Maryland athletes are preparing to take the world stage as the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics get underway in Milano-Cortina, Italy. With competitions spanning Feb 6-22 for the Olympics and March 6-15 for the Paralympics, several Team USA competitors with deep Maryland roots will be chasing medals while carrying hometown pride with them overseas, as shared by the Maryland Department of Energy Management.
Fork & Kitchen is set to open at 150 Gibbs Street in Rockville Town Square, taking over the 6,500-square-foot space previously occupied by Ekó House and Bar Louie. (more…)
Last week, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich signed legislation authorizing up to $420 million in tax increment financing bonds to help finance Viva White Oak, a $2.7 billion investment featuring more than 3 million square feet of lab space, office/medical office, retail, and over 4,400 quality residences. The 280-acre site, which is located adjacent to the FDA headquarters and near Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center, is expected to begin construction this fall.
“This is a project that has been discussed and planned for a long time, and now we are getting to the point where people will actually begin seeing it take shape,” said County Executive Elrich. “VIVA White Oak will bring thousands of homes, good jobs, restaurants, stores, and other amenities to an area of the County that has needed this level of investment for decades. We found a financing approach that allows us to build the infrastructure needed to make this development possible while using the new tax revenue generated by the project to repay the bonds. I appreciate the Council, our State partners, MCB, and especially the East County residents who kept pushing to get us to this point.”
Anchored by Costco and with a focus on innovation and research and development, Viva White Oak represents one of the largest development opportunities in Montgomery County in recent years. Once completed, the development is expected to generate $4.9 billion in annual economic output and give the County $21 million year in new revenue. Additionally, the new development is projected to generate 19,000 construction jobs and 9,000 permanent jobs.
“Viva White Oak demonstrates the County’s continued commitment to supporting growth and investment in Montgomery County,” said Jared Smith, President & CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC). “The County’s first TIF gives us another important tool to compete for investment, attract businesses, and create jobs. Montgomery County has tremendous assets and opportunities, and using tools like this strategically will help us translate those strengths into long-term economic growth.”
Viva White Oak is expected to take place in two phases. In phase one, which is expected to be completed by 2031, it will deliver over 960 townhomes, 1,000 apartments, 470,000 square feet of retail space, a 175-room hotel with meeting space, up to 1,279 permanent on-site jobs, and 92,000 square feet of medical office space. Phase two, which will take place between 2033 and 2044, will deliver 1.3 million square feet of life sciences office and lab space, 400,000 square feet of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) life sciences manufacturing, almost 2,500 additional housing units delivered, a 150-room hotel dedicated to supporting innovation, and over 3,800 permanent on-site jobs.
Viva White Oak represents the County’s first use of a TIF and follows a push by Montgomery County to remove barriers and create new opportunities for businesses to invest, grow, and create jobs. In July, the Montgomery County Council approved the Job Creation Project zoning initiative, which is expected to cut permitting time in half for development projects that are in Montgomery County’s key industries—including life sciences and technology— or are expected to create at least 200 local jobs, further showcasing the County’s commitment to powering economic growth in target industries.
Montgomery County Councilmembers are raising concerns about a decision by Montgomery County Public Schools to designate Eid al-Fitr as an instructional make-up day following weather-related closures.
A single photo of a very round squirrel sparked a lively discussion in a local Montgomery Village Facebook group after resident Mary Shewan shared the image and joked that the animal may have eaten too much bird seed.
Blackbird Health has expanded into Maryland with a new pediatric mental health clinic in Gaithersburg, bringing additional behavioral health resources to children, teens, young adults, and families throughout Montgomery County.
Located at 555 Quince Orchard Road, Suite 250, the clinic offers comprehensive pediatric mental health services, including ADHD and autism evaluations, neuropsychological testing, therapy, psychiatry, and medication management.
College Park Day is on Saturday, October 3, 2026 from 12:00 to 6:00 pm at the College Park Aviation Museum and Airport!This annual festival has free activities and entertainment for all ages.
This year includes three live music and performance stages! Dance and sing along to an exciting lineup of local bands!
Extreme cold warnings have expanded to include the Shenandoah Valley, the eastern West Virginia panhandle, and north-central Maryland as a strong Arctic cold front moves through. Almost all of Maryland and Northern Virginia are now included.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued a consumer alert warning residents about increased risks of scams and illegal gambling activity surrounding Super Bowl Sunday.
Montgomery County has launched the “Look Before You Book” public education campaign to help residents identify licensed, legal massage and bodywork establishments and recognize potential warning signs of illegal operations.
Montgomery Parks has promoted Captain Lakeisha Robinson to Police Chief of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police Montgomery County Division.
Flower Hill Elementary School in Gaithersburg is celebrating one of its own as Stefon Diggs prepares to take the field on football’s biggest stage.
The Montgomery County Department of Police is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect connected to a vandalism incident at a residence operating as a daycare. Detectives with the department’s 4th District Patrol Investigations Unit released images as part of their investigation. (more…)
The Montgomery County Humane Society is warning residents about a scam in which callers falsely claim to be from the organization or from Hanna’s Clinic.