Dear Friends,
Today, I was at AstraZeneca’s manufacturing facility in Frederick, where I joined Rep. April McLain-Delaney, Gov. Wes Moore, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot, and Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater to announce AstraZeneca’s decision to invest two billion dollars here in Maryland. This investment includes the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility in Gaithersburg and a significant expansion of its flagship biologics manufacturing facility in Frederick.
The new facility in Gaithersburg, which will be fully operational by 2029, will create 100 new jobs, retain 400 jobs, and support 1,000 construction-related jobs.
Both the expanded facility in Frederick and the new facility in Gaithersburg will leverage cutting-edge AI, automation and data analytics, and be built to the highest environmental standards.
AstraZeneca’s decision to expand its presence in Montgomery County is a powerful testament to the strength of our highly educated and diverse workforce, the depth of our innovation ecosystem, and the quality of life that continues to attract and retain world-class companies.
We’re proud that AstraZeneca’s North American research and development headquarters is in our County, and we support them in continuing to develop more discoveries for patients in our community and around the world. The City of Gaithersburg has been a tremendous partner in supporting this expansion—whether at the former MedImmune campus or at Progress Way along the I-270 corridor.
Just a few months ago, I had the privilege of touring AstraZeneca’s new $300 million cell therapy facility here in Rockville. What I saw there was remarkable: cutting-edge advanced manufacturing already at work and scientists developing cell-based therapies that re-engineer a patient’s own immune cells to fight disease. This isn’t theoretical—it’s happening here, today, in Montgomery County.
Last month in Shanghai, we met with AstraZeneca leaders and gained insight into the scope of their global commitment. With more than 60,000 employees across China alone, and deep expertise in oncology and other critical disease areas, AstraZeneca is a company that builds connections, shares knowledge, accelerates treatments, and strengthens health care innovation worldwide. That global mindset pairs naturally with Montgomery County’s own international identity and diverse talent base.
AstraZeneca represents the kind of partner we value: a multinational leader that understands the importance of talent, innovation, and community. We are proud of its workforce here in the County—proud of the scientists, researchers, engineers, and professionals whose work changes patients’ lives across the world.
I thank AstraZeneca for their continued confidence in our County’s talented workforce. We look forward to supporting their growth for many years to come.
Capital Improvement Budget Limitations
This week, the Montgomery County Board of Education approved the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent’s Capital Improvements Budget request, and, in case you missed it, the request is an eye-opener.
The Capital Improvements Project (CIP) budget is separate from the annual operating fund expenditures. These are larger, long-term investments in facilities and infrastructure. The budget encompasses all of the County’s needs, but I would like to focus on the request from MCPS.
We plan CIP spending over a six-year period, and this year, roughly one-quarter of the budget is devoted to school improvements. That’s our second largest expenditure behind transportation.
The MCPS request this year is 54% higher than the last approved CIP. That works out to almost $160 million more each year over a six-year period. Even with that level of investment, we still wouldn’t clear the backlog, which has been accumulating for many years. The long-term lack of transparency by the school system led to this sudden revelation. Today, leaders are more transparent about MCPS needs. This exposes a problem of underinvestment by our County that goes back more than a decade. The CIP budget hasn’t been adjusted to account for inflation in 10 years.
The chart above shows how actual dollars devoted to the CIP have been slipping over that time, too. In 2009, we spent $300 million on capital projects, but over the last four years, we’ve dipped to $280 million. Had we kept pace with inflation, we’d be spending almost $550 million today. The cost of these large projects increases regularly, and the expectation that you can spend $280 million today to buy what you spent $300 million to buy 16 years ago is absurd.
In October, the Council tentatively approved $300 million of my $340 million request. It is simply not enough to move forward without making some deep cuts to improvement plans to meet community needs. These limitations put a burden on the capital budget process. We need to take a hard look at our capital budget, and I’ve proposed an approach that would closely resemble what the District of Columbia and the Northern Virginia counties have been able to do regarding infrastructure funding.
The “Montgomery Way” of handling capital spending doesn’t work. It hasn’t worked for a couple of decades, and it does not meet our needs. Please listen carefully to how MCPS has laid out the problems that they face because they are real. You can watch Dr. Thomas Taylor’s presentation of his recommended budget on the MCPS YouTube page.
Superintendent Taylor’s budget gives a much more accurate reflection of MCPS facility needs than what County leaders have seen before. Previous administrations have not shown us the full picture, so how we prioritize the needs of our schools must be factored into an already complicated math problem.
When Dr. Taylor was hired, I said our schools need and deserve strong leadership because it is crucial to maintaining our position among the country’s most highly regarded school districts. I appreciate the superintendent’s honesty and transparency regarding the needs of MCPS and look forward to reviewing the school board’s recommended capital budget request. I will be sending my recommended six-year capital budget proposal to the Council in mid-January. I encourage all residents to follow this important process and investments.
University Boulevard Corridor Plan Amendments
The County Council continued its work this week on the University Boulevard Corridor Plan, focusing specifically on amendments recommended by the Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee.
The Council modified some of the zoning recommendations submitted by the Planning Board, lowering densities and heights, and agreed to retain the existing zoning for the Woodmoor Shopping Center. They also agreed to dispense with street grid recommendations made by the Planning Board, which would have compromised safety in neighborhoods. I am glad the planning board recommendations on these things were rejected
The attempt to introduce housing affordability into the rezoning of single-family residential homes along the University Boulevard corridor, however, fell far short of expectations. As a result, there is a distinct possibility that naturally occurring affordable homes will be replaced by more expensive duplexes and townhouses, potentially leading to the displacement of current residents.
For example, if a developer builds three townhouses on a single lot, one of them would have to be affordable as workforce housing – but workforce housing can serve incomes over $170,000, which is not really affordable. New homes with higher prices would likely be unaffordable to black and brown communities that are already established there. The median income for black and brown families in our area is far lower than white or Asian communities. The corridor plan continues a pattern of displacing people in lower-income groups. When workforce housing has a definition that excludes most members of the two largest minority communities, this is a problem.
And to add insult to injury, if you replace a single-family house with a duplex, there is no affordability requirement. It may be advantageous to build all market duplexes with larger units than three smaller units. There is no guarantee of affordability for most people in the County.
Council Vice President Will Jawando was not successful in his attempts to introduce changes that would address affordability and racial equity issues. There was also no serious discussion about the lack of jobs in the area. This, along with a failure to recognize that Bus Rapid Transit is not even in the earliest planning stage along University Boulevard, means that additional residential development will likely precede the infrastructure improvements necessary to support that development.
While touting bus rapid transit as a traffic reliever, the fact is that increasing density will result in far more drivers, leading to more, not less congestion. It is simply the wrong place to increase density in the County, as it is not near any job centers. The corridor plan along University will subtract from the hoped-for (but unrealized) residential growth in Wheaton, making it less viable as a center. It also ignores decades of work through master planning that focused on development around Metro stations and activity centers.
As I’ve said before, our master plans already have capacity for more than the projected number of households anticipated by 2050. In other words, the housing we need has actually been planned for. This corridor plan is essentially a tool to enable townhouse developers to transform existing neighborhoods into green spaces.
The focus on safety issues – a prime concern in the area – was also a notable detour, with the plan indicating that rezoning is necessary to implement improvements. That is also patently untrue. As Councilmember Sidney Katz pointed out, implementing master plan recommendations takes years, while safety improvements are needed now and should be addressed through alternative means. Safety upgrades are also the focus of the State’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan to improve University Boulevard with no rezoning required.
Statements by Planning Board representatives made it clear that the University Boulevard Corridor Plan is their blueprint for future corridor changes around the County. For those of you who are thinking, “Well, this is not my neighborhood,” don’t take any comfort in that. Their plan is to implement this approach widely, on everything they designate a corridor, so this becomes possible in more neighborhoods in the County. This is the test bed. They are poised to ignore most of the concerns related to what happens inside your neighborhood, and there’s no reason to believe you will be treated differently. This is a Planning Board that repeatedly demonstrated that what you think, what you want in your community, is irrelevant to their vision for your neighborhood. I encourage you to let the Council know that, although you may not be affected today, this is not the kind of planning you want to see throughout Montgomery County.
These plans are singularly focused on rezoning single-family residential neighborhoods while giving scant consideration to the other master plan elements intended to create complete communities. It is not surprising that many people view this as an open invitation for developers to add density to existing neighborhoods, thereby making our streets more congested and straining our existing infrastructure, without requiring developers to help offset the impacts of growth.
The Council directed its staff to prepare a resolution incorporating the changes they made. They will meet on December 2 to review several chapters of the Plan that were not discussed at this week’s session, then they will take a straw vote on the resolution. The final vote to adopt the Plan is currently scheduled for Dec. 9. You have five Councilmembers who represent you – four at-large and one district representative; you can contact them and share your concerns. If you are unsure of your position, you can also ask them to slow the process down to allow for more discussion.
Mission First Housing for Seniors Construction Underway
I'd like to highlight one of the special projects currently underway, which aims to provide more options for older residents. On Thursday, I visited the Mission First Housing Group project in Wheaton, which will add 90 units of affordable housing exclusively for seniors.
This project will help older residents who earn 30-70% of Montgomery County’s area median income. It uses underutilized parking at a synagogue to develop one- and two-bedroom apartments, green spaces, and walking paths that help connect downtown Wheaton.
I would like to thank the Department of Housing and Community Affairs for its collaboration with Mission First, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Grandbridge, and Truist for recognizing the significant investment being made in this area. It was also a great idea by leaders with the Congregation Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim to better utilize its land in a way that benefits the community. This project is a great example of how we can work closely with Montgomery County’s faith communities to create strong housing options for older residents in the County.
One goal we’ve set is to make it easier for older residents to age in place. Adding affordable housing set aside for them helps those looking to downsize. Alternatively, the Home Accessibility Rehabilitation Program (HARP) helps older residents who want to make it easier to remain in their home for as long as possible. If you have questions about how HARP can help your situation, email dhcaharp@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 311.
Housing for older adults 65 and older is a growing concern because the population is growing, 18% of the County at last count, and up from 11% in 2000. Older adults who rent should have more housing choices, as a significant portion of their limited monthly income is typically devoted to housing. This creates cost burdens that can leave them vulnerable to financial difficulties. Affordable housing like this project is a key part of meeting the needs of our older residents.
I’m proud of the nearly $8 million we invested to help in financing the project, which has already put this construction into motion. The County also allowed special tax privileges to help cover the costs to finalize the plans. I look forward to celebrating the grand opening of this facility and witnessing the positive impact it will have on our community.
Montgomery County Welcomes New Director of Environmental Protection
I am pleased to welcome Jennifer Macedonia as Montgomery County’s new director of the Department Environmental Protection. She was unanimously confirmed by the County Council on Tuesday.
Jennifer is a nationally recognized environmental leader with over 30 years of experience. She brings deep expertise in climate policy, clean energy, and environmental protection from her time with the Environmental Protection Agency. Under her leadership, and with the support of the Inflation Reduction Act funds, several new programs were launched to help reduce the amount of carbon monoxide produced through transportation, the building sector, and power production.
I want to highlight her remarks to the County Council a few weeks ago. She told them about her passion for protecting human health and the environment, as well as her commitment to using a data-driven and analytical approach to accomplishing our goals. It stands in stark contrast to the non-science-based reasons for many of the decisions being made in Washington today, in which the environment is shoved to the back to advance the interests of fossil fuel companies and large corporations whose sole raison d’etre is to maximize profits regardless of the impacts on our health and environment.
We need a leader like her here in Montgomery County, which has led the way in developing policies and practices that help us move forward on our Climate Action Plan. Her proven leadership and strong local roots here make her an outstanding choice to lead our efforts toward a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future. I look forward to her starting her new role serving our residents on Dec. 1.
MCEDC Hires New CEO
The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) also has a new leader. Jared Smith was named president and CEO of MCEDC this week after leading economic development efforts in Henderson, Nevada, a large suburb of Las Vegas.
I believe he will be a strong leader of the MCEDC team, and his appointment is an important next step in advancing the County’s long-term economic development strategy. We all know that challenges lie ahead, but we’ve made meaningful progress this year toward building a more coordinated approach to economic development.
Jared brings hands-on experience from both local and regional efforts in other jurisdictions, and that perspective will be valuable as MCEDC continues its work to attract new investment in a way that aligns with our County’s priorities.
His background in supporting small businesses is particularly relevant here in Montgomery County. Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. Strengthening that ecosystem remains a central part of our growth strategy.
I look forward to connecting with him in the coming weeks and discussing how we can continue moving the County forward.
New Environmental Challenges and Saying Goodbye to an Environmental Champion
I was delighted to welcome Paul Pinsky to my media briefing this week. Paul is one of Maryland’s longest-serving environmental champions. For the past three years, he has been the director of the Maryland Energy Administration, and he’s a former Maryland Delegate and Senator going back decades.
He and I share disappointment in the actions of the federal government that seek to peel back the protections many fought so hard to achieve. Environmental protections save taxpayers money and improve public health; ditching them only benefits wealthy corporations looking to avoid regulations. This week, another prime example surfaced (Washington Post report) in which the Environmental Protection Agency, under the Trump administration, proposed a new rule that would dramatically weaken the Clean Water Act. The rule limits protections only to ‘relatively permanent’ bodies of water — like rivers or lakes with a continuous surface connection — which means many wetlands and smaller streams would no longer be protected. Environmental groups estimate that up to 95% of wetlands nationwide could lose federal oversight as a result.
For a place like Montgomery County, that’s not an abstract problem. We have more than 1,500 miles of stream running through our neighborhoods, parks, and backyards — each one contributing to our drinking water, our natural habitats, and our overall resilience to flooding. Some of these waterways are classified as Tier II high-quality streams, meaning they are clean and healthy enough to warrant extra protection. MontgomeryCounty’s Department of Environmental Protection monitors more than 150 sub watersheds to track their condition, and that data helps guide how we plan growth and invest in restoration.
If federal protections disappear, those local efforts become significantly more challenging. Pollution doesn’t respect boundaries, and once a wetland is filled or a stream is paved over, it’s gone for good.
I wish Paul well in retirement and hope he sees the public fight the direction of the current administration so that we continue to strive for a cleaner and greener future.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive