ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore today announced $10 million for small business and community development grants through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Project Restore 2.0 and Business Boost grant programs. The funding will activate vacant spaces in business corridors, support small businesses with start up or expansion funds, create jobs, and increase local economic activity—all to make Maryland more competitive.

“When storefronts close down, our entire state feels it. Now is the time to work in partnership with the private sector to revitalize our business districts, and that’s what this grant funding is about,” said Gov. Moore. Together, we will continue to make Maryland more competitive by moving in concert with entrepreneurs and small businesses – not in conflict with them.”

Project Restore 2.0 will provide $8 million to designated Main Streets, Arts and Entertainment Districts and other economic development organizations in a designated Sustainable Community. Grants of up to $300,000 per applicant will go to organizations that have identified priority vacant storefronts or buildings in local business districts. Those organizations would then sub-grant the funding to businesses for rental assistance, renovation and equipment to activate those vacant spaces. Businesses that receive sub-granted funds will have until December 2025 to open and be operational.

Business Boost is launching its first round of grant funding with $2 million that will be awarded directly to eligible small business owners in amounts between $20,000 and $50,000. The businesses must be new or expanding and located in designated Sustainable Communities. Preference will be given to businesses that are home-based and seeking their first commercial location, are designated as a Minority Business Enterprise, that are innovative, focused on regional strengths to grow local economies, or leverage partnerships between school districts or other education institutions in Maryland.

“By strengthening the successful Project Restore grants to fill storefronts on Maryland main streets and launching Business Boost, we are building on what we know to be the best way to help grow Maryland communities’ economies: from the center out, empowering locally-owned businesses, and bringing life back to vacant storefronts,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “These grants are just the beginning of the department’s renewed efforts to double down on the hearts of our cities and towns, maximizing the positive impact of our funding to create lovable places and help businesses choose to set up shop in Maryland.”

Applications will open on March 13 for small business owners to apply through Business Boost and for economic development organizations to apply through Project Restore 2.0. For more information on either grant opportunity, go to https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Business/Pages/Small-Business-Grants.aspx.

Since the 1970s, plastic straws and stirrers have reigned supreme. In fact, Americans go through 500 million a day.  However, these plastic straws and stirrers are not recyclable and end up in our oceans, causing pollution and harming wildlife. These straws and stirrers account for about 4 percent of the plastic pollution found in oceans by volume but less than 1 percent by weight, and plastic never decomposes, as it uses UV rays to break down into smaller pieces, never disappearing entirely.

In an attempt to address this environmental issue, the City of Takoma Park decided to ban plastic straws and stirrers. City staff began monitoring compliance with this law commencing January 1, 2020 and shall issue notices for violations occurring between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020. City staff may issue infraction citations for violations commencing July 1, 2020.

This isn’t the first environment-centered product restriction law established by Takoma Park. We have enacted a Plastic Bag Ban, a Polystyrene Ban, and the Safe Grow Law.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely eliminate plastic straws from the City. If retail establishments, other institutions, the City, vendors at City-sponsored events, or persons using City facilities for private events provide non-plastic straws, they shall maintain a reasonable stock of flexible, disposable plastic beverage straws for customers, patrons, or participants for whom straws made of non-plastic materials are unsuitable and who request plastic beverage straws.

Information about the Plastic Straw and Stirrer Ban can be found on the City of Takoma Park website:

• https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/housing-and-community-development/code-enforcement/plastic-straws-and-stirrers-ban/

Read the full Plastic Straw and Stirrer Ban Ordinance:

• https://www.codepublishing.com/MD/TakomaPark/#!/TakomaPark08/TakomaPark0852.html

From the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection

Landscapers in Montgomery County, MD- we want your opinions/experience on using electric leaf blowers! The County has passed a law that will prohibit the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers effective on July 1,2024 and the use of gas-powered leaf blowers effective July 1, 2025.

The following 5-minute survey will gather your perspective on a rebate program to help with the financial burden of making the transition from gas-powered to electric leaf blowers:

• Survey Link (English)
• Survey Link (Spanish)

We value your input. Please complete the above surveys and share these links with others, especially with solo landscapers and small businesses! Your survey will be anonymous.

Apply to become a Chesapeake Conservation & Climate Corps Member with the City!

The City of Takoma Park Public Works Department is proud to announce that it has been approved as a host organization for the 2024-2025 Chesapeake Conservation & Climate Corps Program facilitated by Chesapeake Bay Trust!- Applications due March 7th

Local youth, ages 18-25, are highly encouraged to apply for this exciting opportunity to step foot into a green career! The City will have one open full-time position from August 2024-August 2025 that includes a stipend of $31,200. The Corps member will have the opportunity to work on several cross-disciplinary programs that all align with the City’s long-term trajectory toward the achievement of Maryland’s 2050 emissions reduction target.

Specifically, the Corps Member will support four programmatic work areas hosted within the City of Takoma Park Public Works Department:

• Commercial and Residential Energy Programs
• Tree Takoma
• Environmental Restoration
• Stormwater Management Program

Tasks will be varied in nature and will include in-office work, fieldwork, and participation in partner meetings and community events.

The Corps program is designed to support young adults in refining their professional goals, propelling them forward in their careers, and building the foundation to grow into experts, thought-leaders, and change-makers in their respective fields.

Applications are due March 7th! Click the link to learn more and apply: https://cbtrust.org/chesapeake-climate-corps/apply.

Updated: January 26, 2024
Montgomery County Planning Board 1

Public Hearing Held January 25

Montgomery County Council held a Public Hearing on the Minor Master Plan

• Mayor Searcy’s Testimony  at Montgomery County Council Public Hearing (PDF)

UPDATED: January 25, 2024

The public is invited to provide additional comments on the plan during the County Council’s public hearing on the Minor Master Plan.

Meeting info:

Date: Thursday, January 25, 2024
Time: 7:00 pm

Location:
Takoma Park Middle School
7611 Piney Branch Road
Takoma Park, MD

How to watch Montgomery County Council Public Hearings:

• Televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM) on Xfinity channels 6 and 996, RCN channels 6 and 1056; and FiOS channel 30.
• Also available live via streaming through the Council website, Facebook Live (@MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil or @ConcejodelCondadodeMontgomery), or YouTube (@MoCoCouncilMD).

How to get involved:

• Sign up to testify on the Montgomery County Council website .
• The meeting will also be streamed live on the County Council’s YouTube page.
• The agenda will be available here.
• Provide written, audio, or video testimony and send it to the County Council at 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850 or submit it electronically.

Note: If the facility is closed due to inclement weather, the hearing will be held on Thursday, 2/1/2024, at Takoma Park Middle School.

UPDATED: December 18, 2023

Montgomery County Planning Board voted to approve the Takoma Park Minor Master Plan Amendment Planning Board Draft on December 14!

Thank you to Takoma Park residents, property owners, businesses, elected leaders, and other stakeholders for helping Montgomery Planning and the City of Takoma Park develop the draft plan. It sets the stage for a reimagined, reconnected, and resilient section of the city from the Takoma Park Community Center east to Washington Adventist University and the former Washington Adventist Hospital site.

Here’s the red-lined version of the plan’s Public Hearing Draft. The final Planning Board-approved plan will be posted soon.

The public is invited to provide additional comments on the plan during the County Council’s public hearing scheduled for Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 7 p.m. at Takoma Park Middle School (7611 Piney Branch Road, Takoma Park, MD 20912). Sign up to testify.

UPDATED: December 15

On December 13, the City Council passed Resolution 2023-38, supporting the adoption and transmittal of the Planning Board Draft to the Montgomery County Council of the Minor Master Plan Amendment with a 6-1 vote.

The resolution included conditions that address the development scale on the Washington Adventist Hospital and University campuses, housing style diversity, school limitations at Piney Branch Elementary School, recommendations related to changes to the City’s rent stabilization policy, and the inclusion of a housing resource list. 

On December 14, the Montgomery Planning Board held Worksession #6 on the Minor Master Plan. The Board discussed each point in the City’s resolution, making amendments and decisions as they worked through the documents. At the end of the discussion, the Planning Board took two votes:

•  Vote to approve the Public Hearing Draft as the Planning Board draft and transmit it to the County Council and Executive. Passed 5-0.
• Approve listing the following properties to the Locational Atlas and Index of Historic Properties: Heffner Park Community Center (42 Oswego Avenue); Krestview (7625 Carroll Avenue); and The Sligo Seventh-Day Adventist Church (7700 Carroll Avenue). Passed 5-0.