MoCo Government

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI), one of three minority health initiatives that are part of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded 10 local organizations a total of $71,000 as part of AAHI’s Asian American Center of Excellence (AACE) micro-grants funding opportunity.

The AACE was launched in January to support Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-serving community-organizations in developing and increasing their capacity to successfully provide health, wellness and social support programs and services. Through AACE, AAHI offered micro-grants to improve the capacity, sustainability, and infrastructure of smaller AAPI community-based organizations, faith-based institutions, and non-profits.

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Interagency Coalition on Homelessness (ICH) has recommitted to ending homelessness for all groups by the end of 2025. The “Zero for All” campaign will be co-chaired by Bethesda Cares, a community nonprofit organization and member of the ICH.

In 2015, Montgomery County was one of the first four communities in the U.S. to reach functional zero for veterans’ homelessness. Through the Inside (not Outside) campaign, more than 450 adults experiencing chronic homelessness were housed. Between 2013 and 2022, there has been a 41 percent decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness, including a 50 percent reduction in homelessness for households with children under age 18.

This article has been updated to reflect that homeowners that have already filled out the one-time application will not need to reapply.  Per Montgomery County: A recent Maryland law requires […]

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County will hold a career fair for job seekers 18-and-over from 3-7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The County is searching for candidates to fill more than 30 types of available positions across a variety of industries. The Silver Spring Civic Building is located at 1 Veterans Place in Silver Spring. Registration is not required to attend, but attendees are encouraged to register in advance at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/JOBFAIR.

The following County departments will be onsite at the event to discuss available opportunities and conduct same-day interviews for select positions, make on-the-spot offers or extend offers within 30 days after the event:

Per Montgomery County: In recognition of March as Women’s History Month, the Montgomery County Commission for Women, Montgomery County Public Libraries and Friends of the Library Montgomery County, Inc. is holding its Sixth Annual “Girl Power Contest.” County residents, ages 5 and up, are encouraged to submit a short story, poem, drawing or entry in the medium of their choice that addresses this year’s theme. The deadline for entries is midnight on Friday, March 31.

In 2022, the Montgomery County Council made history as voters in November elected the County’s first female-majority Council. In honor of this milestone, the following question is the theme for this year’s Girl Power Contest: We now have six women on the Montgomery County Council. What advice would you give them to make sure our community is a place where women and girls can feel safe and encouraged?

Per Montgomery County: Today the Montgomery County Council voted to approve Bill 7-23, Consumer Protection- Gasoline Station Signage, sponsored by Councilmember Gabe Albornoz. The legislation is supported by the full Council, and the new law requires gas stations in Montgomery County to post the credit price of regular gasoline. Current Maryland state law requires gas stations to display the lowest price of regular gasoline. Many gas stations charge different prices according to the method payment, with the lowest price typically requiring payment in cash.

“We have all experienced that moment of noting the posted price of a gallon of gas, pulling up to the pump and then realizing that the credit price is much higher,” said Councilmember Albornoz, who chairs the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee. “The intent of the existing state requirement to display the lowest price of regular gasoline overlooks that most consumers use credit cards to purchase gas. Our residents find the lack of disclosing the credit price to be misleading and frustrating. I’m grateful to my fellow Councilmembers for their support of this legislation to protect our consumers.”

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill introduced by Councilmember Sidney Katz, which amends the property tax credit for certain individuals 65 and above and retired military services members. The original property tax credit bill, sponsored by Councilmember Katz, passed in 2017. The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee unanimously (3-0) recommended enactment of Bill 1-23 with amendments.

Bill 1-23 will increase the assessed value of qualifying properties by $50,000 from the current thresholds, so that the maximum assessed value of a property would be updated from $650,000 to $700,000 for qualifying individuals 65 and above and from $500,000 to $550,000 for eligible military services retirees. Qualified residents currently receive up to a 20 percent credit on their county property tax bill annually, for up to seven years.