Dear Friends:
I was pleased to have Rep. Jamie Raskin join me for my weekly media briefing this week. We addressed the current state of political rhetoric during this Presidential election cycle as well as gun violence—a discussion that has intensified following the assassination attempt on former President Trump.
Rep. Raskin and I shared our concerns about the pervasive impact of gun violence on our communities and the urgent need for comprehensive legislative action. Rep. Raskin emphasized the importance of common-sense gun laws to enhance public safety, while I reiterated Montgomery County's commitment to implementing effective measures at the local level. Our conversation underscored the necessity for collaborative efforts between Federal and local governments to tackle this pressing issue.
We both agreed that protecting our residents and ensuring their safety is paramount. We must continue to advocate for policies that prevent such acts of violence and promote a safer environment for all.
Additionally, we discussed the need for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates to support our local economy and ease the financial burden on our residents. Lower interest rates can help stimulate economic growth and provide much-needed relief for working families in Montgomery County.
I am grateful to Rep. Raskin for joining me during this briefing to share his thoughts and perspectives. Rep. Raskin's support and efforts for Montgomery County residents and his steadfast dedication to standing up for democracy as a leader in the United States House of Representatives make a significant difference in our community and beyond.
To watch our discussion as well as our questions and answers from and to the media, please click here.
A Milestone Moment for a New North Bethesda
This week, I signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA or Metro) to partner on the development of a nearly 14-acre piece of land next to the North Bethesda Metro Station. You can read more about what the agreement means from WMATA’s perspective here. This partnership is exciting, and it is significant because the goal is to build a development that will attract new life science and biotech companies.
The project will be anchored by the recently launched Institute for Health Computing (IHC), which we first announced was under development in 2022. The signing of the MOU represents an important moment for Montgomery County, our life science industry and the University of Maryland’s Institute for Health Computing.
Why is it important? Because Montgomery County is the center of the third-largest life science hub in the U.S. Only San Francisco and Boston are ahead of us. With assets already based in Montgomery County like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, our proximity to the nation’s capital and a highly educated and diverse workforce, our County is very attractive to life science and biotech companies.
These and other assets have enabled us to build a vibrant life science industry. The announcement we made to develop near the North Bethesda Metro Station is so important because it could be the spark that pushes us from No. 3 to No. 1.
For more than five years, I have been focused on developing this area to capitalize on our life science strengths and provide a collision and collaboration space of learning and innovation. Before I was elected, the County bid on the Amazon 2 headquarters, and while we did not win that bid, it made me realize the enormous potential of the North Bethesda area. This land is on the Metro Red Line (just two stops from NIH), along a planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route and has a huge amount of re-developable space, potentially—15 million square feet in and around the Metro station.
So, to realize this opportunity, we initiated an approach with a dual focus at this location. We worked with the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing, which as its dean of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Science, Amitabh Varshney, explained, will bring together the computation and AI power of College Park joined to the University of Maryland Medical system with 2 million unique patients across the state. They will use these incredible resources to be a force for health care innovation. At the same time, I began working with WMATA on a joint development agreement to focus development on their property at the North Bethesda Metrorail Station.
The MOU we signed on Monday with WMATA begins the process of soliciting developers for this project. A timeline for that process can be found here.
This is a big win for the County. We now have the Institute for Health Computing, which will serve as an attraction for new development and provide support for AI research for the life science companies that are already here. And the partnership with WMATA will enable us to build an urban center for life sciences, embedded in a place with Metrorail access, housing and great amenities (dining, retail, entertainment, a major hotel and conference center).
Now is the time to capitalize on this area’s potential to be the most valuable open development site in the entire state. We have already received support from our State and Federal partners.
At the signing ceremony, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen presented a $5 million check that will help pay for planning and preliminary engineering for a new north entrance to the North Bethesda Metro Station. Congressman Raskin helped secure $3 million in Federal funding for the Institute, which was a big help.
It is hard to believe that it has been just 20 months since we announced the establishment of the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing. In that short amount of time, we have received significant support at the State and Federal levels to help fund what we know will become an exciting new future for our life sciences industry and the economic viability of Montgomery County.
I want to thank our Congressional delegation and our delegation to the Maryland General Assembly for securing more than $36 million to help bring this next step in the evolution of the IHC. They have also helped secure an additional $6 million in annual support for the research facility. This commitment by our partners, which now includes WMATA, demonstrates the importance of this project to Montgomery County and the region.
We are on our way to making North Bethesda the heart of the Washington region’s life sciences industry, and this puts us on the path to making Montgomery County the nation’s No. 1 place for innovation.
I will be updating you on this exciting initiative to support and expand our life science industry that will bring new jobs and opportunity to our County. This is going to be a game changer.
As the president and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical System has said, the Institute for Health Computing could make Montgomery County the Silicon Valley for Health Computing. That is the potential and impact this effort can have on our County, the State, the nation and the world.
'Travel and Leisure' and 'Niche' Rank North Bethesda Among Nation’s Best Suburbs
There is more good news about North Bethesda. Travel and Leisure selected North Bethesda as the fourth-best suburb to live in the country, and Niche.com selected North Bethesda as the No. 1 suburb in which to live in Maryland.
With all of the great communities in Montgomery County and in the region, this recognition of North Bethesda is a tremendous honor. Within North Bethesda there are charming neighborhoods and a community is stacked with restaurants, farmers markets, great schools and cultural institutions like Strathmore and local landmarks such as Hank Dietles. All of these amenities add to the quality of life for the nearly 50,000 residents.
Realtors told Travel and Leisure that homes in North Bethesda are among the most sought in the metro area. The median sale price of a home sold in May was $570,000. North Bethesda benefits from strong public and private schools and it also earns “A+” grades for family life, health and fitness and an ‘A’ in the outdoor, nightlife and diversity categories.
Congratulations to the residents, businesses, and neighborhoods of North Bethesda for achieving these national rankings and recognition of being an exemplary community interest.
The spotlight was on North Bethesda this week, but we all benefit from the effort put into this County to make our home a better place for everyone.
‘Summer Rise’ Program
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has a great summer internship program for rising juniors and seniors called “Summer RISE.” Summer RISE is an initiative led by the MCPS’ Department of Partnerships in collaboration with local businesses, government agencies, higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations. The program is designed to expose students to careers and industries they may want to consider. Through the program, students have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning related to their field of interest.
For the past few summers, there have been RISE students working in my office. They get a chance to learn about issues, attend meetings, press conferences and work on projects.
As a former MCPS teacher, I always enjoy talking with students. We want young people to consider working in local government and tHis program is a great way to get students interested in government.
For the last few years, some of the students working in my office ended the program by interviewing me. This year, we put a little different spin on it and we had a conversation with them. I hope you will take the time to watch our conversation. The students share some interesting thoughts about education and their futures.
I want to thank Ansuya Bisbey from Richard Montgomery High School and Sara Zemikiel from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School for having this conversation with me and for their assistance in the County Executive’s office this summer. Their perspectives and insights were refreshing to hear.
I also appreciate all the County government departments who hosted RISE participants, County employees who served as mentors this summer, and the MCPS RISE staff and volunteers. We look forward to participating again with them next summer.
‘National Night Out’ on Tuesday, Aug. 6
One way everyone can work together to make our communities better is by participating in “National Night Out” on Tuesday, Aug. 6. National Night Out is an annual national campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer and encourage neighbors to get to know each other better.
There are many events planned countywide that will give neighbors a chance to meet local law enforcement and first responders. Some of the communities planning events include Bethesda, Germantown, Kensington, Olney and Silver Spring. There will be fun activities for kids and families, food and refreshments, live entertainment and music, raffles and giveaways.
I will be out that night moving around to numerous celebrations to meet and greet people. I hope to see you in one of the locations enjoying the evening, your community and having fun.
Free Hyundai Anti-Theft Upgrade Event on Aug. 2-4,
The Montgomery County Police Department will once again team up this weekend with Hyundai to host a free anti-theft software upgrade. The three-day event began Friday, Aug. 2, in Burtonsville and will continue through Sunday, Aug. 4.
This is our second event to help Hyundai owners prevent auto-theft. More than a thousand cars were reported stolen in the County in the first six months of this year, and nearly half of them were Hyundais. Hyundai thefts nationwide began to jump in the last two years after a video on social media exposed a manufacturing weakness that made cars with a mechanical “turn-to-start” key ignitions easier to steal.
We recognize this is a continuing concern, so we are offering drivers a chance to get a free software upgrade to help prevent their cars from being stolen. They also can get a free steering wheel lock. The event is open to 2011-2021 Hyundai vehicle owners and lessees.
You do not have to make an appointment and no ID will be required. You can bring your Hyundai to Paint Branch High School, which is located at 14121 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. The event is scheduled for 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday.
County Agriculture Fair Runs From Aug. 9-17
Beginning in one week there is a great opportunity to see and experience the work done by our agricultural community.
This year is the 75th Jubilee Celebration of the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair. This year’s theme is “honoring yesterday, today and tomorrow on the farm.” The fair begins Friday, Aug. 9, and runs through Saturday, Aug. 17, with different types of special events each day.
I encourage you to visit mcagfair.com to purchase tickets and plan your visit. Some of the entertainment options include a rodeo, monster truck show on multiple nights and demolition derbies.
You can also see animals on display each day and there is free entertainment, a kid zone with activities for children and a large carnival to enjoy.
One change from previous years is that there will no longer be public entry or parking at the Chestnut Street entrance. You can either pay to park at the fairgrounds by entering on Perry Parkway or take a free shuttle from either the former Lakeforest Mall parking lot or the Montgomery College campus in Rockville. The County Department of Transportation also is making its Ride Share service an option for fairgoers. All your transportation options can be found here. Mark the dates on your calendar!
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
