October 28, 2021

Halloween Special Events Set for This Weekend from Montgomery Parks   


Fall is filled with special events from Montgomery Parks. The wide range of events will include riding on the Halloween Eye Spy Trains Spooktacular activities at the Halloween 5K Haunted Hustle or Nightmare on Elm Street.    

The fall special events calendar for Montgomery Parks includes:   
  • Halloween Eye Spy Trains. Weekends in October at Cabin John and Wheaton regional parks. Come dressed in costume or just as you are and take a ride on miniature trains at Cabin John Regional Park and Wheaton Regional Park. Each rider can activate an online Halloween-themed “Eye Spy Train Card” by scanning a QR code at the station. Advanced tickets are encouraged and can be purchased online at Active Montgomery.     
  • Nightmare on Elm Street. Saturday, Oct. 30. Elm Street Urban Park, Bethesda. Free. Dress in costume and have some spooky fun at Elm Street Urban Park. There will be a costume parade, scavenger hunt and lawn games.  Halloween music, decorations and photo ops will provide the holiday spirit. Food from O’Boy Pizza and Ice Cream will be available to purchase. No registration required.    
Visit MontgomeryParks.org for a complete list of special events and programming.      

‘Be Seen on Halloween’ Safety Tips Will Be Emphasized This Weekend, Including at Several Family Friendly Halloween Events

Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) wants to ensure that trick or treaters have a safe and fun Halloween, particularly since it will be dark during many of the festivities.

“This statistic should scare you—the National Safety Council tells us that children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “It is so important that families take extra precautions to ‘be seen on Halloween.’ We hope that all Montgomery County families have a fun and safe Halloween this year.”

The following tips can help keep trick or treaters safe:
  • Drivers should slow down and be alert! Kids are excited on Halloween and may dart into the street. Reduce your speed and turn on headlights early in the day to spot kids from further away.
  • Drivers and Trick or treaters should put electronic devices down and keep heads up and use caution on our streets and sidewalks.
  • Trick or treaters should only cross the street at corners or crosswalks. Always look left, right, and left again when crossing, and keep looking as you cross. Walk, don’t run, across the street.
  • Trick or treaters should make themselves more easily seen by carrying glow sticks or flashlights, use reflective tape or stickers on costumes and bags, and wear light colors.
  • Review the County’s COVID-19 health guidance as it relates to Halloween.
“With the return to a more traditional Halloween this year, we want to remind residents that drivers need to slow down, avoid distraction and impairment, and use extra caution. Kids need to be visible, aware of traffic, and careful when walking on our streets,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “It is so important that we all take the necessary care to keep each other safe.”

The MCDOT Safe Routes to School program will be participating at several family friendly events, giving out safety prizes and promoting pedestrian safety. The program will be participating in events at:
For ongoing updates, follow @MCDOTNow on Twitter, visit the department website at montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot and subscribe to MCDOT’s ‘Go Montgomery!’ newsletter.

‘HalloWheaton’ on Marian Fryer Plaza in Downtown Wheaton Will Feature Many Free Fun Events on Saturday, Oct. 30


‘HalloWheaton’ a free, fun for all ages event, will take place at the new Marian Fryer Town Plaza in Downtown Wheaton from noon-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30.

Marian Fryer Plaza is located at 2424 Reedie Drive at the Wheaton Triangle Business District. Lot and garage parking is available across the street from the plaza on Grandview Avenue.

All attendees are encouraged to wear costumes.

Activities at HalloWheaton will include pumpkin and mask painting, S’mores roasting and caramel apples, face painting, balloon sculptures, caricature drawing, lawns games, hot chocolate and cider. All activities, food and soft drinks are free while supplies last.

A DJ will provide music throughout HalloWheaton.

The event will include a beer and wine garden, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to benefit Mid-County United Ministries (MUM), a food pantry in downtown Wheaton.

More information can be obtained at https://www.wheatonmd.org/.

Montgomery County’s Alcohol Beverage Services Opens New Flagship Store in Potomac


Montgomery County’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) has opened a new retail concept and flagship store, Oak Barrel & Vine, in the Cabin John Village Shopping Center in Potomac. The store had its grand opening on Oct. 27.

The Cabin John Village Shopping Center is located at 7913 Tuckerman Lane in Potomac (between the Giant and Starbucks retail stores). The Oak Barrel & Vine store is open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon-5 p.m. on Sundays.

The store features more than 2,000 handpicked items with a focus on spirits and locally produced products. It has a dedicated tasting area and event space that will be used to drive business for Maryland Made distilleries, wineries and breweries.

“We are excited to share Oak Barrel & Vine with the entire Montgomery County community and look forward to welcoming shoppers to our flagship store,” said ABS Director Kathie Durbin. “This is our store of the future and the stores we open over the next few years will follow this model, not only in terms of aesthetics and selection but in terms of the innovative shopping experience offered.”

As part of its opening celebration, the Oak Barrel & Vine story has some rare and allocated items available for purchase. Each specific highly allocated item is limited to one bottle per customer and no more than two highly allocated bottles can be purchased per customer, per day.

For a full list of store locations and hours, visit the ABS website here.

ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine, and spirits for Montgomery County and operates 26 retail stores throughout the County. In addition, ABS manages alcohol licensing, enforcement and education for more than 1,000 businesses. Generating more than $30 million in net income annually, its profits are used to pay down County debt with a large portion deposited in the general fund to pay for resident services that would otherwise be funded by County tax dollars.

Commission on Veterans Affairs Seeking Additions to Its Tribute to County Veterans as Veterans Day Approaches on Nov. 11


Montgomery County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs is paying tribute to County veterans through a virtual “Tribute to Montgomery County Veterans” website. As Veterans Day approaches on Thursday, Nov. 11, the commission wants to add tributes to the site.

The website is open to all residents who have served in military service. In addition, there will be Montgomery County veterans’ tributes during the month of November in the display cases at the Rockville Memorial Library and the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza.

Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day, which is celebrated at the end of May, honors military personnel who died in service, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. While those who died are also remembered on Veterans Day, the upcoming holiday is set aside to honor all of those who served honorably in the military—in wartime or peacetime. Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans and acknowledge their contributions to national security.

The commission is seeking to expand the Tribute to Montgomery County Veterans website by adding information on more veterans whose information is supplied either by the veterans themselves, by family members or by friends.

The tribute to veterans website can be found at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/veteransday. From this site, there is a link to the commission’s Fallen Heroes page at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/fallenheroes.

A veteran can share their story, or someone can share the story of a friend or family member, by filling out the Commission’s Google form or filling out its PDF form. Questions can be directed to Carly.Clem@montgomerycountymd.gov or Betsy.Luecking@montgomerycountymd.gov.

The following information is needed on the forms:
  • Servicemember or veteran's name.
  • Name of person submitting information and relationship to the individual.
  • Branch of service and rank.
  • Years of service.
  • Era served (WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Global War on Terror or peacetime/other).
  • Brief narrative of their service.
  • Connection to Montgomery County (where the individual currently lives, grew up, attended high school or college/university, etc.).
  • Photos (preferably one during their service and one present day).
By sending an e-mail to be included, the sender agrees to have the information shared on the County's website and in the Commission on Veterans Affairs social media.

To learn more about the Montgomery Commission on Veterans Affairs, go to https://tinyurl.com/yxyfdcoc.

Corridor Advisory Committee Seeks Feedback on Veirs Mill Road Bus Rapid Transit/Flash Bus, System Expansion in Virtual Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 10


Montgomery County’s Corridor Advisory Committee (CAC) will hold a virtual meeting from 6:30-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10, to provide an update and seek feedback on the future Veirs Mill Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)/Flash Bus project.

During the meeting organized by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), residents will be asked for their views on station access and design. MCDOT recently completed preliminary engineering and is preparing to begin the final design. All CAC meetings are open to the public.

The Veirs Mill Road BRT will be a seven-mile, limited-stop, branded bus service with 12 stations planned along Veirs Mill Road. The line will be part of the County’s Flash Bus service. Flash already is operating on Route 29. Stations are designed to make boarding the buses easier, accelerate travel time and increase transit equity.



BRT can improve passenger transit mobility by connecting riders to urban areas and employment centers. The Veirs Mill Road Corridor has long been considered for upgraded transit, as it accommodates some of the highest transit ridership in Montgomery County.

BRT is a modern, flexible, affordable, premium form of transportation that combines features of a bus and a light rail system. BRT features include:
  • Frequent, reliable service.
  • Bus lanes at intersections that allow buses to keep moving, known as queue jump lanes.
  • Dedicated bus lanes in some parts of the corridor, reducing traffic delays.
  • Priority green light signaling, allowing for shorter travel times.
  • Near-level boarding at multiple doors, facilitating quick and efficient boarding and exiting.
  • Comfortable stations providing weather protection, pre-payment stations and real-time transit information via message boards.
  • Community-friendly design with enhanced pedestrian walkways and bike facilities.
“Corridor Advisory Committees are an integral part of our Bus Rapid Transit/Flash planning for US 29, MD 355 and Veirs Mill Road. These Committees are a way for us to give project updates and get feedback from residents and businesses,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “We recently celebrated the US 29 Flash’s one-year anniversary. Despite the pandemic, we had about 500,000 riders. BRT systems have a drastic impact on the neighborhoods they serve and gathering feedback from the community helps us best shape our service.”

To register to attend the virtual CAC meeting, click here. To learn more about Flash, click here.

For questions on the virtual CAC meeting, please contact Project Manager Michael Mitchell at Michael.Mitchell@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Free Online Workshops Available in November for Job Seekers and Entrepreneurs


Free online workshops and one-on-one sessions geared toward assisting job seekers and entrepreneurs are available throughout November. Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) is sponsoring the programs.

An internet connection and a device (such as a smartphone, tablet or computer) are required for participation.
  • Throughout November—Every Monday, 9:30-11:30 a.m. H.I.R.E. (Helping Individuals Reach Employment) Sessions. Sign up to meet virtually/confidentially one-on-one with a career counselor for advice and assistance with your job search. Register for each one:
  • Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2-3 p.m. Job Searching Tips and Resources for Veterans. Learn about key MCPL resources for job-seeking veterans, including an introduction to newly launched Brainfuse-VetNow. VetNow is an online tool that assists veterans with navigating the VA system, transitioning to civilian employment and excelling in academics. The session will also feature the Maryland Department of Labor and its services to assist veterans seeking employment. Register: https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/5717157
  • Monday Nov. 15: 1-3 p.m. Job Search Strategies (in a Pandemic). Learn about best practices for conducting a job search in the current (pandemic) job market. Register: https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/5727336
  • Tuesday/Thursday, Nov. 16 and 18, 5:45-7:45 p.m. LinkedIn Boot Camp (Part I / Part II). This popular two-session/two-day workshop focuses on both the mechanics and strategy of using LinkedIn as a tool to conduct a successful job search. Register: https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/5136279
  • Tuesday, Nov. 16: 10-11:30 a.m. Introduction to Entrepreneurship. Workshop will cover the fundamentals of building a business and help determine if a person is ready to become a small business owner. Presented in partnership with the Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC). Register: https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/5727617
  • Wednesday, Nov. 17, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. How to Apply for Jobs with Montgomery County Government. Find out what is needed to apply for jobs with Montgomery County Government. Register: https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/5193362
  • Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1-3 p.m. How to Prepare for your Virtual Job Interview. Learn how to differentiate yourself from other candidates, be Zoom ready, package your experience, tell your story, be ready for challenging questions and feel more confident in your next interview. Register: https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/5727305

Building Owners Wanting Montgomery County LEED Certification Tax Credit Must Submit ‘Intent to Apply Application’ by Jan. 1


Building owners interested in pursuing Montgomery County’s property tax credit for LEED certified commercial and multifamily buildings are reminded by the County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Finance that they must submit applications for the credit, or notify the County of their intent to apply, by Jan. 1.

In September 2020, the County established a new Energy-Efficient Buildings property tax credit to improve the energy efficiency of existing and newly constructed buildings, and recently passed amendments to better implement the incentive program.

The innovative Energy-Efficient Buildings property tax credit program aligns with the County’s ambitious climate goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 by shifting the primary focus of incentives from building certifications alone to demonstrated energy improvements. The two-tier incentive program design is the first of its kind in the nation.

As part of the establishment of the new Energy-Efficient Buildings property tax credit, the current property tax credit for energy and environmental design awarded to commercial and multifamily properties for earning qualified LEED certifications will be retired. The process, as recommended by stakeholders, ensures that building owners that made business decisions based on the existence of this incentive will be able to earn the credit in a reasonable amount of time.

Key dates for building owners to know about the sunsetting LEED certification tax credit:
  • Building owners pursuing property tax credit for energy and environmental design for an eligible LEED-certified commercial or multifamily building must either submit a completed application with their LEED Scorecard, or submit an Intent to Apply Application form, by Jan. 1, 2022.
  • After Jan. 1, only buildings that appear on the Intent to Apply list will be eligible to receive the sunsetting property tax credit for energy and environmental design.
  • Eligible buildings pursuing a LEED-Existing Buildings credit will need to submit completed applications with the LEED Scorecard no later than Jan. 1, 2023.
  • Eligible buildings pursuing a LEED-Core and Shell or LEED-New Construction credit will need to submit their completed application with the LEED Scorecard no later than Jan. 1, 2024.
  • After Jan. 1, 2024, commercial or multifamily owners seeking a tax credit for a high-performance building will be directed to the new Energy-Efficient Buildings property tax credit.
Offering energy-efficiency incentives to building owners is a key component of the County’s Climate Action Plan that is focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the commercial and multifamily built environment. The property tax program also allows building owners to prepare early for pending Building Energy Performance Standards and more stringent building code requirements, such as the recently adopted 2018 International Green Construction Code.

More information about the new property tax credit and application forms will be released in the coming months.

Important information and links to applications:
For more information, contact energy@montgomerycountymd.gov or sign up for DEP’s Commercial Energy News email list for updates on the new Energy-Efficient Buildings property tax credit.

Questions about submitting property tax credit applications can be directed to the County’s Division of Treasury in the Department of Finance at 240-777-0311.

October 21, 2021

Message from the County Executive    


Dear Friends,

As we begin to celebrate Halloween and head into the fall holidays, this is always a joyous time for children. One of the more difficult impacts of the pandemic has been the losses our children have experienced in education, socialization, and emotional growth, and we don’t know whether there will be long-term effects. However, over the past 20 months, parents, siblings, relatives, teachers, guardians, and community groups have done everything in their power, using technology and creativity to make the best of this bad situation for our children.

We have a lot to be thankful for now that the vaccine for kids is on the horizon, our students have returned to their classrooms, and we reside in one of the safest jurisdictions in this nation in terms of our vaccination rate and our COVID case rates. Just this week, the Baltimore Sun front page headline was that we reached 99.9 percent of the eligible population vaccinated. I was also interviewed on the BBC World News about this accomplishment. This is an incredible feat that we should celebrate as a community.




But we all know that this fight against the pandemic is not over. Even if you are vaccinated, you could still get sick and even die – especially if you have underlying conditions.  And of course, children under 12 are not yet able to be vaccinated.  We must continue our COVID safe habits – wearing masks indoors, socially distancing when we can, washing our hands, getting our flu shots, and never giving up on trying to convince anyone who is vaccine hesitant that it is safe, effective, and can save lives.

Don’t let Halloween celebrations bring you tricks!

If you are celebrating Halloween or other festivities, I encourage you to get COVID tested before and after any events or gatherings, whether you are vaccinated or not. Please don’t assume that just because we are vaccinated, we are immune to catching COVID (although the breakthrough cases are fewer and generally less severe – an important benefit of vaccination). Testing is available all around the County at pharmacies, grocery stores and medical providers. The County continues our own robust testing programs, testing approximately 5,000 people per week as a part of our efforts to keep infections down in communities.

Our school testing program is reducing quarantine numbers

Also related to testing, we have been working with the Montgomery County Public Schools to improve their testing system,  providing staff, rapid tests and resources to address the situation.  Our goal is to keep as many students as possible in school learning and reduce the numbers out on quarantine. The good news is that our approach has worked and we have successfully stood up a testing program that is reducing the number of quarantined students.  

We have gone from 1,700-1,800 students quarantined in our first couple of weeks to currently 356. We are also finalizing our test-to-stay program which should further reduce the number of students quarantined. You can follow our progress on MCPS’s recently launched dashboard. This has been an excellent team effort between MCPS and our department of Health and Human Services and Covid response teams. 

The learning loss that we saw last year highlights the importance of making sure our students are in the schools and classrooms as much as possible. As the school year continues, we will surely experience more challenges and even potential setbacks, but through partnership, collaboration, and communication we continue to ensure all our kids are experiencing in-class learning as much as possible.

Redistricting Matters!

This week, the Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission appointed by the Governor released its redistricting maps for state and Congressional districts.

I’ve heard concern from community residents about these new districts, and I share their concern that these maps would divide communities, dilute minority representation, and weaken our position in Annapolis. These maps look like gerrymandering to me. It doesn’t surprise me, and shouldn’t surprise any of us. The map was created by the commission handpicked by Governor Hogan to come up with redistricting maps for state and Congressional districts[ clearly, they are not fair to Montgomery County. These maps would divide communities, dilute minority representation, and weaken our position in Annapolis.  

However, this process is not finished. The General Assembly will review the maps and I'm confident that the General Assembly will pass maps that better reflect our communities. I urge you to review these proposed maps and testify before the Legislative Redistricting Advisory Committee hearing on Nov. 5 at The Universities at Shady Grove and ask them to reject this politically partisan map that shows disdain for our county. For more information about the upcoming public hearing, and to sign up to speak go to: https://planning.maryland.gov/Redistricting/Pages/default.aspx

Let’s keep climate action moving!

I want to remind President Biden and Congressional Democrats that the Oct. 31st deadline for passing the spending package contains funds to dramatically cut carbon emissions that are warming the planet and fueling climate disasters. These represent a historic set of policies that Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said would serve as “a model for the world.” Congress needs to pass this bill before the U.N. Climate Talks in Scotland in two weeks or we risk losing our standing that allows us to hold other countries equally accountable. 

We are doing our part in Montgomery County with a very aggressive Climate Action Plans to reduce all of our carbon emissions by 2035. However, inaction on a global, national or even local level will hurt efforts on an issue that we are already years, if not decades, behind on seriously addressing. I sent legislation to our County Council back in April regarding Building Energy Performance Standards, or BEPS (Bill 16-21), that is key to our carbon emission reduction goals. I am very pleased that the Council will begin to review this legislation next Thursday, Oct. 28 at 9:30 a.m. I continue to encourage the Council as well as all residents who want to address climate change to act and be heard.

Recognizing the work of our nonprofit partners

As parts of our life returning to normal in different ways, we must not forget the tens of thousands of our neighbors throughout our County who are ill, hurting financially, ailing with mental health issues due to stress, or are caretaking for an ill family member. Over the next two months, I will travel throughout the County visiting our nonprofit and community organizations who are on the frontlines of helping those facing challenges. Whether it is volunteering your time or donating money or resources, so many of you are giving back to the community through our nonprofits and I thank them and you for all your efforts.

We also want to ensure the safety of our nonprofit organizations as well. I want to remind nonprofit organizations that they have until 5 p.m. this coming Monday, Oct. 25, to submit their applications for the Nonprofit Security Grants. We approved $700,000 to be used for nonprofit organizations experiencing hate crimes or at significant risk of becoming targets of hate crimes. These grants are available to augment costs for security personnel or other security planning measures for nonprofit organizations located in our County. Learn more about this grant at https://buff.ly/3psVgpZ

Connecting with and supporting our small businesses

One recent example of the deadly impacts of climate change was the flooding that occurred last month following the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida. We are very appreciative of the Small Business Association’s  offer of low interest disaster loans for impacted residents and businesses. On our end, the County government and our partners will make sure all who our eligible are aware of this opportunity to help them recover and rebuild from damage incurred.

Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ and should apply under SBA declaration #17229, not for the COVID-19 incident.

Support small businesses!

I was pleased to speak at the Montgomery County Small Business Association Networking event this week – a wonderful organization that is a great advocate for our county businesses. Small businesses are responsible for two-thirds of our businesses, and are the heart of our growing economy.  And I am very proud of our record of increasing county procurement dollars for local, small, minority and women-owned county businesses. In fact, we had a record-breaking year in fiscal year 2021 in the Minority, Female and Disabled Persons owned (MFD) businesses; the spending increased from 20 percent to almost 27 percent.  We also increased our spending on local businesses by $20 million last year. 

My goal is to find, help, and grow more small businesses in Montgomery County.  You can find links to workshops on small business loan applications, legal requirements for small businesses, navigating the marketplace and more here.

You can still learn about the budget

This week, we concluded our series of hybrid regional budget forums in our five regional service center communities. These budget forums are important events for us to update the public on our upcoming FY23 budget process and outlook as well provide opportunities for the public to give us input and feedback. I want to thank all our residents who attended, asked questions, and brought up important issues and priorities. We are planning two more upcoming budget forums, one for our Spanish Speaking residents and another at Leisure World for our senior population. If you missed any of these budget forums you can re-watch them on our website and on our social media platforms.

Outstanding leaders!

Like many around Maryland, I was surprised to read that this week that Maryland Treasurer Nancy Kopp announced her retirement and Attorney General Brian Frosh announced he was not going to run for another term. It will be hard to imagine Maryland without them in service, but their legacies will live onin the years ahead.

For over five decades, Nancy Kopp has served the State of Maryland and Montgomery County with grace and honesty while remaining true to her convictions and always standing up to powerful special interests on behalf of the voiceless. She has been not only a trailblazing pioneer for women throughout Maryland, but an innovator as both a legislator and treasurer. Her leadership helped our State to become one of the best in our nation. I am thankful for her counsel and friendship and wish her all the best during her well-deserved retirement.

I also want to thank Brian Frosh for his many decades of service to the people of Montgomery County and Maryland. Brian Frosh has been an outstanding Attorney General and we have all benefited from his wisdom, character, and leadership. We were fortunate that Brian was willing to be a national leader in the effort to fight back against the unconstitutional actions of the Trump Administration. While most people know Brian in his role as Maryland’s Attorney General, many people may not know he was a central leader in the effort to combat climate change and to protect our environment during his many years of distinguished service in the Maryland General Assembly representing Bethesda. Our State, our environment and our community are better for Brian’s commitment to justice and equality.

As always, with appreciation for all of you,

 




Marc Elrich
County Executive

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Businesses and Residents Affected by Remnants of Tropical Storm Ida


Maryland businesses and residents affected by the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida on Aug. 31 through Sept. 4 can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced this week. Montgomery County businesses are among those identified for potential assistance.

“Montgomery County encountered deadly consequences last month following rain and flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We are very appreciative of the Small Business Association to offer low-interest disaster loans to impacted residents and businesses. On our end, the County government and our partners will make sure all who our applicable are aware of this opportunity to help them recover and rebuild from damage incurred.”

To assist businesses and residents affected by the disaster, the SBA will open Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs). One loan outreach center will be opened at the Twinbrook Library, located at 202 Meadow Hall Dr. in Rockville. The center will be open from Oct. 25-Nov. 5. The hours of operation will be:
  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Thursday: Noon-8 p.m.
  • Saturday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Montgomery County has identified approximately 25 individual residences and/or businesses that sustained damage from the remnants of Tropical Storm IDA on Sept. 1.

Customer service representatives will be available at the DLOCs to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help individuals complete their applications.

“Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.

Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.

Loans could be available for the following:
  • Business Physical Disaster Loans: Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, nonprofit organizations, such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private, nonprofit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. The loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.
  • Home Disaster Loans: Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.
Applicants can apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s and should apply under SBA declaration #17229, not for the COVID-19 incident.

Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by emailing mailto:DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Dec. 17. The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 18.