Growing Our Economy:

Doubling Down on the Bio-Health Industry

Councilmember Friedson Announces Passage of ZTA 21-09 at United Therapeutics in Silver Spring. Click Here to Watch.

On Tuesday, the Montgomery County Council unanimously approved a measure I sponsored that will help us attract and retain the best and the brightest in the world of biotech innovation. ZTA 21-09 Biohealth Priority Campus, will roll out the red carpet for the bio industry by reducing the regulatory review process by 75%. What would typically take 600 days will now take 160 days.

By green-taping the regulatory review process, biohealth leaders can focus their time and energies on research, product development, and trials rather than time-consuming regulatory requirements. Biohealth companies have many choices as to where they locate. We need to send the message that we will make it as easy as possible to support their research here. But attracting the life sciences industry is not just about growing our economy; it is about improving lives - it is about saving lives.  These companies don’t just employ people - they save people.

This life saving work is already happening here in Montgomery County. American Gene Technologies in Rockville is poised to cure HIV, something we could never have imagined possible a few decades ago. Novavax, of Gaithersburg, is expanding their operations here in Montgomery County and making important contributions in the fight against Covid-19. United Therapeutics is on a mission to create an unlimited supply of manufactured organs for transplant including personalized lungs created from one’s own DNA -- a medical miracle that will help so many facing chronic lung diseases.

These companies are leaders in the world of bio-innovation and we want to bring more like them here to Montgomery County. Yesterday, I was joined by my colleagues Councilmembers Hans Riemer and Tom Hucker; MCEDC President Ben Wu; Thomas Kaufman of United Therapeutics; and Jane Redicker of the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce at a press conference celebrating the passage of this important economic development measure. The air was cool and crisp but the sun was shining. It was a good day for Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Green

Buildings Now Act Becomes Law

Councilmember Friedson Speaks at a Press Conference on the Montgomery County Green Buildings Now Act

BIG NEWS at the Montgomery County Council! The Montgomery County Green Buildings Now Act, sponsored by Councilmember Hucker and I and co-sponsored by all colleagues, has passed. We were honored to be joined by U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen to announce passage of this landmark legislation earlier this month. Senator Van Hollen, who has been a fierce advocate for green banks across our nation, has described them as force multipliers in efforts to combat climate change.

This legislation is an absolute game changer for the way Montgomery County combats the climate crisis. It is the most significant climate investment in County history, representing tens of millions of dedicated dollars which will be leveraged to generate hundreds of millions more by the Montgomery County Green Bank. These dollars will provide residents and businesses with better loan rates, terms, and credit access for clean energy projects to address greenhouse gas emissions in our residential and commercial building sectors, which make up more than half of emissions in the County.

The public sector can’t solve these vexing challenges alone, but by bringing together advocates and experts, businesses and nonprofits, labor and government, we can make a meaningful impact toward reaching our ambitious climate goals.

Acoustics and Ales:

February 24, 25, and March 4

Montgomery Parks Acoustics and Ales Winter Happy Hour Series - www.montgomeryparks.org

Peanut butter and jelly. Coffee and cream. Some things just go together. Join us while we enjoy Montgomery County’s natural wonders for the Acoustics and Ales winter happy hour series! Find more information about these hoppy events here for specifics on the vendors, musical entertainment, and public transportation directions.

FY22 Nonprofit Security Grant

Program Recipients Announced

Councilmember Friedson at Press Conference Announcing FY22 Nonprofit Security Grant Program Awardees

I recently joined faith and nonprofit leaders to announce the 61 recipients of the Fiscal Year 2022 Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Schools, houses of worship, and other places of community and cultural gathering should be sanctuaries of peace and acceptance, not fear and violence.

Locally and nationally, we continue to see an alarming rise of abhorrent acts of hate, bigotry, and violence, including recent events like the Congregation Beth Israel hostage situation in Colleyville, Texas and the distribution of antisemitic fliers in the Forest Estates community of Silver Spring. In Montgomery County, we have a community of diverse residents who wish to practice their faiths and cultures freely. Schools and places of worship should be sanctuaries of peace and acceptance, not fear and violence. While we regret that this program is so needed at this time, I am proud to have have led the charge by hosting a town hall to listen to our community partners, then work with the Executive Branch to establish this grant program so we can provide added security for our residents.

In May 2021, the Montgomery County Council approved $700,000 to be used for nonprofit organizations and faith-based facilities which have experienced, or are at high risk of experiencing, hate crimes. These grants are available to augment funds for security personnel or other security planning and training measures for nonprofit and faith-based organizations located in Montgomery County.

Click here to learn more about the grants program and awardees.

Residents and organizations can also access the Partnership Fund for Victims of Hate Violence through the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights. The fund provides partial compensation for property damage to victims of racial, ethnic, religion, sexual orientation, and disability-based hate/violence. Click here for more information.

North Bethesda “Flash” Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Advisory Committee

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is kicking off a planning study for the North Bethesda Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to determine the street layout that will accommodate the BRT service, the location of stations, and the end points of the corridor. The application window for the North Bethesda BRT Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC) has now closed, however, the CAC will kick off its work with a public meeting on March 9. Sign up for updates on this project and details on meetings and events here.

The North Bethesda BRT corridor was identified in the 2013 Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan. Montgomery County's BRT service is called Flash and provides upgraded transit service on select corridors in the County. To learn more please visit the Flash website.

Only You…Can Help Refresh

Clara Barton National Historic Site

The National Park Service is inviting the public to submit their outdoor recreation, artistic, environmental education, and special event ideas for a new lease-on-life for Clara Barton National Historic Site. If you are interested, please submit proposals by March 11 to GWMP_Superintendent@nps.gov or by hard copy at George Washington Memorial Parkway Headquarters. For more information, please visit the NPS site here.

If you need a little inspiration: Clara Barton was a self-taught nurse during the Civil War, collected donations for supplies for injured soldiers, helped locate over 22,000 missing soldiers, where she earned her title of “angel of the battlefield.” She was a teacher and opened the first public school in Bordentown, NJ. She was the first female clerk at the U.S. Patent Office, though lost her position due to her staunch abolitionist political beliefs. Among her many other accomplishments, she saved Texas’ strawberry crop with the American Red Cross. These exceptional endeavors led the NPS to establish Clara Barton NHS as the first national park dedicated to a woman in 1974. Find out more about Clara Barton here and here.

Join Us Tomorrow for Our

Next Friday with Friedson

Virtual Friday with Friedson on Friday, February 18 at 11:00am on Zoom - Click Here to Register

Constituent Services

I encourage residents to continue to engage with my office on issues of importance to our community. We appreciate your patience and understanding as our small but mighty team works to respond to your inquiries. Please continue to engage with us by email, visiting our website, Facebook, and Twitter pages, and subscribing to our newsletter.