santa to "take back to the North Pole." (You can donate them to an organization like Toys for Tots or Goodwill.)

Capital Bank has put helping others into practice by becoming a corporate sponsor in 2012 for Manna, Inc.

The Friends of Manna held an auction and reception on November 7 in order to raise funds to assist Manna in its endeavors to make more homes affordable. The Friends of Manna work with corporate sponsors to increase awareness of the need for affordable housing in the Washington, DC area.