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I was thrilled to join Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, WMATA CEO Randy Clarke, County Executive Marc Elrich and County leaders to announce a life sciences partnership and $5 million in federal funds for the North Bethesda transit hub. Under the agreement signed between WMATA and Montgomery County, North Bethesda is positioned to become a leading center for life sciences and innovation, along with housing and retail space around the North Bethesda Metro Station. Anchored by the University of Maryland’s Institute for Health Computing, the new state-of-the-art research and life sciences facility, this partnership will attract businesses and top talent to Montgomery County and strengthen our global competitiveness. I’m excited that North Bethesda is growing as a vibrant place for people to live and work with amenities and transit all within walking distance.
Learn more about the life sciences development partnership.
Did you know Montgomery County is home to the world's largest research and testing center for ships and ship systems? Located in Bethesda, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, is the U.S. Navy's state-of-the-art research, engineering, modeling and test center for ships that supports both the U.S. naval forces and the maritime industry. I recently joined Council colleagues to tour the facilities and discuss the center’s mission, which is home to over 2,500 local jobs, and how they engage with local education partners and businesses. We’re fortunate to host a cutting-edge research institution that serves as a magnet for world-class talent!
The Council recently approved the Make Office Vacancy Extinct (MOVE) Act, which makes the MOVE grant program a permanent component of the Economic Development Fund, providing an incentive for businesses to expand or relocate to Montgomery County and utilize vacant office space. The MOVE Act would help reduce office vacancies by providing up to $150,000 grants for businesses to move and expand their business in the County. Montgomery County is faced with a 21.9% office vacancy rate, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The County has 76 million square feet of office space, so we need to do everything in our power to get these spaces filled. I was proud to cosponsor this initiative, which was led by members of the Economic Development Committee: Chair Natali Fani-González and Councilmembers Evan Glass, Marilyn Balcombe and Laurie-Anne Sayles.
The Council passed two bills to boost support for veterans in Montgomery County. Bill 6-24 establishes a property tax credit for honorably discharged veterans who are at least 50% disabled, as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and whose federal adjusted gross income does not exceed $100,000. The bill, sponsored by Councilmember Fani-González, outlines criteria of eligibility for the property tax credit. This tax credit will help alleviate the financial burden that many of our veterans face. Additionally, the Council passed Bill 10-24 which I introduced in conjunction with the County Executive. It aims to increase opportunities for Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) to compete for contracting dollars with the County. Under this program, veteran-owned local small businesses that submit proposals for County contracts would be awarded preference points of five percent, giving these businesses an advantage in being selected for County projects. Veterans and their families have sacrificed so much for our nation and these measures are part of our commitment to assisting and uplifting our veteran community.
Learn more about the recent measures to support our veteran community.
It was great to see our public safety agencies join communities across the County during National Night Out. The annual event is a great opportunity for residents to get to know the officers, public safety professionals, and first responders who serve in your communities and learn about their service. I stopped by seven different community events across the County including Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Rockville, Germantown and Kensington. Public safety is a team effort, so it’s always great to see our officers and first responders out in the community building bridges and strengthening partnerships with residents, businesses, and community partners. We’re grateful for all they do to keep our community safe!
Make sure your kids are up to date on their vaccinations ahead of the upcoming school year! Montgomery County is offering free vaccinations for school-aged children (pre-K through high school) at locations across the County until the end of September. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are available. Find a convenient immunization clinic near you and book an appointment for your child today.
Plus, MCPS will host its annual Back-to-School Fair on Saturday, Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Westfield Wheaton Mall. MCPS families are invited to kick off the school year at the Back-to-School Fair to learn about the school system and County programs and services. The fair will feature family-friendly activities, entertainment, live music and giveaways. Free shuttles from select high schools are available.
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.
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