$5.75 Million in Grants Available for Nonprofit Programs Targeting Youth, Seniors, Residents with Disabilities and Underserved Communities

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council have announced that $5.75 million in community grants is available to assist County community nonprofits. The money is to be dispersed to nonprofits with unique and innovative programs focusing on youth, seniors, residents with disabilities and underserved populations to cover special community needs that are not otherwise being addressed by County funding or efforts. 

Applications can now be submitted by eligible nonprofits. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13.

Questions about the application process can be directed to Ali Hoy, outgoing grants program manager at the Office of Grants Management, by calling 240-773-3384 or emailing ali.hoy@montgomerycountymd.gov.

“Increased resident needs and demands, rising costs due to inflation, along with the loss of federal COVID-19 funding means that these grant opportunities are more important than ever for nonprofit organizations to apply,” said County Executive Elrich. “After five years of engagement with our community partners on reforms, our new Fiscal Year 2024 Community Grant process now gives nonprofits from across the County equitable funding opportunities, creates space for innovation from old and new partners and right-sizes the administrative burden on our nonprofit community. I encourage all applicable County nonprofits to apply.”

Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Community Grants award amounts will vary with a minimum award of $50,000 and a maximum award amount of $375,000 over a 12-month performance period. Applicants can submit multi-year funding proposals of up to three years.

• The FY24 Youth Community Grants Program will provide $1.5 million in funds for programs targeting the needs of the County's youth community.
• The FY24 Seniors Community Grants Program will provide $1.5 million in funds for programs targeting the needs of the County's senior community.
• The FY24 Residents with Disabilities Community Grants Program will provide $1.5 million in funds for programs targeting the needs of County residents who have disabilities.
• The FY24 Underserved Communities Community Grants Program will provide a total of $1,258,128 to nonprofit organizations from underserved communities that have unique insights into their local challenges and can develop the best programmatic solutions to address them.

For multi-year proposals and grant awards, continued funding beyond the first 12-month period for both programs will be contingent on satisfactory program performance and future Council appropriations. 

“The nonprofit sector is critical to maintaining a strong social safety net in Montgomery County,” said Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass. “I am pleased that the County is pursuing reforms to improve the grants process for our nonprofit partners. As the County makes these important changes, we must ensure that we work alongside our nonprofit partners. Nonprofits are instrumental partners for our County and their engagement in this process is key.”

Grant applications will be reviewed by an independent committee organized by the Office of Grants Management. The committee will include neutral, qualified individuals from Montgomery County Government who are selected for their experiences in the Community Grant Program’s subject area, grants administration or project management. The panel members will review and score applicant proposals on a 100-point scale based on the criteria and priorities established in the Community Grant Program, with cumulative ranking informing the final awards.

The Community Grants Program is intentionally very flexible to allow nonprofits to identify their own needs and new programming best suited to support their communities. The full program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the online application, the recording of an online Information session, links to additional training events and other resources are available on the Montgomery County Office of Grants Management – Grant Application Platform.

• For more information on the FY24 Community Grants Program, click here.
• To download the full FY24 Community Grants Program NOFO, click here.
• To view a recording of an online information session for the FY24 Community Grants Program, click here.

County Council Enacts Bill to Establish Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Commission

County Council Enacts Bill to Establish Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Commission

The Montgomery County Council this week enacted legislation to establish an Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Commission. The legislation is supported by the full Council, County Executive Marc Elrich and the County’s Commission on People with Disabilities. The purpose of this bill is to better coordinate services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.

“Addressing the complex system navigation needs, gaps in services and State and County challenges impacts more than 40,000 people of all ages who have an intellectual and developmental disability in our County,” said Councilmember Gabe Albornoz, chair of the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee. “An independent commission that will promote communication with families, advocates and providers is critical.”

County Executive Elrich has been a strong supporter of the bill.

“I applaud the unanimous vote of the County Council to approve the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Commission,” said County Executive Elrich. “I greatly appreciate the leadership of Councilmember Albornoz and was pleased to work with him on this important legislation. As a parent of an adult foster child with IDD, I know that people in the community with direct experiences can help us. We will begin the task of recruitment for the members of the commission and look forward to the commission beginning the tasks of identifying and advocating for the unique needs of people with IDD and fostering dialogue with families and caregivers,”.

The new IDD Commission will have 24 members, including individuals from the intellectual and developmental disability community, service providers, service agencies and the Commission on People with Disabilities. It will focus on promoting direct communication among families, support staff, private and public organizations and residents about programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The commission also will provide educational programs, identify current gaps in services and provide advice and recommendations on best practices to the County and the County Executive.

County’s First Adaptive Kayaking Pier to be Dedicated on Sunday, May 1, at Riley’s Lock in Poolesville

Montgomery County’s first adaptive kayaking pier will be dedicated at Riley’s Lock in Poolesville with a celebration from 12:30-5 p m. on Sunday, May 1, that will include music, food and free adaptive kayaking lessons. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held from 12:30-2 p.m. to dedicate the accessible pier for individuals with disabilities and the overall achievement for the disability community. 

Riley’s Lock is also known as Lock 24 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which is part of the 184.5 miles long that follows the Potomac River. It was one of 74 locks on the canal and was named after the family that operated the lock. Riley's Lock today is part of Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The site is the only place on the canal that has a lift lock connected to an aqueduct.

Riley’s Lock is located at towpath mile-marker 22.7 and is adjacent to Seneca Creek,

The celebration of the adaptive kayaking pier will include the period from 2-5 p.m. that Team River Runner operates weekly. Team River Runner is a kayaking organization that welcomes veterans with any disability, family members of those veterans and anyone else looking to help support veterans. Free adaptive kayaking equipment and lessons will be available to the disability community on this special occasion. Advance registration is required to participate. Click here to register. 

Experienced kayakers have an opportunity to compete in the 2022 Seneca Showdown  race on from 9 a.m.-noon on May 1. From the event’s proceeds, 50 percent will go to Team River Runner. Click here to register for the Seneca Showdown Race.

More information about the events can be obtained by emailing Angela Fox at accessibilityishome@gmail.com.

Montgomery County and Main Street Connect Offer Innovative Initiative to Help Close Digital Divide for Low-Income and Special Needs Residents of Main Street Apartments in Rockville

Montgomery County and nonprofit Main Street Connect have announced a joint initiative that will offer low-income and special needs residents of the newly opened Main Street Apartments in Rockville access to free, high-speed home internet service.

Founded in 2017 by Jillian and Scott Copeland, Main Street Connect was inspired by the Copelands’ son, Nicolas, who has developmental disabilities. Like many parents in similar situations, the Copelands’ search for long-term housing for Nicolas produced very few options in which he could thrive. Hoping to alleviate similar situations for other families, the Copelands started Main Street Connect with a mission to create affordable and inclusive housing that offers residents—of all abilities—the opportunity for dynamic opportunities and community engagement.

The project brings together Montgomery County and Main Street Connect with technology leaders Plume and Positron Access Solutions. Montgomery County will be providing symmetrical speeds of 50 Mbps+ (upload and download), as well as internet bandwidth to support Wi-Fi service in all public areas in the building. Plume, a leading smart home experience company, will provide an enhanced home Wi-Fi offering to residents free of charge. That service includes strong, consistent Wi-Fi coverage, online security, parental and access controls and 24/7 customer service. Positron, a leading enabler of high-speed internet services, is providing the broadband access equipment necessary for residents to connect to Montgomery County’s free internet.

The pilot project, which will impact 60 to 70 units in the building, aims to address digital equity within the Main Street Apartments community. Digital equity means everyone—no matter their socioeconomic background—has equal access to the technology necessary to participate in all aspects of society. For low-income households especially, access to the internet can be a burden when added to the costs of rent, childcare, food and other necessary expenses.

Montgomery County’s Department of Technology Services is looking to learn from the pilot project and develop additional opportunities to expand the availability of no-cost/low cost internet solutions soon.

Read more about this progressive enterprise in the press release.

Respect the Space Disability Parking Campaign Begins New Initiative

This month marks the 26th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and is the beginning of a new phase of the County’s “Respect the Space” disability parking campaign.

A new campaign goal is to ensure that signage for all disability parking spaces in Montgomery County complies with Maryland’s Accessibility Code adopted under the Public Safety Code. A beginning step is to ensure that parking lot managers know their legal obligations. All parking lot managers are encouraged to review the legal standards, and take necessary action to make their parking lot signs compliant.

• Read press release about the Respect the Space new initiative.
• Learn more about the legal signage requirements.

The A’s and B’s of Ballot Questions

Over the years, public and private employers have stated that they are committed to the employment of people with disabilities.

However, the data clearly demonstrates that disabled veterans and persons with disabilities have an extremely high unemployment rate. In fact, in Montgomery County  46% of individuals with disabilities, ages 18-64, are unemployed or not in the labor force.

A vote for Question A on the November ballot will amend the County Charter to allow County Government more flexibility to recruit and select qualified individuals with severe physical or mental disabilities for County jobs.

Learn more about Question A and how it can broaden job opportunities for disabled veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Question B is all about who YOU think should run the County Police department -- the Police Chief or Police Union Leaders?

Under “effects bargaining,” Union leaders have the power to require our Police Chief Tom Manger to bargain everything about running his department with Police Union leaders. That includes the distribution of critical police equipment, the redeployment of officers to crime hot spots, and even the revised policy on “Use of Force” – important to protecting the public and officers alike – which was sent to the Police Union for their “approval” on June 27, 2008—four years ago.

No other Police Union in the entire State has “effects bargaining”. Neither does any other County union have it in their contract.

That’s why the Montgomery County Council unanimously voted to repeal effects bargaining,” a repeal signed into law by the County Executive.

The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee voted overwhelmingly – by about 90 percent – to urge a vote FOR Question B. County Republicans voted unanimously to endorse FOR Question B.

A “FOR” vote on Question B lets the Police Chief run the department in the most efficient and productive way and still protects the full range of collective bargaining enjoyed by all other Police unions across the State and all other County unions.

An “AGAINST” vote preserves Union leaders’ power over the ability of the Police Chief to run the Police Department, impairing the effective and productive running of the Police Department in its mission to protect County residents' lives and property as well as  police officers themselves.

Vote FOR Question B.

• Click here to see Chief Manger talk about Question B on “Montgomery County Police Beat.”
• Click here to get more information in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and French.
• Click here to read the Washington Post editorial urging a FOR Question B vote “Unshackling Montgomery’s Police: County Voters have a chance to end union interference.”
• Hear the Public Service Announcement in Spanish.  
• For more information, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/QuestionB

HERE’S THE LIST THAT POLICE UNION LEADERS

DON’T WANT YOU TO SEE…

Montgomery County Police Policies Still Awaiting “Approval”

by Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Leaders

Police Union leaders have held up the finalization of the following 15 police procedural directives by demanding the right to bargain their “effects.”  The five issues marked with a star (*) had already been bargained and agreed to under the Union’s collective bargaining agreement - but the Union demanded to bargain them again under effects bargaining, thus continuing to delay their going into effect.

Directive   Date Sent to FOP

Use of Force (131) 06/27/08
Guides officers in their use of deadly force and non-deadly force. This includes but is not limited to the application of force through the use of firearms, tasers, and other protective instruments. This policy also covers the reporting process for officers to articulate the facts and circumstances surrounding their use of force.

Equipment Turn-In (390) 10/07/08
Details the procedures to be followed when turning in police-issued equipment.

*Firearms and Accessories (305) 10/18/08
Describes the type of authorized firearms and associated accessories (holsters, attached lights, etc…) that can be used by an officer while on-duty or off-duty.

*Clothing Allowance (414) 11/11/08
Provides guidelines for a clothing allowance to sworn officers whose job responsibilities do not primarily require the use of the standard-issue police uniform and the process by which these officers are paid.

*Restricted duty (380) 7/24/09
Defines what will occur when an officer is temporarily incapacitated and is not able to fully perform all duties or meet all responsibilities required of a sworn police officer.

Raids (711) 10/20/09
Details the procedures whenever it is necessary for officers to conduct search and seizure operations typically in the form of a search warrant service, with focus on the rights, safety, and welfare of both the citizens and the officers involved.

Search Warrants (712) 10/20/09
Defines the procedures to be followed when applying for and serving search warrants.

Interpreters and Language Services (1121) 09/08/09
Establishes that it is the policy of the department to furnish appropriate auxiliary
aids and services whenever necessary to ensure effective communication with
individuals with hearing impairments.

*Mobil Video Systems (425) 01/13/10
Delineates the arbitrated award whereby the Department can install, review and use mobile video systems in officers’ police cruisers. This allows for better evidence in court, accountability in the police force, and safety for the officer on the street.

Field Training and Evaluation (343) 02/01/10
Defines the policy of the department to provide each probationary officer with field training under the guidance, direction, and evaluation of experienced officers and supervisors.

High Risk Incidents (950) 06/16/10
Establishes the policy to resolve potentially life-threatening incidents through the use of departmental resources to include patrol officers, the SWAT team, and hostage negotiators. High risk incidents include: hostage situations, any life-threatening situation, barricades and high risk arrest/execution of a search warrant.

ECC Tapes 10/17/11
This policy sets forth the process to obtain ECC communication tapes, both 911 calls and dispatch transmissions.

SRO’s 10/17/11
Defines the duties and responsibilities of sworn officers working in the school system as School Resource Officers (SROS’s).

*Employee Personal Information  5/18/12
Lists what personal information is kept by the department and what types of personal information can be released publicly including the reasons for its release.

Police Chief Tom Manger should be able to run the Police Department without Union leaders having the right to make him bargain every management decision. This costs County taxpayers money. It diminishes accountability. It inhibits efficiency and the introduction of new technology. Plainly put, it makes no sense.

That’s why the County Council unanimously repealed the law that gave Union leaders this power. It’s why the County Executive signed that repeal into law. And that’s why both the County Democratic Party and the County Republican Party are urging a vote FOR Question B.

FOR Question B means a more productive and efficient Police department to protect our families, our homes, and businesses, while still retaining the right of police officers to bargain over wages, hours, benefits, working conditions, and safety.

FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

FOR QUESTION B

For more information, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/QuestionB.

Project Search: Opportunities in County Government for Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

County Executive Ike Leggett recently welcomed 12 young adult interns to a one-year transition program designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are either in the last year of high school or recent graduates.

Project Search Montgomery is a key component of Leggett’s commitment to increasing opportunities for persons with significant disabilities to work in Montgomery County government.  The County is collaborating with the Rockville-based Ivymount School and SEEC, an adult rehabilitation provider, in launching the program.

The program targets individuals whose main goal is competitive employment and who will benefit from an extensive period of training, long-term job coaching and continuous feedback from teachers, job coaches and employers.  The interns will work in the Departments of Finance, General Services, Permitting Services, Public Libraries, Recreation and Transportation, along with the Office of the County Executive and the Office of Human Resources.

Learn more about Project Search.

Still have questions? Call Gail Nachman at 240-777-2537 or Steve Banks at 301-318-4948.