Montgomery County, MD - Office of Public Information - Press Releases

County Officials Honor Small Businesses with Awards in Eight Unique Categories at the Inaugural Montgomery County Small Business Awards Luncheon

24 May 2013 12:52:00 EST

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett joined today with Montgomery County Department of Economic Development (DED) director Steve Silverman, Montgomery County Council president Nancy Navarro and some 300 local business owners and representatives at the Inaugural Montgomery County Small Business Awards luncheon.

The event, initiated and presented by DED, was organized to honor the important contributions made by the County’s 33,000-plus small businesses and to recognize winners in eight distinct award categories. Winners at today’s event were:

Bioscience Company of the Year – Creatv MicroTech, Inc.
Information Technology Company of the Year – WeddingWire
Innovation Network Company of the Year – SOL VISTA Consulting, LLC
Small Business of the Year (1-10 Employees) – SPAGnVola
Small Business of the Year (11-50 Employee ...more

Montgomery County Recognizes Excellence in Recycling Achievement During Recycling Awareness Week 2013

23 May 2013 13:36:00 EST

As part of its annual Recycling Awareness Week activities, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Solid Waste Services (DSWS) recognized outstanding achievements in recycling, waste reduction, reuse, buying recycled-content products and educational efforts by local businesses, organizations, multi-family apartment and condominium properties, residents and individuals.

Honorees were announced at the annual Recycling Achievement Recognition Program held at the Silver Spring Civic Building on May 22. The Federal Environmental Executive, Jonathan Powers, who gave the keynote speech, joined County Executive Ike Leggett, Council Vice President Craig Rice and DEP Director Bob Hoyt in presenting awards to the recipients.

Recognition was given for efforts including: recycling more than 70 percent of waste generated; implementing increased recycling and waste reduction activities; and contributing volunteer service to increase overal ...more

County to Host Local “Hackathon” for National Day of Civic Hacking, June 1-2

23 May 2013 10:14:00 EST

Montgomery County will bring together residents, software developers and entrepreneurs for a “hackathon” event on June 1-2 at the Universities of Shady Grove, Building III at 9630 Gudelsky Drive in Rockville. The County’s Hack for Change Hackathon will be part of the first annual National Day of Civic Hacking that is designed to leverage the power of public data with the expertise of residents and entrepreneurs in finding technology solutions for the common good. Other agencies hosting civic hacking events on that date include the White House, NASA, the Census Bureau, HHS, FEMA, the National Archives and departments of Labor and Energy.

The Montgomery County event, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on June 1, will offer County residents a unique opportunity to get involved and improve community life by developing new applications for smart phones and other devices. Government challenges, potential solutions and desired outcomes will be pitched by Count ...more

County’s openMontgomery Program Receives National Technology Award

22 May 2013 15:35:00 EST

The Public Technology Institute (PTI) has honored Montgomery County with a 2012-2013 Technology Solutions award. The openMontgomery program was recognized in the Web, e-Government and Mobile Technology category. Two additional County programs were recognized for Significant Achievement: a Cloud-Based BikeShare Research Tool, and a Mobile IT Service Desk. Montgomery was the only county in the State of Maryland - and the only jurisdiction in the Washington DC metropolitan area - to be recognized with an award by PTI in this year’s technology solutions awards competition.

The openMontgomery website was developed as part of a close collaboration between the County’s Department of Technology Services (DTS), the County Executive’s Office, the Office of Public Information, and the County Council. The goal of the openMontgomery initiative is to make County government even more transparent, responsive, accessible and accountable to its re ...more

IT Vendors Invited to Open House with County Officials to Learn About Contracting Opportunities

22 May 2013 14:59:00 EST

Montgomery County invites Information Technology (IT) vendors to a free open house to explore possible business opportunities with County departments and agencies. The open house will be held June 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Montgomery County Executive Office Building Lobby Level Auditorium, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with contract administrators and decision makers from the following departments and agencies who purchase IT products and services: Technology Services Cable Office, networking and telecommunication, IT professional services and IT commodities; Liquor Control IT team; Transportation IT team; Health and Human Services IT team; General Services IT procurement team and Office of Business Relations and Compliance; Economic Development small business development team; Montgomery College procurement; and Montgomery County Public Schools procurement and IT team.

For more information, contact the Office of Busines ...more

Holiday Schedule for Memorial Day

20 May 2013 12:30:00 EST

Montgomery County government will observe the following holiday schedule for Memorial Day on Monday, May 27:

County Offices – closed

Libraries – closed

County liquor stores – all retail stores open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Recreation – indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities will be open; administrative offices, senior centers and community recreation centers will be closed

Montgomery Parks – for holiday operating schedule on Parks’ facilities, including Brookside Gardens, ice rinks, tennis centers, trains and carousels, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.

Ride On – Sunday schedule

Metrobus – Sunday schedule

Metrorail – Sunday schedule

TRiPS Commuter Stores (Silver Spring and Friendship Heights) – closed

Refuse/recycling pickup – no collection*

Transfer Stati ...more

Progress on Pedestrian Safety Noted at County Stat Review

20 May 2013 08:06:00 EST

An analysis at a May 8 CountyStat review of Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett’s Pedestrian Safety Initiative showed that County efforts to improve pedestrian safety are having a positive effect. In 2012, the most severe collisions resulting in debilitating injury (Level 4) or death (Level 5) decreased by 20 percent and fatalities dropped to an all-time low of 0.6 per 100,000 people. This fatality rate is one of the lowest in the nation according to 2011 national data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The reductions in collisions are most notable in areas around schools improved under the Safe Routes to Schools program, the County’s High Incidence Areas (locations targeted as having the highest density of collisions) and locations where traffic calming measures have been completed.

“In 2007, my Pedestrian Safety Initiative outlined a blueprint for reducing pedestrian collisions in Montgomery County, and I am gr ...more

Leggett Joins Governor at Bill Signing for Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act; O’Malley Hails Leggett’s Role as Consistently Strong Advocate

16 May 2013 10:33:00 EST

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. and Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch at the bill signing for the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013. Leggett has been an outspoken advocate for an increase in transportation funding revenues.

“The Washington region has the dubious distinction of being rated number one in the nation as having the worst traffic congestion and that is why Montgomery County’s number one priority for more than 10 years has been to obtain more transportation funding,” said Leggett. “For six years, I have strongly advocated for an increase in the state’s gasoline tax, which hasn’t risen since 1992 when George Bush Sr. was President. Since then, I have testified at every hearing on this issue and have been relentless in its support.”

“This historic transportation bill allows us to m ...more

County to Test Displaying Ads in Four Parking Garages

16 May 2013 08:47:00 EST

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Division of Parking Management (DPM) will begin a six-month pilot project to test ad-based marketing opportunities in County parking garages. Ads should be posted in the garages by early June. The test will help DPM evaluate business demand for the ads, revenue potential for the County, the types and sizes of displays that are attractive to businesses and ways to ensure that garage signage continues to be clear and visible.

The four test garages are:

• Garage 61, 801 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring;

• Garage 7, 8530 Cameron Street, Silver Spring;

• Garage 57, 4841 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda; and

• Garage 11, 7730 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda.

Montgomery County operates public parking lots, garages and on-street parking meters with about 12,000 parking spaces in four areas of the County: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Wheaton and Montgomery Hills.

Public Invited to Comment on Plan to Improve Accessibility at Recreational Facilities and Parks

15 May 2013 11:08:00 EST

Montgomery County’s Commission on People with Disabilities and the County-Wide Recreation Advisory Board invite residents and community groups to attend a public meeting to help develop a multi-year plan to improve accessibility for people with disabilities at recreational and park facilities throughout the County. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the Executive Office Building, Lobby Level Auditorium, 101 Monroe St., Rockville.

The U.S. Department of Justice issued revised Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations for state and local governments that went into effect in March 2012. Recreational facilities in Montgomery County affected by these regulations include swimming pools, recreation centers, whirlpools, saunas and exercise rooms operated by the Recreation Department, and parks, playgrounds, ball fields, campsites, pi ...more