Hagerstown-Washington County News

Hagerstown, MD – The Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce supports Senate Bill 343, currently under consideration by the Maryland General Assembly, which would ease centralized procurement restrictions and allow local businesses to bid on state contracts.  The Chamber supports the legislation for the following reasons:

• While intergovernmental purchase agreements are designed to create a more competitive procurement environment for the State and in-turn the taxpayers, these agreements are not always the best solution.  If goods and services can be purchased more competitively, a State procurement unit should be required to withdraw from the purchase agreement.

• Contracts with national vendors often eliminate the opportunity for a local business, in close proximity to a State agency, to participate in commerce.

About the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce

Since 1919, the Chamber has been the preferred advocate and recognized voice of business in the greater Hagerstown-Washington County area. We connect our member businesses to each other and to the community, organizing events and providing tools that they use to grow their business. We strive to be a go-to resource for the business community for questions, concerns, education and advice. For more information, visit www.hagerstown.org.