The Maryland Board of Public Works approved $1.15 million in grants for three projects in Montgomery County during its September 16 meeting, part of nearly $523 million in state spending approved by the Board. The Board is composed of Gov. Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman and Treasurer Dereck Davis. (more…)
Corso Italian in Shirlington (Arlington) has closed permanently after flooding caused by exterior construction significantly damaged the restaurant last month.
Talent is one of the most important factors influencing where companies choose to invest, expand, and grow. As competition for skilled workers intensifies, employers are embracing a broader talent strategy: one that leverages partnerships. Last week, almost 120 business leaders, elected officials, and members of Montgomery County’s business community attended the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation’s (MCEDC) panel, “The Talent Advantage: A Growth Strategy for Companies in Montgomery County, Maryland,” to hear how local businesses are capitalizing on the County’s world-class academic institutions, innovation ecosystem, quality of life, and economic development resources to attract and retain top talent.
Moderated by Dr. Anne Khademian, Executive Director at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG), the panel included executives from businesses and institutions across industries, including Lockheed Martin, TrilliumBIO, Thales Defense & Security, Johns Hopkins, Montgomery College, and AstraZeneca, who discussed their companies’ strategies for developing their workforce.
Talent as a Business Strategy
For companies competing in highly specialized industries like the defense industry, access to talent directly influences where they choose to locate and grow. For Lockheed Martin, which employs nearly 1,000 people in Montgomery County, talent is one of the primary reasons the company chose to be headquartered here.
“Talent is in the top one or two reasons why we are in the County,” said Todd Cohen, Senior Lead of Strategic Workforce Development, Lockheed Martin.
According to Cohen, Lockheed Martin begins working with partners to develop their talent pipeline well before students enter the workforce, including partnering with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) on programs such as coding challenges. Lockheed Martin also maintains close relationships with local higher education institutions, including the Universities at Shady Grove (USG).
That local talent pipeline is also an important factor for AstraZeneca, which employs more than 5,000 employees and contractors in Montgomery County. According to Tiffany Lukis, Director of STEM and Community Engagement at AstraZeneca, the company often taps into its alumni base from Montgomery College (ranked #26 nationally among community colleges) and USG (which offers nine different public universities onto one campus), and other local institutions to fill highly technical roles.
Local Companies Are Developing Talent and Not Just Finding It
According to the panelists, investing in existing employees is just as important as recruiting new ones.
At Suburban Hospital, workforce development is closely tied to talent retention. The hospital partners with local educational institutions to provide employees with opportunities to gain new skills and advance their careers. Programs include a Certified Nursing Assistant program through Montgomery College and English as a Second Language classes.
“A huge part of our talent strategy is to prioritize holding on to our top tier talent,” said Corey Lewson, MSW, Program Manager, Workforce Development, John Hopkins Medicine.
For smaller companies, developing talent internally can be especially valuable. Lane Edwards, Vice President of Operations, TrilliumBIO, a biomarker discovery company with fewer than 20 employees based in Rockville, described the challenge of balancing the need for highly specialized expertise with the realities of building a team at an early-stage company.
“When it comes to hiring, we have to be very strategic,” Lane said. “Do we have someone who has the expertise or someone that we can build on?”
Below you’ll see the most recent updates or final scores of the 2026 week 3 MCPS football games. The scores will be updated as we receive them. If a score isn’t listed, it’s because we haven’t yet received a report from the game that we can confirm. An ‘F’ signifies the score is confirmed as being final:
Thursday, September 17:
A 21-year-old Gaithersburg man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Nicholas Njuki has been arrested.
At The Head Spa by Bare, we believe that true beauty begins with a healthy scalp, its your unique wellness experience for the mind and body. Relax with aromatherapy and gentle massages while healing your scalp.
Head Spa Facial rituals are a unique and luxurious experience that focuses on relaxing and revitalizing the scalp and hair. These rituals combine traditional Japanese techniques with modern spa treatments to provide a holistic approach to wellness.
Music. Art. Food. Community. The Takoma Park Folk Festival brings it all together for one free, unforgettable day. Discover six stages of live music from around the world, shop an acclaimed juried craft show, enjoy international cuisine, connect with local community organizations, and let the kids explore crafts and activities in the Children's Nook. It's one of the region's most beloved traditions, and a celebration of the creativity, diversity, and welcoming spirit that has long defined Takoma Park.
New this year! Jam at the Crossroads is a place for musicians of all levels to come together and be part of the music.
Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream is now open at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg, marking the Pittsburgh-based company’s first location in Maryland and the Washington, DC metropolitan area. (more…)
Holy Chow, a kosher Chinese restaurant at 1331 Lamberton Drive in Silver Spring, says it will permanently close this Sunday, September 18, or once its remaining inventory is sold, unless it receives immediate and sustained community support.
Bogotá Coffee House will open Monday, September 28, at 115 N. Washington St. in Rockville. The new Colombian coffee shop will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (more…)
The Maryland Department of Transportation is resurfacing Piney Branch Rd between Eastern Ave and Sligo Ave, with that began today, September 17, and will continue through September 21.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) is on the scene of an ongoing industrial rescue Thursday at Omega-3 Nutrition in the 1300 block of E. Gude Drive near Southlawn Lane in Rockville. (more…)
Can the Bulldogs finally clear the Cougar fence? For three years, Quince Orchard Cougars and Stone Bridge Bulldogs have played essentially the same game. Stone Bridge brings a defense capable of making Quince Orchard uncomfortable. QO eventually finds a way. The Bulldogs’ offense never quite finds one.
Below are the Top Ten rankings for MCPS football prior to the week 3 games. The week 4 preview and predictions can be seen here.