 County Executive Marc Elrich discusses Montgomery County’s current status regarding COVID-19, the situation regarding the State’s plans for I-495 and I-270 and the need to do more to end homelesssness. As the Olympic Games begin this week, he also asks all residents to strongly support the County residents who will be competing in Tokyo.
 The percent of Montgomery County total residents that have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccination reached 76.8 percent, according to statistics updated Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with 70 percent fully vaccinated. However, the infection rate in the County has slightly increased as the Delta variant has become evident in the community.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is visiting businesses throughout the County this summer to see how they have persisted throughout the COVID-19 health crisis and how they can be helped during the recovery as the County celebrates “Small Business Summer.”
 Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Rent Relief Program is continuing to provide short-term rental assistance to eligible households that have experienced a financial hardship/loss due to the COVID-19 health crisis and have fallen behind on their rent. The program does not have an application deadline. It will end when all available funds are distributed.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has proposed new legislation (Bill 16-21) that will expand the number of buildings covered by the County’s Benchmarking Law and require the use of less energy. The County Council is now considering the bill. If it is approved, Montgomery will become the first county in the nation to establish a Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) policy that sets a minimum energy performance threshold for existing buildings.
 The Montgomery Parks series of free outdoor movies will continue at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 23, with the screening of Remember the Titans at Jesup Blair Local Park in Silver Spring.
 The Maryland Senior Olympics (MSO) are officially underway and registration is open for many events that will take place through October. Montgomery County will host numerous events.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich earlier this week in Rockville joined Maryland State Senator Cheryl Kagan, State Delegate Jared Solomon, Rockville Mayor Bridget Newton and numerous community advocates to demand improvements to the Maryland Department of Transportation’s proposed I-495/I-270 Managed Lane study. The following day, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Transportation Planning Board (TPB) voted to support the proposed plan, but there may be additional options to have it improved as advocates are suggesting.
 German-based BioNTech has announced that it will soon be joining Montgomery County’s growing list of world-renowned international companies in the “Immunology Capital Next to the Nation’s Capital.” BioNTech is acquiring a Gaithersburg manufacturing facility and cell therapy research and development platform from Kite, a unit of Gilead Sciences, to support the development of BioNTech’s expanding pipeline of novel cell therapies.
 The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center operated by the County Office of Animal Services is continuing to waive adoption fees for all cats and kittens through the end of July. “Feline Freedom” is a month-long event sponsored by the nonprofit organization Montgomery County Partners for Animal Well-Being (MCPAW).
The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board has awarded the Montgomery County Department of Transportation a grant for a safety study along New Hampshire Avenue (MD 650) from Oakview Drive to Southampton Drive. The grant, totaling $60,000, was a joint submittal with the Prince George’s Department of Public Works and Transportation. A portion of New Hampshire Avenue, from Northampton Drive to Southampton Drive, is within Prince George’s County.
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With the recent deck collapses in various parts of the Washington region, Montgomery County’s Department of Permitting Services (DPS) is advising owners of properties with decks older than 20 years to have a licensed third-party inspection of those decks. DPS advises that having older decks inspected every five years is a good safety measure that could help avoid disaster.
 A recommended facility plan and Mandatory Referral Water Quality Plan for Columbia Local Park in Burtonsville will be presented to the Montgomery Planning Board on Thursday, July 29, by Montgomery Parks, which is part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Residents are invited to comment or testify at the meeting (which will be held online), in writing or by email.
 The Montgomery County Government’s efforts in using technology to provide better service to residents and businesses were recognized as among the nation’s best among counties with populations of one million or more in the 19th Annual Digital Counties Survey. The survey is presented by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo).
 Montgomery County Public Libraries is offering free online workshops and one-on-one sessions geared toward assisting job seekers and entrepreneurs throughout July. All workshops will be offered virtually.
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