The first Cook Out restaurant opened in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1989. Following its success, over 50 additional locations were established throughout North Carolina before the brand began its expansion beyond state borders. Now. There are over 300 restaurants across ten states, including one in Maryland. (more…)
The annual Montgomery Parks’ “Garden of Lights,” a breathtaking outdoor winter light display at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, will open on Friday, Nov. 22. This year’s exhibit will feature more than 1.5 million twinkling LED lights (video preview below).
Four Montgomery County companies in the financial services, AI, biopharma, and clean tech industries raised just over $460 million across public offerings and private investment activity in June and July, signifying continued investor confidence in Montgomery County’s business ecosystem.
In June, Forbright, a Chevy Chase-based bank holding company with 545 employees, successfully completed its initial public offering on the Nasdaq. The D.C. region’s fastest-growing bank raised $142.2 million, valuing the company at approximately $950 million, marking not only a major milestone for the company but also for Montgomery County’s rapidly expanding financial services industry, which boasts companies spanning venture capital, private equity, financial technologies, and investment asset management.
Also in June, Bethesda-based Xometry announced a $225 million secondary public offering. Founded in Gaithersburg, the AI-powered manufacturing marketplace has become one of Montgomery County’s homegrown innovation economy success stories, connecting businesses with manufacturing capacity around the world through its intelligent digital platform. The additional capital will allow the company, which employs over 1,000 people, to continue expanding and investing in advanced manufacturing innovation.
Known as the anchor of the third-largest biopharma hub in the nation, it’s not surprising that life sciences companies in the County also continue to attract attention from investors. In July, RegenxBio, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of gene therapy treatments, raised $90.04 million in its second public offering on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. Located in Rockville with over 370 employees, RegenxBio is a leader in developing therapies for retinal, neuromuscular, and neurodegenerative diseases.
In clean tech, Arculus Solutions, a developer of hydrogen-barrier coatings designed to protect infrastructure from hydrogen embrittlement, raised $1.95 million of Seed-1 funding from undisclosed investors, putting the company’s pre-money valuation at $20.05 million. The company’s coatings can be used in various applications, such as hydrogen fuel cell pipelines, storage tanks and hydrogen-powered vehicles, enabling the energy industry to reduce the risk of accidents and improve safety. Based in Bethesda, Arculus is yet another example of Montgomery County’s growing position as a hub for clean tech, which is home to several leading clean tech companies, including X-energy and Liatris.
From innovative financial institutions and AI leaders to biopharma and clean tech companies that are developing technologies that are shaping to future, Montgomery County continues to remain a place where companies can start and scale quickly.
The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) State Highway Administration (SHA) has released its major lane closures for this weekend (November 15-17). They can be seen below, by county:
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) announced the arrest of a 17-year-old with an active warrant for failing to appear in court. He was apprehended on Friday, November 8, 2024, in Rockville, and was carrying a handgun and 250 suspected fentanyl pills. (more…)
On August 22, the New Neighbor Interfaith Alliance (NNIA) will host the 2026 Set Them Up for Success Volleyball Tournament and Family Fun Day from 9 am-4 pm at the Interdenominational Church of God in Gaithersburg, gathering volleyball teams, faith community members, and the public to raise funds to help recent refugees in Montgomery County attain independence.
An interfaith non-profit alliance of 37 faith communities and civic groups, NNIA raises funds to help resettled refugees with rental assistance, deferred medical care, English language skills and job placement. They also hope to expand their volunteer numbers to help more beneficiaries with job assistance, reliable transportation, and mentoring.
You’re Invited to the Community Fall Dance! 🍁
Join us for a fun, free evening of music, dancing, and community under the stars!
On Friday, Governor Wes Moore announced that Maryland has been ranked the top state for minority-owned businesses by Lending Tree, coinciding with the state’s Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Business Account supporting over 170 businesses and 2,598 jobs in FY24 through $21.3 million in funding and additional private sector investment. (more…)
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) announced that it’s Real-Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) aided in the arrest of two robbery suspects at the transit center in the 9600 block of Lost Knife Road in Gaithersburg by reviewing surveillance footage that identified the suspects, who were later charged with robbery and assault. (more…)
With the Lakeforest schematic development plan approved earlier this month, WRS, Inc. is ready to move forward with retail and restaurants and has tabbed Heritage Partners to handle the commercial side of things. While we don’t have any specific names yet, we can let you know a general version of what to expect based on the plans.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) provided an update stating that the statewide burning ban implemented by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Nov. 1 remains in effect.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to the Fox Chapel shopping center in 19700blk of Frederick Rd in Germantown for the report of a gas leak on Friday, November 15.
Sarah Katherine Magid, a first-grade teacher from Burtonsville, has been charged with distributing fentanyl that led to a victim’s death. Evidence includes text messages between Magid and the victim and reports of drug sales during school hours, with potential sentencing ranging from 20 years to life if convicted.