Montgomery County government has announced that Montgomery County Recreation is collecting new and gently used prom attire and accessories for the annual Prom Couture Closet giveaway, which provides high school students with free formalwear. Donations can be made at designated community recreation centers through February 28, with the giveaway event scheduled for April 5 at Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center. (more…)
Montgomery County government has announced that the Advisory Commission on Policing will hold a virtual public forum on March 10, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the Montgomery County Police Department’s consent search policy, with opportunities for resident feedback and invited speakers including Council Vice President Will Jawando, Public Safety Committee Chair Councilmember Sidney Katz, MCPD Chief Marc Yamada, and State’s Attorney John McCarthy. (more…)
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?”
MCPS Weather Update: MCPS Monitoring Weather and Will Update Community by 5:00 AM Thursday, Feb. 20
We are closely monitoring the weather forecast for Thursday, February 20, which indicates the possibility of light snow accumulation beginning tomorrow morning and ranging from a dusting to an inch. Our team will actively assess conditions overnight and, if necessary, will provide an update by 5:00 a.m. on Thursday morning.
Update: The Montgomery County Police Department has provided an update about the now-fatal crash.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to multi-vehicle collision on Wednesday afternoon on Olney-Sandy Spring Road (Rt. 108) near Prince Philip Drive in Olney, involving four vehicles, one with entrapment. (more…)
When I moved back to Northern Virginia after several years in New York, most of my old friends had moved away. I found myself rebuilding a social circle from scratch.
I had plenty of people I could connect with online, but that wasn’t translating into anyone to grab a beer with after work, play trivia with, or text when I wanted to get out of the house. Making new friends as an adult required far more deliberate effort than I remembered.
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.
On Wednesday morning, the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) and Montgomery County Park Police responded to a report of a fight at Chase Urban Park, located at 4701 Chase Ave in Bethesda.
Governor Wes Moore announced that 43 Maryland businesses received a total of $5 million in grants through the Maryland Manufacturing 4.0 program to invest in Industry 4.0 technologies and modernize operations. The initiative, administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce, supports businesses across 17 jurisdictions and is set to receive increased funding in the governor’s proposed budget for FY2026.
A Winter Weather Advisory will go into effect from 7am until 11am on Thursday for DC, central, north central, and northern Maryland (including all of Montgomery County), and northern Virginia.
Per the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) at 12:44pm: “Paint Branch High School is currently on lockdown for the report of a weapon on campus. MCPD is confirming the validity of this report.”
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) responded to a report of shots fired on Wednesday morning in Bethesda.
The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) has expanded eligibility for the Police-Private Security Camera Program, allowing all county locations to participate by installing and registering security cameras to help deter and solve crimes. Residents, businesses, and nonprofits may be eligible to receive reimbursements for the purchase and installation of the cameras.