Survey Names County #1 Digital Jurisdiction Nationwide

Montgomery County has been named top digital jurisdiction in the country in its population category (500,000+) in the 2013 Digital Counties Survey that recognizes the effective and efficient use of digital technologies in serving residents, streamlining operations and achieving measurable benefits.

Survey questions covered areas such as computing, networking, applications, data and cybersecurity, open government and mobile services. The County’s openMontgomery site was cited in a Government Technology article as an example of a digital initiative that enables County residents, businesses, partners and an increasingly mobile workforce to access high-quality digital government information and services anywhere, anytime, and in multiple ways.

“We are very pleased to be recognized for our efforts, as increased transparency and better online accessibility to County programs and services are high priorities in this administration,” said County Executive Ike Leggett. “We are working hard to make government more accessible and responsive to the people we serve.”

The article also commended the County for “reaching for goals more common in big cities and state governments.”

Montgomery County has placed in the survey’s Top 10 for the past 11 years. Other local counties in the Top 10 were: Fairfax, #3; Prince George’s, #5; and Baltimore, #7.

Read the article in Government Technology.

Read County news release.

Leggett Urges Residents to Take Action on Local, State, Federal Levels to Bring Down E-Book Purchase Prices for Public Libraries; Council Passes Resolution Requesting High-Level Investigation of Issue

County Executive Ike Leggett is urging residents to express -- to all levels of government -- their opposition to the pricing tactics employed by book publishers that result in public libraries paying more for e-books than general consumers.

Leggett said there is a “…need to act now to end this discriminatory practice and bring fairness back to the cost of licensing e-books for public consumption at our public libraries. We have a very strong lobby for public libraries in Montgomery County,” Leggett stated, “and I urge our advocates to call attention to this issue.”

The Executive expressed support for the County Council resolution (pdf) that passed on July 23 requesting a state and federal-level investigation of the issue.

Over the past four years, the demand for e-books in Montgomery County Public Libraries has increased by an average of 87.5 percent. Yet, libraries often pay $75 or higher for an e-book, three times more than consumers would pay to purchase an e-book,

Montgomery County Public Libraries Director Parker Hamilton said, “Any and all attention that can be drawn to the issue of inequitable e-book pricing is most welcome. If not addressed by our elected representatives at all levels, this practice will adversely affect one of the oldest public services that government provides – free access to life-long learning for people of all ages and backgrounds.”

• Read Library Journal report
• See Governing.com article
• Read County's news release
• Council Resolution (pdf)

Leggett Speaks to 40,000 Delta Sigma Theta Members at Lincoln Memorial

County Executive Ike Leggett (center) recently welcomed more than 40,000 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members, their families and friends to the area as the largest organization for African American women in the world celebrated 100 years of service at its 51st conference in Washington, DC.  Leggett was invited by Delta’s National President, Cynthia M.A. Butler-McIntyre (left), to speak to the gathering during the Welcome Event at the Lincoln Memorial. Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker (right) was also in attendance.

Founded in 1913 by 22 students at Howard University, the organization now numbers more than 250,000 in more than 900 chapters around the world.

The Delta Sigma Theta website explains that the private, non-profit organization was created to promote academic excellence; to provide scholarships and support to the underserved; to educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy; and to highlight issues and provide solutions for problems in communities.

Take the Challenge and “Buy Local” at Annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale

County residents can be part of the statewide Buy Local Challenge by purchasing local produce and other farm-fresh items during the County’s 24th Annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28.

The Buy Local website explains, “In addition to providing food that’s fresh and nutritional, buying from local farms promotes cleaner air and water and reduces our carbon footprint. In Maryland, if every household purchased just $12 worth of farm products for eight weeks (basically the summer season), over $200 million would be put back into the pockets of our farmers.” Get details on how to accept the challenge.

The tour and sale will take place, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. More than a dozen Montgomery County farms will participate on Saturday, and nearly a half- dozen will also participate on Sunday.

For the names, locations, activities and offerings of all participating farms, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/farmtour.

New State Requirements for Home Smoke Alarms; Residents Urged to Update Now

Maryland is the most recent state to require that homeowners replace battery-only operated smoke alarms with units powered by sealed-in, long-life batteries.

The updated law also requires that residential battery-operated smoke alarms be equipped with a “hush-button” feature that temporarily silences the alarm if activated by a non-emergency condition.

The law provides that each new residential unit constructed after July 1, 2013 must contain at least one smoke alarm in each sleeping room, in the hallway or common area outside of sleeping rooms, and in the hallway or common area on each level, including basements but excluding specified unoccupied spaces such as attics.

Fire Chief Steve Lohr said, “Smoke alarms are one of the most important safety features in your home, and while residents will have until January 1, 2018 to comply with the new law, we’re urging them to upgrade their alarms now.”

Get more details.

Brookings Institution Book Praises County’s Response to Rising Poverty Level

A recent book from the Brookings Institution Press – Confronting Suburban Poverty in America – cites a 25 percent increase in poverty in Montgomery County between 2000 and 2010 – and praises Montgomery County’s exemplary response.

“Montgomery County officials and service providers recognized the changing needs of a diversifying population and anticipated the growing demands that would arise as the Great Recession began to take hold,” write Elizabeth Kneebone and Alan Berube in the book.

“In 2006, the newly elected county executive, Isiah (Ike) Leggett, signaled that the county recognized the transitions under way and the need to leverage resources beyond what it alone could provide.”

The book cites the creation of the Office of Community Partnerships and the launching of the Neighborhood Opportunity Network as two creative examples of a responsive local government following a “proactive and collaborative approach” in meeting the growing social service needs of diverse families in the County

See more about the book.

Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick Area Claims Top Spot in Ranking of “America’s Safest, Most Secure Places to Live”

A recent Forbes.com posting of “America’s Safest, Most Secure Places to Live” ranks the Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick area number one among 10 large metro areas in the United States.

The rating reflected a broad range of criteria, including economic stability, crime statistics, extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, housing depreciation, foreclosures, air quality, environmental hazards, life expectancy, motor vehicle fatalities and employment numbers.

In second place, among the top 10, was the Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI area followed by Pittsburgh, PA in third.

The ranking was done for Farmers Insurance Company by Sperling’s Best Places which analyzes data about people and places and rates them for major publications.

To read the entire article, go to Forbes.com.

Bethesda Rated as Nation’s Most Educated Place; Potomac Ranks Fifth

Montgomery County has claimed two of the top five spots of Most Educated Places in America with Bethesda as number one and Potomac in fifth place.

The Washington Business Journal reports that a NerdWallet survey rated cities based on high school drop out rates and the percentage of the population with degrees. More than 27 percent of Bethesda’s population has a professional or doctoral degree as their highest level of education while nearly 27 percent has a master’s degree as their highest level. Just 1.9 percent of the population did not finish high school.

Palo Alto, CA ranked in second place and Wellesley, MA in third.

Read the Washington Business Journal article.

Leggett, Cardin, Van Hollen to Speak at Maryland Hispanic Business Conference

County Executive Ike Leggett will join U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Chris Van Hollen as keynote speakers at the annual Maryland Hispanic Business Conference to be held on September 3 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.

The elected officials and Hispanic business leaders, entrepreneurs and executives will continue to highlight the significant role of the Hispanic small business community.

Sponsored for the last two years by the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, the conference provides networking opportunities for start-ups, seasoned entrepreneurs and anyone looking to do business with the Hispanic community. Workshops and seminars will be held to inform and educate the small business owner and those aspiring to own a business.

For more information and to register, go to www.mdhbc.com.

Local Libraries Host a Sneak Peak of This Year’s Fair

Get a taste of this year’s Montgomery County Agricultural Fair before everything gets underway at the Fairgrounds on August 9.

Meet princesses, princes and live animals. Learn about the Fair, listen to a story and sing some songs at a Montgomery County public library. The programs, suitable for pre-school ages and up and families, will be presented at the following libraries:

• Quince Orchard – Thursday, July 25 @ 2 p.m.;
• Little Falls -- Wednesday, July 31@ 10:30 a.m.; and
• Marilyn J. Praisner (Fairland) -- Thursday, August 1 @ 3 p.m.

For more information, visit the MCPL special events calendar and look for the branches and dates listed above.

New Offerings Coming on Senior Lunch Program Menus

Beginning August 1, Montgomery County residents over age 60 will notice new options on the Senior Lunch Program menu currently offered at 17 locations throughout the County.

For example, there will be a choice of a hot or cold meal, a monthly baked potato bar and sub sandwich bar, plus special holiday menus. Meals are served Monday through Friday at locations such as senior housing sites, senior centers and community centers.

Individuals 60 and older and their spouses (of any age) are eligible to participate. Donations towards the cost of the meal are requested. Those under age 60 pay $5.49 per meal.

For more information, call 240-777-3810 or visit the Senior Nutrition Program website.

“Montgomery al Día” Segment Airs on Noticias Washington Television Newscasts

The Montgomery County Office of Public Information (PIO) has announced a new partnership with Noticias Washington, Entravision’s owned and operated Univision Television Station in Washington, D.C., where Montgomery County now has a weekly news segment called “Montgomery al Día” (Montgomery Today).

Hosted by PIO’s Lorna Virgili, the segment highlights the latest news and information regarding services, programs and events related to County government departments and agencies. It airs on Noticias Washington’s Friday newscasts at 6 and 11 p.m.

ICC Commuter Bus Route 205 Service to Stop August 1

The Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) has announced that it will stop service on the Intercounty Connector (ICC) commuter bus route 205 effective August 1, 2013. The route runs from the College Park metro station to Germantown and has continuously had low ridership. MTA will work with customers to help identify other possible transit options. The savings will be used to alleviate overcrowding on other bus service.

MTA’s decisions were heavily influenced by testimonies from bus riders and elected officials during a series of public hearings held  June 4 - 6.

See more information on the status of ICC routes. Customers can also call the MTA Transit Information Center Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., at 410-539-5000. TTY 410-539-3497.

Local Consumer Protection Volunteer Recognized by Money Magazine

An Office of Consumer Protection’s (OCP) volunteer, David Lesser, is highlighted in the July issue of Money magazine in the “Money Heroes” column. Lesser is recognized for his service to OCP by providing assistance in investigating and resolving consumer complaints regarding new home construction, home improvements and retail sales.

A retired attorney, Lesser has volunteered with OCP for the past three years. In the fall of 2011, he was instrumental in OCP’s major investigation regarding the installation and inspection of gas appliances.

Read more about OCP and its volunteers.

Aspen Hill Library Featured in “Voice of America” Report on Volunteering for Persian News Network

To help tell the story of the value of volunteering in the United States, the Voice of America (VOA) chose the Aspen Hill Library.

VOA reporter Rozita Azizi Namini’s four-and-a-half minute piece in Farsi, was featured in Persian News Network's social show, “Street of Life.” The segment included an interview with Fran Kaplan, head of Children’s Services at Aspen Hill, who spoke about the important role volunteers play at the library. Some of the young volunteers talked about how their experiences at the library are improving their lives.

View the VOA piece – in Farsi.

Germantown Oktoberfest Makes Top Events USA

The Germantown Oktoberfest has been included on Top Events USA’s Maryland page as one of the state’s best events, fairs, festivals and celebrations, calling it “Montgomery County Maryland’s flagship Upcounty event.”

The 2013 Oktoberfest will be held on October 5 at High Point Farm, 23730 Frederick Rd. in Clarksburg from 9:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Top Events USA, which attracts nearly one million visitors each year, includes only those events recognized as the best by residents, visitors and the team of travel writers working for Top Events USA. See the Oktoberfest listing.

Get details on the 2013 Germantown Oktoberfest, including information for vendors, volunteers and attendees.

New Farmers Program Updates in Local Media

The County’s New Farmer Project is a first-of-its-kind, year-long pilot, introduced last, year that trains, mentors and supports the land access needs of entrepreneurs who want to start new, sustainable farms in Montgomery County. Eighteen men and women ranging in age from their early 20s to over 60, applied for the 2012-2013 program, with seven applicants chosen for the first “class.”

A recent article in The Gazette by Peggy McEwan takes a look at the program after its first year. It points out that two difficulties potential farmers face locally are the cost of land and the need for business and technical support and how the program addresses those needs. Read The Gazette article.

A Washington Post article by Steve Hendrix, talks about how the New Farmer Project will help keep the land in the County’s Agricultural Reserve productive. The piece also spotlights one of the applicants chosen for the first round of the program. Read The Washington Post article.

Sunday, August 4 - Salvadoran American Day Festival, Wheaton Triangle

Sunday, August 4 --Salvadoran American Day Festival, Wheaton Triangle, corner of Reedie Dr. and Grandview Ave., one block north of the Wheaton Metro Station. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free. Featuring Salvadoran food, traditional crafts and live music by local and international artists, plus an array of community services, including a Latino Health Fair. Learn about community services, including Police and the Fire and Rescue Service, passport renewals through the Salvadoran consulate and get information about the upcoming elections from the Board of Elections. Park free in the Metro garages at Viers Mill Rd. and Reedie Dr. and Georgia Ave. and Reedie Dr. Call 202-271-3508.

August 9-17 - Montgomery County Fair, Montgomery County Fairgrounds

August 9-17 -- Montgomery County Fair, Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Main entrance, 596 N. Frederick Ave. Turn onto Perry Parkway, go through the circle and the Fairgrounds entrance will be on the left. Ride On bus 55 and 59 stop within a block of the Fairgrounds. Featuring specially themed days that honor 4-H members, VIPs and families, senior citizens and the military. Carnival from noon to midnight, plus exhibits, food, events, animals and entertainment. Visit the Fair’s website.

Saturday, September 7 - 10th Annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival.

Saturday, September 7 -- 10th Annual Silver Spring Jazz Festival. Downtown Silver Spring on Veterans Plaza at Fenton St. and Ellsworth Dr. 4:30 to 10 p.m. Grammy™ Award-winning saxophonist and Tony® Award-nominee Branford Marsalis will headline. Attendees encouraged to use public transportation – the Silver Spring Metro (Red Line) is located two blocks away – and bring folding chairs. Limited parking available in the Wayne Avenue garage, the Town Square garage and the garages on Bonifant St., Cameron at Ramsey Ave. and Cameron at Fenton St. Presented by Montgomery County Government, the Celebrate Downtown Silver Spring Foundation, Montgomery County Recreation and the Silver Spring Urban District. Corporate sponsors include Live Nation; Home Properties, Inc.; WUSA-TV; Comcast; the Silver Spring Courtyard by Marriott; AFI Silver; and The Gazette. Contact: Montgomery County Recreation, 240-777-6821.

Thursday, September 12 - Montgomery County Executive Hispanic Gala

Thursday, September 12 -- Montgomery County Executive Hispanic Gala. The Fillmore Silver Spring, 8656 Colesville Rd., 7:30 p.m. – midnight. Leading companies, organizations and individuals come together to raise funds to support the Maryland Hispanic Achievement Scholarship Program that will financially assist Hispanic students enrolled in Montgomery County and State of Maryland higher learning institutions. To become a sponsor, apply for scholarships or buy tickets, call 240-277-8072 or visit www.montgomeryhispanicgala.org.

County Celebrates the Fourth of July

Among County Executive Ike Leggett’s stops around the County was the Town of Washington Grove where he raised the flag at the local celebration.

The County’s official colors for the day seemed to be red, white and blue as numerous July 4th celebrations were held in small communities and at large venues. Included were the two events traditionally sponsored by the County in Germantown and Kensington.

Germantown Glory hosted its largest crowd ever -- nearly 30,000 people at the South Germantown Recreational Park.  Many people waited to leave and enjoyed the band, Bobby and the Believers, who performed earlier but played another 15-minute set after the fireworks show. Attendees also noticed some new lights in the fireworks show this year.

Mid-County Sparkles, held at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, hosted more than 8,000 people who were treated to musical entertainment by Quiet Fire Soul.

Fireworks light up the sky at the Mid-County Sparkles celebration in Kensington.

100,000 Homes Campaign Seeks Volunteers to Survey Homeless Persons

Montgomery County joined the national 100,000 Homes Campaign recently with a kick off event at the Home Builders Care Assessment Center in Rockville.  The campaign seeks to find permanent housing for chronically homeless individuals and more than 300 volunteers are needed to join housing advocates and County officials in November to conduct a community-wide survey of those who are homeless.

Montgomery County’s effort to reduce homelessness and address the medical needs of those who regularly live on the County’s streets and in shelters takes on a new phase this year as the County government, County non-profit organizations, volunteers and elected officials join to participate in the national “100,000 Homes” campaign.

Local elected officials -- Councilmember George Leventhal, County Executive Ike Leggett and Council Vice-president Craig Rice -- recently joined representatives of the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) and other organizations in offering details of the Montgomery “100,000 Homes” campaign.

A major step in finding permanent housing for the hundreds of Montgomery homeless people believed to be medically vulnerable or chronically homeless will be achieved through a countywide survey of those needing help and creating ways to help them move into permanent housing.

At least 200 to 300 volunteers are needed to help survey and identify the most vulnerable and chronically homeless individuals in our community, November 4 to 6. Training for volunteers will be held November 3.

Get more information about the 100,000 Homes Campaign.

Sign up as a volunteer.

Find out what else you can do to help end homelessness.

Public Forums Scheduled on Capital Budget

County Executive Ike Leggett invites the public to provide input on the County’s next six-year capital construction budget by attending forums this month. All forums will begin with an informal open house at 6:30 p.m. followed by a formal presentation and question-and-answer session from 7 to 8 p.m.

The capital budget includes the costs for new or renovated major construction projects such as roads, public schools, Montgomery College facilities, water and sewer lines, parks, libraries, health and recreation facilities, and other public buildings.

The forums will be held according to the following schedule:

• Thursday, July 11 -- Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Rd., Silver Spring
• Thursday, July 18 -- Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Rd., Silver Spring
• Monday, July 22 -- Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place
• Tuesday, July 30 -- Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor La.
• Wednesday, July 31 -- BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Dr., Germantown

CountyStat Program Earns International Recognition

The CountyStat program -- instituted by County Executive Ike Leggett in January 2008 -- to increase government performance and hold those responsible accountable for the results -- has received a Certificate of Excellence from the International City/County Management Association’s (ICMA) Center for Performance Measurement.

The program tracks the County’s performance in addressing challenges using real-time data and holding departments and agencies accountable for their progress and results in such areas as overtime use, youth initiatives, affordable housing, pedestrian safety, emergency preparedness, etc.

CountyStat is accessible online, and the site offers a variety of performance information, including presentations on pedestrian safety, overtime use, pothole repairs, permitting services, facilities rentals and cell phone use.

Read more.

Chat Online with County Executive

County Executive Ike Leggett will hold a “virtual” Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, July 9 from 1 to 2 p.m. County residents can submit questions to the County Executive before or during the chat.

Questions and answers will be posted both during and after the chat.

For more information, call the Office of Public Information at 240-777-6507.

County Joins 13 Local Governments in Welcoming Cities and Counties Initiative

Montgomery County has joined 13 local governments across the nation to participate in the Welcoming Cities and Counties initiative with Welcoming America.

Under the initiative, Welcoming America and the municipal partners bring U.S. cities and counties together to support locally driven efforts to create more welcoming, immigrant-friendly environments.

The partners will share good ideas, develop new tools and receive recognition for their efforts to create more welcoming communities that improve the quality of life and economic potential for immigrants and non-immigrants alike.

For more information about the Welcoming Cities and Counties initiative, contact Bruce Adams at bruce.adams@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Read news release for more information.

New on County Cable: “Generation Great – Stories told by World War 2 Veterans from Montgomery County, Maryland”

Compiled by County Cable producer Barbara Grunbaum over more than a 10-month period, “Generation Great” features interviews of local men and women who served around the globe in World War 2. The interviews were done in preparation for the Montgomery County Honors World War II Veterans program held last September in Silver Spring which honored more than 150 Montgomery County-area World War II veterans.

The new 60-minute program begins airing Sunday, July 7 on County Cable Montgomery - Channel 6 (Comcast & RCN) and Channel 30 (Verizon) at 11:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. It will be rebroadcast at other times over the next month. Check the schedule.

“Autism Night Out” Event to Provide Information, Activities

Summer can be an especially dangerous time for those with Autism as they are often attracted to bodies of water. Consequently, drowning is the number one cause of premature death for individuals with Autism.

This is why the County Police and Autism Speaks are hosting an “Autism Night Out” event on July 25 at the Public Safety Training Academy, 9710 Great Seneca Hwy., Rockville from 6 to 9 p.m. for caregivers, parents, loved ones and community members who want to learn more about autism.

For more information, call Officer Laurie Reyes at 301-840-2788 or email laurie.reyes@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Economic Development Employee and Chair of County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs Featured in Veterans Affairs Video

Jerry Godwin, current chair of the County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs and manager of the Wheaton and Silver Spring Innovation Centers for the Department of Economic Development (DED), is profiled in a video produced by the Department of Veterans Affairs as part of their “Still Serving” series which focuses on vets who are finding ways to continue serving their “fellow veterans.” The 13-minute video has been playing in more than 300 VA hospitals and facilities nationwide and also looping on the Pentagon Cable Channel.

Godwin relates that his father, who came from “very humble beginnings in rural Utah” then served in WW II and eventually had a career in public service with the State Department, had impacted his own decision to enlist -- first in the Army where he served four years, then later, at age 26, in the Maryland Army National Guard (ANG) as an Aviation Warrant Officer and helicopter pilot.

Like his father, Jerry took advantage of the GI Bill for his university education, studying business and finance in between enlistments. While in the ANG, he served on humanitarian missions in Haiti and for Hurricane Katrina. He also was deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and received a Bronze Star Medal for his service.

Now, bringing together his work of helping grow local businesses through DED’s Business Innovation Network and his desire to help returning vets through the Veterans Commission, Jerry’s goal is simple:  to make Montgomery County, MD the most receptive place in the United States for vets to call home.

See Jerry Godwin’s story on “Still Serving.”

New Topics Up for Discussion on engageMontgomery Site: Weigh In, Share Ideas

Two new topics are now posted on Montgomery County’s engageMontgomery website giving residents an opportunity to voice their opinions and share ideas for the future of their community and on new datasets that would be useful to access online.

The new topics are:

• What’s your big idea for the future of our community?
• What datasets would you like to see included on dataMontgomery?

The two discussion topics will remain on the site for the next month, and residents are encouraged to visit and weigh in often with their opinions and ideas on these and other topics.

The engageMontgomery site serves as an informal online Town Hall Meeting. Users who sign up for an account are encouraged to express their ideas on key issues, as well as support the ideas that they like best from others.

Learn more about engageMontgomery and how to earn points toward prizes.

County Home to One-Third of Largest Publicly Traded Companies

Thirty of the 100 largest publicly traded companies call Montgomery County home according to a recent ranking by the Washington Business Journal.

Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin Corporation is the County's highest ranking company on the list, coming in at #3 with 2012 revenue of more than $47.1 billion.

Also making the top 25 are:

• Marriott International, Inc., Bethesda - 2012 revenue of $11.81 billion
• Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., Bethesda - 2012 revenue of $5.29 billion
• Discovery Communications, Inc., Silver Spring - 2012 revenue of $4.49 billion
• American Capital Agency Corp., Bethesda - 2012 revenue of $2.11 billion

The other Montgomery County companies making the list are:

• USEC, Inc. , Bethesda
• United Therapeutics Corp., Silver Spring
• LaSalle Hotel Properties , Bethesda
• RLJ Lodging Trust, Bethesda
• DiamondRock Hospitality, Bethesda
• Choice Hotels Intl., Rockville
• Federal Realty Investment Trust, Rockville
• American Capital, Ltd., Bethesda
• Radio One, Inc., Silver Spring
• Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, Bethesda
• Synutra International, Inc., Rockville
• Washington Real Estate Investment Trust, Rockville
• Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., Rockville
• Argan Inc., Rockville
• Walker & Dunlop, Inc., Bethesda
• First Potomac Realty Trust, Bethesda
• Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., Olney
• Saul Centers, Inc. , Bethesda
• Broadsoft, Inc., Gaithersburg
• Eagle Bancorp, Inc., Bethesda
• Chindex International, Inc., Bethesda
• American Capital Mortgage Investment Corp., Bethesda
• Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bethesda
• Novavax, Inc., Rockville
• OBA Financial Services, Inc., Germantown

Rewarding Excellence Program Featured in The Post

The County’s Rewarding Excellence program that rewards employee teams that develop creative ways to reduce the cost of government operations was recently highlighted in a Washington Post article.

Front-line employees work together as a team for the betterment of Montgomery County Government by developing and implementing recommendations that improve efficiency, increase productivity, reduce costs, streamline operations and/or enhance customer satisfactions. When cost savings are realized, employees receive a portion of the cost savings in the form of a bonus.

The Post article says, “The county has …found that the program has a positive effect on morale, because they say employees feel more connected to a workplace that they have played a role in shaping.”

Read The Post article.

Public Information Office Receives Three Awards from National Association of Counties

The Office of Public Information received National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards this year for three outstanding programs -- “Montgomery Al Dia,” radio/cable TV show; the Emergency Medical Services Transport Reimbursement Law Public Education Campaign; and the MC311 Customer Service Center and Website.

“Montgomery Al Dia” (“Montgomery Today”), hosted by Lorna Virgili, is a weekly half-hour Spanish language radio show that airs live on Radio América 1540 AM every Tuesday at 2 p.m. and appears on County Cable Montgomery (CCM) several times during the week. Check the CCM website for the show schedule and to watch archived shows.

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Transport Reimbursement Law Public Education Campaign was initiated to educate the public about the facts surrounding the new EMS transport fee that went into effect January 1. 2013. The campaign explained how the law works and how it is benefiting the County’s Fire and Rescue Service.

Montgomery County’s MC311 Customer Service Center and Website were launched in June 2010. Since then, the center has logged more than 1.75 million calls and its website receives more than 20,000 unique visitors every month. The call center extended it hours during the past year -- 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. -- to meet the increased demand for services after normal working hours.

Get more details.