Dear Friends,
This week, we had a great event with a major announcement that is important for economic development, scientific research and Montgomery County. WMATA has selected Hines as the master developer for the 14-acre site adjacent to the North Bethesda Metro Station. I’m sharing one of their mockups in the picture below. The project will include housing, retail, office and lab spaces, and be the permanent home of the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC). Hines has been operating in our region for more than 40 years and owns and operates $90.1 billion of assets.
I want to take a moment and explain why this is such an exciting development. When I was on the County Council, there was a lot of talk about the need to increase economic growth in Montgomery County, but little action on how to do it in a way that uses our strengths and puts us on a path to growing good jobs.
Soon after I became County Executive more than six years ago, and after initially working to jump-start development around the old White Flint mall by finding a developer willing to partner on the project, only to have it fail, I started exploring what else we could do with the development potential that had been created to appeal to Amazon.
After many discussions with people around our life sciences industry in the County and seeing how research on COVID-19 was being done, I went to the University of Maryland. I asked them to bring a graduate-level research center here focused on marrying AI capabilities to biological research, drug development and patient information. I pointed out our incredible resources in the life sciences industry. And how, together, we could create a center using the University’s AI and medical research expertise to drive drug discovery and advance research and technology here in the County.
I also talked about how we could develop the Metro site down to the old mall to create what people called collision spaces, a social environment where scientists could meet, gather and share their ideas and advance their work. And where they could interact with others in the life sciences industry.
The North Bethesda Metro area stood out as the County's largest underdeveloped parcel next to the Red Line. I envisioned 15 million square feet of new development, close to the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Standards and Technology and other critical life science assets. So, I approached WMATA about the North Bethesda site and asked them to partner with the County on a joint development agreement.
Well, the university system launched the UM-IHC, we established a development agreement with WMATA, and all this came together with this week’s announcement that the master developer is in place.
Our region is currently the nation's third-largest bio/life science business cluster, but we were the only cluster without a graduate-level academic institution. This partnership with the University of Maryland—College Park, University of Maryland—Baltimore, and University of Maryland Medical System is a game-changer for our County and State’s economies.
What makes this project stand out—and what turns heads when I travel—is the UM-IHC. I’ve discussed this partnership at national conventions like BIO, and most recently at ICSC in Las Vegas. I’ve talked about it overseas when I’ve met with business leaders and investors. They want to know more when they hear that we are bringing together AI, clinical data and life-saving research in a Metro-accessible location between NIH and the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center. We are the heart of a vast pool of talent, and people want to be part of it.
UM-IHC is already up and running with more than 100 people working in a nearby temporary space. They are not just discussing innovation—they are delivering it. The commitment of the University System of Maryland to make this its anchor location has been critical in getting to this point. Watch this video from last year’s second anniversary celebration to get a sense of what’s been accomplished already.
North Bethesda will become the epicenter of our region’s life science community. This development at the North Bethesda Metro Station will also catalyze more development in the area, as the currently vacant former White Flint Mall is nearby. It will also support more life science research in places like the Great Seneca Life Sciences Corridor.
Our efforts are working because we are building strong coalitions between local government, the private sector, our state partners and our congressional delegation. I am especially appreciative of Gov. Wes Moore’s leadership and the support of our Montgomery County State delegation. By working together, we can create jobs, drive innovation and invest in the kinds of industries—bio, life sciences and tech—that are shaping the future.
There’s more to do—but this was a big step forward.
Governor Moore’s ‘Fed To Ed’ Program Launches at Montgomery College
After the WMATA announcement Tuesday, I joined Gov. Moore at Montgomery College along with Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Sanjay Rai, State Superintendent Dr. Carey Wright, MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor and college leaders from across the State. At this roundtable discussion, the Governor unveiled his “Fed to Ed” initiative.
Governor Moore announced $1 million in state grants to help launch this program, including $100,000 for Montgomery College to support outreach, advertising and developing this work for Montgomery County residents.
The goal is straightforward and smart: take people who have been displaced by recent federal job cuts (including employees, contractors, NGO staff and vendors) and help them become teachers. We have a clear need. Like most jurisdictions, Montgomery County is facing a teacher shortage, and the Governor made a compelling case that we need to move faster to get qualified people into our classrooms.
And I agree.
During a roundtable discussion featuring State education leaders, the Governor asked what I think was the most important question of the day: “How do we go faster?” That’s the right question because the need is real: for our students, for our schools and for the talented people in our region who want to continue making a difference.
As someone who changed careers to become a teacher, I know firsthand how fulfilling that path can be. I also know that people coming from federal agencies, nonprofits and technical fields have a lot to offer. They understand systems, communication and real-world problem-solving. Those skills can absolutely enrich the learning experience for our students.
I want to thank Gov. Moore for his leadership and our partners at Montgomery College and MCPS for helping turn this idea into a program. We look forward to supporting “Fed to Ed” and promoting it in an upcoming media briefing to help spread the word and bring more great people into education. Visit teach.maryland.gov to learn more about the pathways to teaching.
Trump Administration Puts Montgomery County on Sanctuary Jurisdiction List
This week, the Trump administration released its list of so-called “sanctuary jurisdictions,” and Montgomery County was included.
Let me be clear: we are not in violation of federal law, and we are not going to make changes based on political headlines.
We have always cooperated with ICE in cases involving violent criminals, serious felonies and public safety threats. That has always been our policy. Our Executive Order 135-19, which guides our actions, has been legally reviewed and upheld by two Maryland Attorneys General—Brian Frosh and Anthony Brown. And we have followed it consistently.
Now that we are officially on this list, we will be carefully reviewing what the federal government has put out. Specifically, reviewing their explanation of the criteria to make this list, what they are demanding of jurisdictions and the consequences if we do not obey. We will do that work in consultation with our public safety team, our County Attorney’s Office, the County Council and our partners at the State level, including the Attorney General and Governor’s Office. And we’ll coordinate with other jurisdictions in Maryland and the region that have also been threatened.
What I want you to know is this: our job is to keep everyone safe, regardless of immigration status. We do not ask about status when you call 911, and we do not ask when your child goes to school. We are not going to let political rhetoric change how we treat people in Montgomery County.
To be blunt, this action, like many others of the Trump Administration, is about criminalizing immigrants, not protecting public safety. And we will not be complicit in efforts to stigmatize or target our immigrant communities. Businesses in this County, this region and throughout the country will be shuttered if this substantial part of our labor force is removed. For people or businesses who thought they were only going to go after the bad guys, you were wrong. This is about targeting everyone, not just violent criminals and gang members. If the plan is carried out, it will have a profoundly negative effect on the local, state and federal economy.
Immigrants are essential to our workforce and contribute to the community, culture and vibrancy of our nation. In 1960, when I was a child growing up in Montgomery County, immigrants made up 5% of the total population. Today, foreign-born residents make up around one-third of our population.
I understand that members of our immigrant communities are worried. These kinds of announcements by the Federal government are designed to create fear. We have seen this before in our country and around the world, but we do not govern by fear in Montgomery County.
All these actions by the Trump Administration to divide our community and demonize our friends, neighbors and coworkers are morally bankrupt and economically reckless. Attempts to wrap their hate campaign in a veneer of Christianity are deeply disturbing.
One of the hallmarks of all major religions is the concept of mercy. Obligations to help the poor, heal the sick and house the unsheltered have traditionally fallen on religious groups who step up and help our community in this way. You may be shocked to learn, and I hope you are shocked, that County programs that provide shelter for the homeless, food assistance or medical assistance constitute crimes of harboring illegal immigrants in the eyes of the Federal government.
The County does this, our nonprofits do this, and many of our religious institutions do this. We are doing what decent, compassionate human beings have been doing for decades because it is the right thing to do. Criminalizing decency and compassion are a travesty, and it needs to stop.
I encourage anyone in our community who needs immigrant-related information to visit the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center at its Wheaton, East County or Gaithersburg locations.
Montgomery County will stand by every resident as we always have. We will continue to follow the law, but we will not join efforts to divide our communities or erase the contributions of our immigrant neighbors.
Fifth Anniversary of George Floyd’s Murder
This week marks five years since the murder of George Floyd, an event that shook the conscience of this nation and sparked a movement for justice that still resonates. Floyd was an unarmed black man in Minnesota, killed after being choked under the knee of a white police officer for several minutes. It was a defining moment in our nation’s history, and it was one of the events in 2020 (along with the pandemic) that impacted how this government operates and how we think about our responsibilities to the people we serve.
The murder of George Floyd was an awakening for the nation, but I want to point out that we were already on the path of addressing racial equity and social justice in our government even before this tragic event. Months earlier, on December 3, 2019, I signed the Racial Equity and Social Justice Act. We became the first jurisdiction in Maryland to sign racial equity legislation, which ensures all residents are welcome, treated with respect and have opportunities to succeed. From this legislation, we created the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice. Their impact statements can be found here.
Since then, Montgomery County has made real, measurable progress. Internally, every department in County government is now required to submit a racial equity impact score with their budget. And every County employee goes through regular racial equity and social justice training to help ensure our values are reflected in how we serve the community.
We have also made progress externally. We launched a hate crimes data portal to track and respond to rising incidents. We created a Police Accountability Board to increase transparency and trust. You can find recordings of their board meetings and other gatherings here. We have continued our work through the Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation. It just held a memorial for two lynching victims that happened in Montgomery County in the late 1800s. The County is also increasing its support of historically underserved regions of Montgomery County, like the Scotland community.
I want to acknowledge and appreciate the leadership of Chief Marcus Jones and Chief Marc Yamada, as well as the command staff and officers of MCPD who have embraced new training, policies and technologies to improve public safety and community relationships. Crime is on the decline, and the distance between our residents and those who protect them is getting shorter.
The year 2020 will be remembered for the devastation of COVID-19 and for the outrage and the clarity that followed George Floyd’s death. That year validated our approach to act more boldly and with greater intention.
We are now living in a time where there is a deliberate effort to erase those memories. Where a federal administration is punishing taxpayers and holding programs hostage because they do not like the progress we have made. It is surreal and it is outrageous, but we are not going backward. We know what is at stake, and we are going to keep doing the work.
New Federal COVID Guidelines
I want to acknowledge my deep disappointment with this week’s announcement that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy children or pregnant women. This decision is not based on science, and it is not the best way to guide the millions of Americans who rely on the CDC for health advice to avoid disease.
That is not just wrong, it is dangerous. And it is insulting to the scientists who worked tirelessly to save lives during this pandemic.
During COVID, Montgomery County had one of the highest vaccination rates in the country, and as a result, we had one of the lowest death rates among large jurisdictions. That is not a coincidence. That’s called cause and effect. The vaccine saved lives.
This new guidance upends the way good policy is made, which is based on science. It is another sign that we are living in what Gore Vidal called the “United States of Amnesia.” We are talking about something that happened just four or five years ago—not ancient history. How can the most scientifically advanced health agency in the world now ignore the very science that helped us get through this?
It’s chilling. It’s infuriating. And honestly, it’s a sign of the times to come.
We are going to keep doing what we have always done—following the evidence, protecting our residents and speaking the truth, no matter how politically inconvenient it may be.
DHHS Mobile Health Clinic Launches
On Thursday, we held a ribbon-cutting to officially launch the County’s Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Mobile Health Clinic. The ceremony took place in Poolesville, one of the areas that has been waiting for this kind of help.
Since 2023, we have had a mobile health clinic in place in a roundabout way. A team has been built, and they are at work in our community, helping those who need help the most. The team has been on call and only able to serve the community on a very limited basis. Now, we have an actual vehicle that will serve as the headquarters for our Mobile Health Clinic.
We are focused on delivering community-based care. That means serving a range of critical health services beyond just medical and dental. This clinic will offer behavioral health and preventative screenings. The van is specially equipped with Wi-Fi to access medical records in remote areas and specialized medical equipment like an X-ray machine. The vehicle also serves as a resource for social services information, connections to follow-up care and health education.
There are countless barriers to accessing health care, like location, lack of transportation, economic challenges and staffing shortages that may delay care unnecessarily. I hope that this Mobile Health Clinic encourages more people to seek health care. We intend to set up a regular schedule for the vehicle that allows the public to plan their visits. It can also be available upon request. by community organizations for events. You can find more information about the program here or contact program leaders by emailing mobilehealthclinic@montgomerycountymd.gov.
I want to thank the DHHS team for working on this plan for more than a year. WUMCO Help, the Montgomery County Service Consolidation Hubs, health workers, community clinics and the providers who helped supply those outlets are also greatly appreciated.
This clinic on wheels will spend most of its time in underserved neighborhoods throughout our County, helping vulnerable residents. Building this medical office on wheels shows how we are thinking ahead when it comes to improving the health of everyone in Montgomery County. I’m excited to see how this Mobile Health Clinic will strengthen communities across the County. Together, we are making Montgomery County a more equitable, healthier place for all.
New MCPL Library App Launches Today
Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) is launching a new mobile app for library users. The app allows users to experience the library in a whole new way, and it is available for download on the Apple and Google Play stores.
The MCPL Library app will feature a broad range of library resources and services on the go. One feature of the app allows users to scan items with their phone when they are ready to check out a book, audiobook and other items. The new app will make it easier for users to manage their checked-out items and reserve items they want. The app is also a gateway to digital content with easy-to-use partnerships with platforms like OverDrive, Hoopla and Kanopy.
The new library app is part of our continued efforts to enhance digital services to make it easier for everyone to take advantage of these resources. Our patrons can still get a lot out of a visit to their local library, but they don't have to. Borrowing a book, making plans to attend a program or exploring digital content can be done anywhere with the help of the app.
This change reflects our county’s commitment to equitable access and digital innovation. It is another step toward making our resources easier to access for everyone in the community.
Our library system exists to help our community. We value the time and effort library staff spend sharing information and resources with the public. This leads to a better quality of life, easier-to-access educational and workforce training tools, and gathering spaces for our diverse community. I encourage you to download the app and start exploring it today.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
