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Economic Development Fund Policy Considerations
Review: The ECON Committee will receive a briefing about the financial status of the Economic Development Fund, as well as a review of policy options to improve the fund’s sustainability and effectiveness. The Council appropriated $4.2 million for the Economic Development Fund for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. The fund has five ongoing annual programs, which include the Grant and Loan Program (EDFGLP), Make Office Vacancy Extinct (MOVE) grant program, Biotech Investor Incentive, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Matching Grant Program, and microlending. The MOVE program and EDFGLP are the two largest programs in the fund, with a combined budget of $3.5 million. Additional details are available in the Council staff report.
Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation Strategic Plan
Review: The ECON Committee will review the MCEDC Strategic Plan. The plan, titled Montgomery 2030: A New Era of Economic Growth and Opportunity, would set the County's economic development strategy from 2027 to 2030. The plan envisions enhancing Montgomery County’s position as a place where world-class talent, leading institutions, businesses and diverse communities work together to strengthen the economy, create opportunity and improve the quality of life for all residents.
In May 2021, the Council enacted Bill 10-21, which shifted the responsibility of drafting the County’s Economic Development Strategic Plan from the County Executive to MCEDC. In July 2025, the Council enacted Expedited Bill 20-25 to amend the timing of the strategic plan. County Code required MCEDC to submit the draft strategic plan by July 31, 2026. The County Executive must submit comments on the draft plan by Jan. 15, 2027, and the Council must adopt the Economic Development Strategic Plan on or before March 15, 2027.
OLO Report 2025-06: Code Enforcement in Montgomery County
Review: The PHP Committee will review OLO Report 2025-06: Code Enforcement in Montgomery County, which seeks to improve understanding and oversight of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ (DHCA) code enforcement processes, procedures and outcomes. The report explores how code violations are addressed in the County, the process that residents go through to report violations and the responsiveness of DHCA and property owners to residents’ complaints of code violations.
OLO Report 2025-12: Government Programs That Subsidize Home Modifications to Support Aging in Place
Review: The PHP Committee will review OLO Report 2025-12: Government Programs That Subsidize Home Modifications to Support Aging in Place, which provides information on state and local government programs that provide funding or financial incentives for residents to modify their homes with features that support aging in place. The report includes a review of 18 state and local government programs across the country that help subsidize the cost of home improvements or modifications to help residents age in place.
Montgomery County currently has two programs to support aging in place. This includes the Design for Life Program, which offers three levels of property tax credits for single-family property owners based on the level of accessibility features added to an existing home or in new additions to homes. The County also offers the Home Accessibility Rehabilitation Program, which provides home modifications to qualified homeowners at no cost to the homeowner to make homes more accessible for people with disabilities and older adults.
State-designated Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Areas
Briefing: The PHP Committee will receive a briefing about State-Designated Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) areas from representatives of the Planning Department. Established in 2008, the Maryland State TOD Designation Program provides state recognition and support for local governments that are planning for and advancing TOD at local and regional transit stations. The designation provides opportunities for state support, including the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) TOD Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund. The Planning Department intends to request that MDOT designate the Bethesda, Friendship Heights, Silver Spring and Wheaton Metro Station areas as official TOD locations. The designations do not impact existing zoning or local development approval processes.
Executive Regulation 25-25, Adoption of Context Sensitive Road Design Standards – Repeal and Executive Regulation 26-25, Complete Streets
Review: The TE Committee will review Executive Regulation 25-25, Adoption of Context Sensitive Road Design Standards – Repeal, and Executive Regulation 26-25, Complete Streets. These executive regulations would update the County’s regulations to match the major streetscape policy changes approved by the Council in 2022 through Bill 24-22, Streets and Roads and the Complete Streets Design Guide. The Planning Department and the MCDOT have enforced these policies, which include new street classifications and engineering standards since the adoption of Bill 24-22, but have done so without a detailed regulatory framework. Additional details are available in the Council staff report.
WSSC Water FY28 Spending Control Limits
Review: The TE Committee will review WSSC Water FY28 Spending Control Limits. WSSC Water’s spending control limits process was established in April 1994 by both Montgomery and Prince George’s County Councils. The goal of the spending control limits process is to reconcile both Councils’ actions by Nov. 1 of each year so that WSSC Water can build the approved limits into its operating budget public hearing draft, which is released for public comment by Jan. 15 of each year. WSSC Water’s operating budget request is formally transmitted to both counties by March 1 of each year. WSSC Water’s proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is transmitted to both Councils by Oct. 1 each year.
2026-2035 Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan Update
Review: The TE Committee will review the 2026-2035 Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan for Montgomery County. The committee received an overview of the plan update at a meeting held on Oct. 5. The plan contains policy and technical updates on the County’s public water supply and sewerage systems that have changed since the 2022 comprehensive update of the plan. At this meeting, the committee will continue to review the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) proposed Septic Pump-Out Rebate Program, the Abutting Mains Rights Transfer Policy, Commercial Service Policy and potential changes to the Potomac Peripheral Sewer Service Policy.
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