The Economic Development (ECON) Committee will meet on Monday, July 13 at 9:30 a.m. to receive a briefing on the quarterly economic development indicators for the fourth quarter of 2025 and review Bill 22-26, Finance - Economic Development Fund - Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Matching Grant Program - Repeal of Sunset Date. 

The members of the ECON Committee include Chair and Council President Natali Fani-González, Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe and Councilmembers Evan Glass and Laurie-Anne Sayles. 

The Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP) Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to review Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-08, Nonconforming Use – Reinstatement, ZTA 26-05, Expedited Approval Plan - Job Creation Project, and the Planning Department Community Trends Report. 

The members of the PHP Committee include Chair Andrew Friedson, Council President Fani-González and Councilmember Will Jawando. 

The Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to review a resolution to approve amendments to the Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan: Water and Sewer Category Change Requests. 

The members of the TE Committee include Chair Glass, Council Vice President Balcombe and Councilmember Kate Stewart.

Quarterly Economic Development Indicators Q4 2025 

Briefing: The ECON Committee will receive a briefing on the economic development indicators for the fourth quarter of 2025. The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) and the Montgomery County Planning Department jointly produce a quarterly fact sheet on the County’s economic indicators. The report focuses on indicators related to employment, real estate and development, and venture capital. The committee will also receive a quarterly update on employment and economic trends for Black residents across job sectors from WorkSource Montgomery and an update on the Founder’s Fund, which supports commercialization projects for early stage, innovative businesses that historically have lacked access to capital.

Review: The ECON Committee will review Bill 22-26, Finance - Economic Development Fund - Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Matching Grant Program - Repeal of Sunset Date. The bill would repeal the sunset date for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Matching Grant Program, originally established in Bill 41-17, allowing the program to continue permanently. This would ensure continued matching grant support for County-based small businesses pursuing federal SBIR and STTR awards to advance innovation and economic development. 

A public hearing was held on June 9. The lead sponsor is the Council President at the request of the County Executive.

Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-08, Nonconforming Use - Reinstatement 

Review: The PHP Committee will review ZTA 26-08, Nonconforming Use – Reinstatement, which would allow the reinstatement of a nonconforming use that has been abandoned for less than five years. A nonconforming use is a use that was lawful when established but no longer conforms to the requirements of the zone in which it is located. The ZTA requires approval by the Hearing Examiner, with the opportunity for a hearing if objections are raised, to reinstate a nonconforming use.  

The lead sponsor is Councilmember Friedson. A public hearing was held on June 16. 

Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-05, Expedited Approval Plan - Job Creation Project 

Review: The PHP Committee will review ZTA 26-05, Expedited Approval Plan - Job Creation Project, which would rename the Signature Business Headquarters to the Job Creation Project and amend the definition of the project. In addition, the legislation would expand the eligibility requirements for a Job Creation Project by allowing this use in more zones. The purpose of the ZTA is to attract employers in strategic industries, spur job creation and boost economic development. 

In May 2018, the District Council adopted ZTA 18-05, Uses, Use Standards and Regulatory Approvals - Signature Business Headquarters, which created the use Signature Business Headquarters and provided an expedited approval process for that use. In addition to the amended definition and expanded eligibility requirements, ZTA 26-05 will lower the number of required employees from 20,000 to 200, remove the requirement that it be the headquarters or primary place of business, require the business to be identified as a strategic industry sector in the current Economic Development Strategic Plan, and have received County or state funding or incentives; and provide additional enforcement provisions. 

Council President Fani-González is the lead sponsor. All Councilmembers have cosponsored the legislation. A public hearing was held on June 9. 

Planning Department Community Trends Report 

Review: The PHP Committee will receive a briefing by the Planning Department on the Community Trends Report: A look at Montgomery County Communities Since 2010. The report is a comprehensive study of changes over time in small areas of the County beginning in 2010. The report consists of one Countywide profile and a set of community profiles that provide a framework for analysis of land use, population and housing. A deeper understanding of the County and its many individual communities is essential to planning for a future that serves all residents effectively and equitably. 

Resolution to approve amendments to the Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan: Water and Sewer Category Change Requests 

Review: The TE Committee will review and make recommendations on four category change amendments to the Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan. The Montgomery County Ten-Year Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan designates water and sewer service area categories for each property within the County. The plan is adopted and amended by the Council and administered by the County Executive through the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). A public hearing was held on June 30.