Dear Friends,
I am spending this week in Asia on an economic mission in Japan and China. I’ve also been to India, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam to highlight Montgomery County for businesses in those countries eager to find a hub in the United States to conduct business. These trips help show them that we are an excellent place to do business and access the U.S. market.
Fittingly, it is Economic Development Week in Maryland, which I acknowledge in this recent video. We have a lot to be proud of in Montgomery County, including four incubators now open to help small businesses grow their big ideas. In addition to innovation centers in Germantown focused on life sciences, Rockville catering to high-tech and medical startups, and Silver Spring for all industries, the AI Innovation Center is now as well. It provides office space, coworking and meeting space for businesses incorporating AI technology into their products and services.
Our Business Center team collaborates with our Regional Service Centers to help companies find the right solutions when they need help expanding, complying with new regulations, or opening their doors.
We are also home to major companies that do business on a global scale. A good example is the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing, which has continued to grow with more than 100 employees and many partnerships already underway. The graduate-level research institution has been a significant topic of conversation among business prospects since before it launched. It is another way we stand out as a premier area for life sciences companies looking for a foothold in the U.S.
Montgomery County is fortunate to have a highly educated workforce, and a talent pipeline supporting the world's highest-growth industries like quantum computing, precision medicine, AI, and more. With the support of our State leadership and alongside partner organizations, we continue to invest in our future. We’ve seen many great projects come to fruition this year, including the Viva White Oak announcement in East County.
When I am on these economic development missions, I tout the diversity of our population, access to major institutions like NIH, and the breadth and depth of our businesses, all of which are of great interest to international companies. We will continue the work to strengthen our support for existing businesses and help those who want to come here.
Rep. Raskin Visit Highlights Forthcoming Increase in Health Exchange Premiums
I want to thank U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin for visiting our Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services office in Silver Spring this week. He was there to learn more about the assistance that navigators provide to residents looking for health coverage through the Maryland Health Connection and to discuss the impact of the continuing shutdown of the federal government. He held a roundtable discussion to talk about the impact residents will absorb if tax credits do not remain available for eligible people who buy coverage on Maryland’s health insurance exchange. You can watch this week’s County media briefing conducted by Chief Administrative Officer Rich Madaleno and featuring Rep. Raskin on our YouTube channel. You can also watch the roundtable discussion regarding health care coverage, featuring the Congressman; Vinny Demarco, president of Maryland Health Care for All; DHHS leaders, and an impacted County resident.
Unfortunately, health care will change dramatically in light of actions by the Trump administration and Republican Congressional leaders. They do not want to support the federal health care system that has helped Montgomery County lower its percentage of residents without medical insurance to just 6% in 2021, down from a high of 13%. This progress began with Obamacare and continued with the expansion of Medicaid. The current administration wants to end those benefits, and that is at the crux of this shutdown. So, we are bracing for the impact of tens of thousands of people suddenly facing higher medical premiums, which will likely push them out of affordable health care coverage. Not having health coverage means that uninsured individuals may put off preventative care and only get medical attention when it’s an emergency. Relying on hospitals and emergency rooms to carry the burden of health care by necessity will cost all taxpayers.
Gov. Wes Moore sounded the alarm earlier this month when he visited one of our enrollment sites, saying as many as 190,000 Marylanders could see their monthly premiums increase by an average of 68%. He heard from health and human services staff about the human costs of the shutdown and what hardship the health coverage changes will bring for some.
This is important because open enrollment for health care coverage through the Maryland Health Connection begins Nov. 1. People have already received notices of the monthly premium increases.
Remember, 2025 plans are still active through the end of the year, including plans purchased through the Maryland Health Connection. Now is a great time to schedule free annual wellness checkups or catch up on any delayed care. Maryland’s Advance Premium Tax Credits can help offset the higher premiums in 2026.
Gov. Moore Visits the Federal Workforce Career Center
On Thursday, Governor Wes Moore visited Wheaton to tour the new Federal Workforce Career Center we opened. He participated in a roundtable conversation with the team to learn how they are engaging with County residents who have lost their jobs due to the Trump Administration’s ongoing federal government shutdown and workforce reduction.
Since opening the Federal Workforce Career Center, hundreds of residents have signed up for assistance through mobilize-montgomery.com.
I would like to thank the governor for this site visit and for paying attention to the nation’s first center operated by a jurisdiction like ours, which supports displaced federal workers through personalized services and programs. Since the shutdown began, Gov. Moore has been working to help Marylanders who are impacted by providing loans and supporting social service programs, which the federal government usually funds. He’s right to point out that this shutdown has broken the trust many people put in this current federal administration to make their lives better.
We are witnessing an increase in demand for food assistance throughout Montgomery County. The federal government will more than likely remain shut down as we enter November, leaving SNAP benefit payments in limbo. We are looking to the State of Maryland for guidance on how to address that shortfall. Approximately 68,000 of our residents rely on this vital food assistance resource, and an average of $12 million is spent each month in our County’s grocery stores and farmers' markets through SNAP. Funds for the WIC program, which provides nutritious options for pregnant women, infants, and children, are also in jeopardy. Over 60 community organizations, with our support, continue to offer a variety of food assistance services to residents around the county each day. You can read more on the Office of Food Systems Resilience website about how the Trump cuts will affect important programs.
Our County Health Officer, Dr. Kisha Davis, pointed out this week that there are both financial and emotional struggles resulting from this shutdown. I encourage you to reach out for help if you need it. 988 is a resource for anyone nationwide struggling with thoughts of suicide. Help is available 24 hours/day through the County’s Crisis Center by calling 240-777-4000.
Gabe Albornoz Nominated to Once Again Lead Department of Recreation
On Monday, I announced the upcoming nomination of County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz to serve once again as the Director of our Recreation Department. If confirmed, he will return to the position he held before becoming a Councilmember.
He would succeed Robin Riley, who retired earlier this year.
Gabe is the best choice to lead Recreation for several reasons, including his previous tenure as director from 2007 to 2018. He has demonstrated experience, leadership, and dedication to the County. He helped to build, expand, and diversify our recreation programs even through the Great Recession of 2008. We anticipate similar burdens ahead with the changes initiated by the federal government, and I believe that Gabe will help us navigate those as best as possible.
As a Councilmember, Gabe is also well-suited to understand the financial considerations as we work on major improvements that benefit our residents. During his previous tenure as director, he oversaw 11 capital recreation projects totaling $280 million. He’s also committed to continuing the critical programming offered through our Recreation Department that promotes physical activity, mental health, and well-being.
The process of replacing Gabe’s position on the Council is already underway. The person who is selected by the Council will fill out the remaining year of Gabe’s term, which ends Dec. 1, 2026. The Council is providing details on how to apply and they are accepting applications through Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Park Montgomery Affordable Housing Opens in Silver Spring
Last week, I was excited to celebrate the grand opening of Park Montgomery West in Silver Spring's Long Branch neighborhood. This development is an excellent example of how we can simultaneously preserve and expand affordable housing. Our partner, Enterprise, renovated the existing 141 homes at Park Montgomery and added 76 brand-new affordable apartments right next door. That’s 217 homes where people can live, raise their families, and stay connected to this community.
It is not a project that resembles what was initially envisioned for this area. That plan would have allowed developers to replace existing high-rise buildings, leaving us with the minimum percentage of affordable housing units required by law and displacing many current residents. I am pleased the end result worked out better for existing and future residents.
Montgomery County invested $10.6 million, and we’re proud to see those dollars at work. The money creates long-term affordability for families earning at or below 60% of the area median income.
This location also shows the importance of protecting affordability near major transit investments. With the Purple Line coming to Long Branch, with a planned station on Piney Branch Road, we know development pressure will increase. We are making sure that working families aren’t pushed out of the very neighborhoods that are becoming more connected and vibrant.
Across the County, we’re seeing progress. Since the start of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, we’ve created or preserved more than 2,200 affordable homes, with 18 more projects already in the FY26 pipeline and 26 others in planning. Each one represents a step toward meeting the need for housing that people can truly afford. You can read more about the County’s efforts to develop and preserve affordable housing in this press release focused on the latest Affordable Housing Pipeline Report.
This project embodies what we’re striving for: sustainable, equitable growth that gives everyone a chance to stay and thrive in Montgomery County. Investments like these strengthen our community. It also wouldn’t be possible without the work of our Department of Housing and Community Affairs and partners like Bank of America and the Housing Opportunities Commission. I want to again thank Enterprise for their remarkable work with this project and for being an invaluable partner in preserving the affordable housing still available in Montgomery County.
Let’s keep working together to ensure that affordability and opportunity go hand-in-hand in every part of our County.
AWS Outage and National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Computer networks keep our world moving. On Monday, we all saw what can happen when disruptions grind everything to a halt.
The nation’s leading authority on cybersecurity is the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, an arm of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is headquartered in Gaithersburg. The County is proud to partner with the Maryland Department of Commerce and the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation on quarterly cybersecurity events, though the one scheduled for this month had to be canceled due to the shutdown. I would like to thank the program leaders at NIST for organizing a networking opportunity in May during National Small Business Week to strengthen security within our small business community. These are a few ways we are seeing leadership and cooperation extend computer safety beyond company contractors.
Everyone has a part to play in cybersecurity. One of the most important steps is simply reporting unusual activity. Look for signs of trouble, such as phishing emails and attempts to obtain information without permission. Attacks can compromise critical information, leave your entire company vulnerable to further attacks, or put your family at risk of identity theft.
Thieves are smart, sometimes posing as authorities or cybersecurity experts to gain your trust. Never give anyone remote access to your computer unless you’ve initiated the help request through a verified and trusted source.
Consider the sensitive information you share online or over the phone, as caller ID can be easily spoofed. The Federal Trade Commission at consumer.ftc.gov is a good source for information on protecting yourself and responding to a scam. Victims of fraud involving a Social Security number should call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-269-0271. Online crimes can be reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
No Kings Day Rallies
No Kings Day rallies throughout Montgomery County and nationwide showed plenty of opposition to the draconian policies of the Trump administration and Republican Congressional leaders that would deny nutrition support to newborn mothers, aid to older adults, and support for many more people struggling with nowhere else to turn but our community partners.
I’m proud of our community for coming out (in 22 locations according to Rep. Raskin) to rallies in Silver Spring, Rockville, Olney, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Kensington, Takoma Park, and Leisure World. We heard you speak out and vow to fight the injustice that is putting so many people out of work, creating fear within our immigrant community, and continues to make life difficult for many more residents.
Halloween Ahead
Finally, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Halloween. Although it may be another week away, many activities are happening this weekend, which you can read about later in this newsletter.
Please keep a few things in mind:
- Early sunsets at this time of year reduce visibility.
- Use extra caution when traveling during evening hours.
- Go slowly and be prepared to stop suddenly.
- Drivers should consider staying off neighborhood roads altogether during trick-or-treat hours.
- Children should carry glowsticks, flashlights, or some reflective material on dark costumes to ensure they are seen.
- If you see an impaired driver, dial 911 to report it.
