A new bill that aims to incentivize businesses to rent more local office space and a public hearing on the proposed capital budget top the County Council’s agenda this week.
The council will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Stella Werner Council Office Building in Rockville for its regular weekly business meeting. Here’s what to expect:
Make Office Vacancy Extinct Grant Program
Councilmembers Evan Glass (D-At-large), Natali Fani-González (D-Dist. 6), Marilyn Balcombe D-Dist. 2) and Laurie-Anne Sayles (D-At-large) will introduce a bill that would establish the Make Office Vacancy Extinct (MOVE) Grant Program. The initiative would incentivize certain businesses to rent or expand office space in the county by providing financial support for the rental.
The MOVE Program was introduced as a pilot program in March 2014 by then-County Executive Ike Leggett (D). However, it was never codified. This bill would establish the program under the law as part of the county’s Economic Development Fund and increase the maximum financial incentive that a business could receive from the county from $80,000 to $150,000 by increasing the amount of space that would be eligible. Under the program, a business can receive $8 per square foot of office space.
According to a memo from County Executive Marc Elrich (D), the program disbursed more than $5.2 million to 85 businesses between fiscal year 2014 and the end of 2023. These businesses occupied a total of 703,457 square feet of office space.
Public hearing on capital budget
The council receive input from constituents during a public hearing on the proposed capital budget for fiscal year 2025 and the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for fiscal years 2025-2030. Elrich’s proposal totals $5.84 billion.
The public also can provide input on certain projects in the proposed CIP for fiscal years 2025-2030 listed in the agenda. Other projects will receive hearings in future meetings.
A work session will be held Tuesday to address specific aspects of the CIP, including general government projects, the county revenue authority, public safety technology projects and government technology services.
According to county law, the council must vote on a final budget by June 1. Members likely will vote in mid- to late May.
Preference for veteran-owned small businesses for county procurement purposes
A bill that will be introduced by council President Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1) would amend the county’s policies for procurement services by adding a “preference points” system to increase opportunities for veteran-owned small businesses to provide services for the county.
Under the system, qualifying veteran-owned small businesses would receive “preference points” of 5%, giving them a leg up in being selected to provide services for the county.