 Wednesday, March 11, 2026
I'm excited to announce that I will be hosting another special weekend Breakfast with Balcombe on Saturday, April 4th from 10AM-12PM at K2 Cafe (23329 Clarksburg Road, Clarksburg, MD 20871). K2 Cafe is a Poolesville favorite that recently expanded to Clarksburg, and I cannot wait to see many of you at the restaurant's new location for Breakfast with Balcombe.
Stop by any time between 10AM and noon to chat in an informal community setting. There is no agenda or list of issues to discuss, except those you bring with you. Registration is not required, but please let me know if you plan to attend so that we have enough coffee!
 A flyer advertising Breakfast with Balcombe, a community conversation which will be held on Saturday, April 4th from 10AM-12PM at K2 Cafe in Clarksburg.
The Montgomery County Office of Grants Management (OGM) recently released "6 Steps to Prepare for Montgomery County Grants", a comprehensive one-pager that shares all you need to know to apply for an OGM grant. I routinely receive questions from the community about how to apply for Montgomery County grants, and this one-pager is a great resource. To learn more about OGM, visit the agency's website.
As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to let me know. While I cannot write letters of support for Montgomery County grants, I am happy to put you in touch with OGM should you require any assistance with an existing grant application.
 OGM's "6 Steps to Prepare for Montgomery County Grants" document. Clicking the image will redirect to the agency's webpage.
Montgomery County Public Libraries are hosting MoComCon for the 10th year in a row, with events scheduled at Germantown Library and BlackRock Center for the Arts on Friday and Saturday March 20th and 21st. MoComCon is a free, family-friendly celebration of comics, storytelling, visual art, and community engagement. The event will feature artist panels, workshops, and contests. It will also include special guest appearances, artist signings, and opportunities for attendees to showcase their own work.
MoComCon will take place from 6-8PM on Friday, March 20th at the BlackRock Center for the Arts. Friday's programming is designed for teens and adults. Saturday's event will take place from 10AM-4PM at both the Germantown Library and the BlackRock Center. The much loved cosplay contest will take place at the BlackRock Center on Saturday.
For more information, check out the flyer below or visit the MoComCon 2026 website.
 A flyer advertising MoComCon. Clicking the image will redirect to the event website.
Last Friday, I had a blast participating in Read Across America. I stopped by Hope Grows Child Development Center in Germantown to read a few books to pre-kindergarten students, who were such a fabulous audience! Read Across America is such an important initiative promoting literacy and a love of reading in our youngest learners, and I am proud to have participated in Read Across America events over the last several years.
It was amazing to see the great work Hope Grows Child Development Center is doing to provide early care and education in the Upcounty. The center is vibrant and welcoming, and I am so glad I was able to visit during Read Across America this year.
 Councilmember Balcombe alongside staff from the Hope Grows Child Development Center and its students.
 A graphic of District 2's geographic outline, with the text "District 2 Historical Highlights: Celebrating 250 years of Montgomery County."
- The Boyds Negro School served as the only public school for African Americans in the Boyds area between 1895-1936. The school still stands and can be visited by appointment or on the third Sunday of each month from 2-4PM. Stop by to experience the one-room 22x30 foot schoolhouse for yourself, and learn more on the Boyds Historical Society website.
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The Clarksburg United Methodist Church, located on Spire Street, is the longest place of continuous worship in Montgomery County.
Economic Development (ECON) Committee
The Economic Development (ECON) committee and Transportation and Environment (TE) committee met jointly on Monday, March 9th for a discussion on Bill 4-26, Buildings - Task Force on Data Centers - Established.
You can review our staff packet on the County Council website and can watch a recording of the work session on demand on the Council YouTube channel.
Transportation and Environment Committee
The TE committee met on March 2nd for a briefing on WMATA's Red Line shutdown mitigation measures. The Red Line will be closed between Friendship Heights and North Bethesda from July 2026 to September 2026, which will have a major impact on our area. We also discussed mass transit projects included in the FY27-32 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). We met on March 9th to discuss Bill 2-26, Taxation - Fuel-Energy Tax - Green Bank - Amendments.
You can review our staff packet on the County Council website and can watch a recording of the work session on demand on the Council YouTube channel.
Council Legislation
The County Council recently introduced the following bills and ZTAs.
We also held public hearings on the following bills and ZTAs.
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Bill 8-26, Landlord-Tenant Relations - Prohibition Against Price Coordination and Rent-Setting Algorithms
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Bill 9-26, Rental Housing - Maintenance Standards and Essential Services - Air Conditioning
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Bill 7-26, Buildings - General Requirements - Scope and Applicability - Exemptions - Buildings or Structures used exclusively for Agricultural Purposes - Amendments
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Expedited Bill 10-26, Arts and Humanities - Amended
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Bill 11-26, Fire and Rescue Service - Personnel - Amendments
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Bill 12-26, Payment to Providers of Direct Services to Persons with Developmental Disabilities
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Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-02, Overlay Zones - Regional Shopping Center
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Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-03, Biohealth Priority Campus - Eligibility
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Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-04, Mixed-Income Housing Community - Eligibility
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Bill 3-26, Administration - Immigration Enforcement Guidance - Required (The County Values Act)
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Bill 5-26, Police - Mask or Facial Coverings - Prohibited (The Unmask ICE Act)
Upcoming Public Hearings
To testify at a Council public hearing or to submit written, audio, or video testimony, please visit the Council website or call 240-777-7803. The deadline to sign up to testify for a 1:30PM public hearing is 2PM the day prior. The deadline to sign up to testify for a 7PM public hearing is 5PM the day prior.
March 17, 2026
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1:30PM: Resolution to approve Executive Order #208-25, Disposition of County Property: Wheaton Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission Headquarters Retail
The following County boards, committees, and commissions are seeking applicants:
- With this winter bringing extreme cold for extended periods, your energy bills may be higher than expected. If you are a Pepco customer, help is available. Visit the Pepco website or click the links below to learn more.
- Mission of Mercy Dental Clinic is offering free extractions and fillings on Friday, April 17th at the Universities at Shady Grove Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Building (Building IV). The event is only open to adults (ages 18 and above). Registration is required and walk-ins will not be permitted. Register here: https://bit.ly/4r8C8tM
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When: Friday, April 17th
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Where: University of Maryland, Shady Grove Clinic (9631 Gudelsky Drive #2135, Rockville, MD 20850)
- Minimum wage will be increasing in Montgomery County effective July 1st. See below for more details.
- For large employers (with 51 or more employees), the minimum wage will increase by 35 cents to $18.00 per hour.
- For mid-size employers (with 11-50 employees), the minimum wage will increase by 50 cents to $16.50 per hour.
- For small employers (10 or fewer employees), the rate will increase by 45 cents to $15.95 per hour.
- The minimum wage rate for county contractors will increase by 40 cents to $18.55 per hour.
- Montgomery County is hosting free student vaccination clinics during MCPS' Spring Break to help families ensure that children's are up to date on required school immunizations. To schedule an appointment or confirm clinic hours, call one of the following Montgomery County immunization clinics. For more information, visit the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website.
- Dennis Avenue Health Center: 240-777-1050
- Germantown Health Center: 240-777-3380
- Silver Spring Health Center: 240-777-3160
- School Health Services Immunization Center: 240-740-4430
If you would like to get in touch with me regarding anything mentioned in this newsletter or any other concerns you may have, please email me at Councilmember.Balcombe@montgomerycountymd.gov or call my office at 240-777-7960.
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