[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6288480,"mediaKeyId","2540227-b54ddfb26e0e65301f4f7ebfc49601e0","parentId",2540227,"title","County selects FedTech to vet commercialization applicants; $10 million job/innovation package drew 104 applicants","audioSeconds",1428,"startMs",6926745,"endMs",8354915,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2540227-b54ddfb26e0e65301f4f7ebfc49601e0&start=6926&end=8354","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2540227-b54ddfb26e0e65301f4f7ebfc49601e0/thumbnail_6926745.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6288480/Montgomery-County/Maryland/County-selects-FedTech-to-vet-commercialization-applicants-10-million-jobinnovation-package-drew-104-applicants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6288480-d184ee5a41acbe187c29a24061531dac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200457&Signature=HzC9QsVIiGKORy0CZS~i2MTKH7ZrRP6xMiQDK6WLKiqQUJTYTB93EKSS6dPJM9UVaf6i8v92dNEWew-csTs4~t2F3RDzATbfjPPENSgplkLnrmlqcg4K~mQwHawdiwb4cGix2HDgku-Nz~MVDlhBxnKakdk6sdqBk1c1Z40uyvvTamahqlZK92-tVHOcamU68ygd5fi3KRO9WE6yfkY5eHl1wKhi7rVZFGA7B3pEqFDDmyi-ME0IRT7rpRO4Ainj9otqs-Oed5yl1pJSOy1Fr9YBBgpqIl-O-I23LUq56vTfuGSvcLkKDCpC09xXc0gnsIUyel4rM6BuY~DaL-lnRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery County, MD","date","2025-03-11T04:00:36Z","article","County officials briefed the Economic Development Committee on the administration’s commercialization and job‑creation funding program established by a $20 million FY24 supplemental appropriation. The appropriation created a $10 million set of competitive grants (technology innovation and founders funds) and a $10 million jobs program; the administration contracted FedTech as an outside commercialization reviewer to evaluate competitive applicants.

Officials said the competitive technology and founders grant call attracted 104 applicants for the $7 million technology innovation pot and $3 million founders fund. FedTech and a selection review committee evaluated eligibility and commercialization criteria. After eligibility screening and a staff request to applicants asking whether they could accept less than their requested amount, county staff reported they expected to fund many more companies than an initial pass implied — potentially expanding awards from an initial 35 recipients to closer to 70 recipients by moderating award sizes.

Program rules limit award amounts (applicants were told awards could be up to $200,000) and require a commercialization project plan, budgets, documentation of prior financing or work, and a minimum staffing threshold; awardees must complete an hour of coaching from FedTech, sign county grant agreements and report milestones. Staff said award disbursement will proceed in two parts: an initial payment of half the award after agreements and vendor registration, followed by reporting and remaining disbursement as projects achieve milestones over 8–18 months.

Committee members and staff noted lessons learned: the selection and evaluation process required significant county and contractor staff time (the county estimated thousands of person‑hours of due diligence and review), many applicants were ineligible under the initial criteria (for a range of reasons, including scope or funding history), and declined or ineligible applicants will be offered coaching and referrals where possible. Staff said the programs aim to support commercialization and earlier‑stage firms and that they will follow up to provide coaching and business‑liaison connections for applicants who were not awarded.

No formal award notifications had been issued at the time of the briefing; staff said they will notify awardees and return to the committee with a full list of selected companies, expected job impacts and an implementation plan for coaching and reporting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mar. 10, 2025 - ECON Committee Worksession","oneSentenceSummary","The county contracted FedTech to evaluate commercialization proposals for a $10 million competitive package (technology innovation and founders funds) and reported 104 applicants; after applicant adjustments staff said they expect to fund substantially more companies than an initial pass indicated.","taxTitle","Montgomery County, Maryland","taxId",3351,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6288492,"County, MCDC and workforce partners mobilize amid federal layoffs; staff estimate up to 12,000 county‑area job impacts",3343,504065,3848055,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2540227-b54ddfb26e0e65301f4f7ebfc49601e0&start=504&end=3848","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2540227-b54ddfb26e0e65301f4f7ebfc49601e0/thumbnail_504065.jpg","/articles/6288492/Montgomery-County/Maryland/County-MCDC-and-workforce-partners-mobilize-amid-federal-layoffs-staff-estimate-up-to-12000-countyarea-job-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6288492-080dec2af74adcedfa974e2c82e7afc6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200457&Signature=OkNny1qPCwdNIqgO4N4AqwMDO4nlaLYlSNqLDSBIuheDW5lPjZ15tcUKk84QvQiv7Fogi1YoBT~sGtoKHf4nHYUxEukYqUm9WUNyVv1Q6YJxH2hFpujqyc5kStX7E3SB5utw2BL~dPpRr~sYpGPfo9fMYeGj6Skin6fu45h8ynBc9QH08b1TwZ9BaAl83Xaq47kyV3FWE~ZLB-H7RidrlXO3XZBU7nhvZpsjz2dtBCpevMpLVo8etYTuU~c2jneqSxjeCM9vYUgxRJsWHGzZbva2zf1NUSHzWs89sp3lmCurYVI3vkrOvQxW7RxzpaU7s0Ok2vlwFAHj3bGMlVNnVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montgomery County officials and the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation told the Economic Development Committee that federal workforce reductions are affecting the county and that a coordinated response is underway.

Planning staff said their best estimate — compiled from agency contacts, media reports and data reviews covering activity through the end of last year — counted about 78,000 people working at federal sites in Montgomery County, including federal employees, remote federal employees tied to county sites and contractors attached to federal locations. County and MCEDC staff cautioned that the figure is an estimate and that sources vary.

MCDC staff and council members then discussed national layoff and buyout rates applied to the local workforce: presenters used national averages (about 13.5–14% for job losses and roughly 4% for buyouts) and said a simple application of those rates to the local federal workforce implied roughly 9,300 employees could be affected by layoffs and another roughly 3,000 by buyouts — a combined rough total of about 12,000 affected workers. MCEDC and county staff emphasized that contractor counts are difficult to pin down; the county noted about 2,400 federal contractors operate in county strategic industries but that a contractor employee headcount requires further work.

County and MCEDC staff described immediate response steps: weekly coordination calls among county agencies, chambers and workforce partners; WorkSource Montgomery as the lead workforce provider; a public “landing page” to centralize resources for affected workers scheduled to launch in the days after the briefing; and outreach to businesses to identify local opportunities and skill matches. Staff said they are also tracking federal real estate activity — citing a GSA property list that briefly showed 39 county properties totaling about 3.6 million square feet before the GSA posting was removed — and are trying to verify rapidly changing public information.

Committee members pressed for more data about federal contractors, noting contractors (including USAID and other agency contractors) may be especially vulnerable and that contractor workforce counts matter to fiscal and community planning. MCEDC said it is assembling contractor counts case by case through business outreach but that no single, comprehensive list is yet available.

No formal committee action was taken; county staff said they will continue to refine local counts, work with federal and state partners, and push resources to workforce providers and employers to help affected workers find local openings or start new businesses.","County planning and economic development staff told the committee they estimate about 78,000 federal employees and contractor staff were tied to county sites at the end of last year and used national layoff and buyout averages to project potentially about 12,000 workers affected; weekly partner calls, a centralized landing page and WorkSource Montgomery are central to the immediate response.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6288493,"Montgomery County quarterly indicators show tight housing market, lagging young-worker labor force and child-care shortfalls",1195,64280,1259565,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2540227-b54ddfb26e0e65301f4f7ebfc49601e0&start=64&end=1259","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2540227-b54ddfb26e0e65301f4f7ebfc49601e0/thumbnail_64280.jpg","/articles/6288493/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Montgomery-County-quarterly-indicators-show-tight-housing-market-lagging-young-worker-labor-force-and-child-care-shortfalls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6288493-b0576f87374261ecebea6d75867b6f65/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200457&Signature=NWcrPpxOAC-NBOp2TpkhJijGChTy5bkQfge2EceRiDDp6bpzuTac5unya34yeOmOSCENIa7z5AvGSWvXHUxzXPMDYZsy-2aUc7MN8XRL~layTlXonZiK02bJYtQJtyXlLEivM1z0aov3dMxwGHiWP-vDEqsHHpZMsjvHRwphidoF-k8DpXBQQorOK4ngw7uk9DCr6j~7tNKrzUbRlymIIllawsoZ-W4Mcez1DKi3Tp235ydcfODdmfCJQUGr0Z-gsMGZCFkSMFsQ0PcNyI93NdrlU-zK873B1A-NeFT~ubCaDfwEuPJp3Y~9lnt-ciIFdFyH-SP7G1IJXmAjZngMYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County economic planners and Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation analysts told the council’s Economic Development Committee on March 10 that recent quarterly indicators show a county economy with both strengths and structural weaknesses.

The unemployment rate was reported at about 2.4 percent, while median home prices rose from roughly $554,000 to about $615,000 — an increase staff described as roughly 11 percent year over year. Office vacancy was reported at about 18.5 percent, up from roughly 17.4 percent a year earlier. County presenters said multifamily and attached housing types (townhomes, condos) are the more affordable ownership or rental options and that condos are an increasingly important affordable ownership entry point, with many condo sales clustered below about $400,000.

Planners emphasized the longer-term labor-force concerns behind those numbers: the county’s working-age population has flattened since about 2013 and the 25‑ to 34‑year‑old cohort — an important early‑career group — has declined by roughly 12,000 people from 2013 to 2023. Presenters said Montgomery County’s labor‑force growth lags the state, region and national trends and that the county tends to lose younger cohorts faster and gain them more slowly than peer geographies.

Child-care indicators presented to the committee showed private‑sector child‑care employment has not yet recovered to its pre‑pandemic peak, though the number of establishments is slightly higher than a decade ago. Presenters said wages for child‑care workers are low relative to county incomes — roughly 40 percent of area median income for many workers — and have not kept pace with inflation since about 2021. County staff flagged the child‑care sector both as an economic and social priority because care availability affects parents’ labor‑force participation.

Committee members linked the trends. Several council members said housing affordability — particularly scarcity of “starter” detached homes and a demand for attached units — appears to be a major factor in the county’s difficulty retaining and attracting workers in the 25–34 age group. Members urged coordinated responses that align housing strategies, economic development marketing and workforce pipelines.

Planners and MCEDC staff said much of the data is a quarter behind and that federal workforce layoffs are changing near‑term conditions; they recommended continued tracking and targeted strategies to retain and attract young professionals.

The committee did not take legislative action on the indicators but directed staff and partners to continue tracking the measures and to bring additional analysis to upcoming budget and work‑session items.","County staff and MCEDC presented quarterly indicators showing a 2.4% unemployment rate, a jump in median home prices to about $615,000, an office vacancy near 18.5% and structural declines in the 25–34 labor force; private-sector childcare employment has not recovered to its pre-pandemic peak.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6288485,"Economic Development Fund activity: MOVE oversubscription, grant & loan awards disbursed and SBIR matches",1000,5251130,6251645,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2540227-b54ddfb26e0e65301f4f7ebfc49601e0&start=5251&end=6251","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2540227-b54ddfb26e0e65301f4f7ebfc49601e0/thumbnail_5251130.jpg","/articles/6288485/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Economic-Development-Fund-activity-MOVE-oversubscription-grant-loan-awards-disbursed-and-SBIR-matches","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6288485-661d5f37a511ab5edbfaeea63c669497/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200457&Signature=YXcrvKUwTrtiMO2qJvX4jNX9mCulqUl7pVUxDf3er9Tg5cRP10y5eIDXR-6kIQ1R~-PdueQWMqw7MIWfsZWhGzUhLgqEwM-IsxQgB-WHEKQEGWjHOsWe~Qb9n3BhwilSPWYxdlSloMb~MdISWldWn9fur5pBmSYsW56Zg8Bkf88L529BW69YE8sM2-cxAfK04OvpR7Fq--QEAdue3WouAFgFqNN-VKXoDd-0jDoyPvVLNI~G9LgoF~LGU~Mw3w7WnTe-vofyhrH5klXLc1bbL5PcFTZ4dvCXcoMD5oBZ9zid17LYQOCbRqbntwGqFHYoAn8MNK6qfOTgSZHDV2b0eQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department of Finance and county executive staff briefed the committee on FY25 activity in the county’s Economic Development Fund (EDF), detailing awards, encumbrances and program demand.

Staff said roughly $2,870,000 has been dispersed from the EDF to date in FY25 across multiple programs. Encumbrances for MOVE and other programs were reported: the MOVE program had approximately $1,500,000 in dispersed and encumbered awards (a notably faster pace than prior years) and there were encumbrances of roughly $845,000 for MOVE agreements and about $286,000 for Purple Line small‑business grants noted in staff materials. Finance staff explained the fund’s accounting is designed to allow flexibility across programs, but that continuing high demand could produce a low or zero ending balance without additional appropriations.

MOVE program staff said they are seeing significantly higher demand in FY25 than in recent years and that larger awards (the updated MOVE maximum and expansion awards) have increased encumbrances. For the EDF grant and loan discretionary program, staff reported large awards in FY25 (for example, a previously discussed $1.3 million award tied to a site retention matter was among the larger FY25 grants cited) and noted other awards and pending agreements; staff said some FY26 EDF obligations are already encumbered as part of multi‑year agreements.

The SBIR/STTR local matching grant program had dispersed about $140,000 in FY25 to seven firms (including phase‑0 awards); staff said they expect continued applications and are monitoring federal grant timing, which some applicants reported has been delayed. Finance staff also said the EDF microloan funding has begun to disperse through partner lenders and that the Purple Line small‑business impact grants continue to be issued monthly.

Committee members asked for more granular data: which businesses were retained or attracted through EDF awards, job counts tied to encumbered awards, geographic distribution of microloan recipients, and the administration’s plan to avoid program pauses if demand remains high. Finance staff said they are preparing additional detail and that the FY26 recommended budget will propose funding adjustments to align EDF program demand and county resources.

No vote was taken; staff said they will return with more detailed lists, job projections and program‑level outcomes in forthcoming reports.","Finance and executive staff reported the Economic Development Fund has been active in FY25: about $2.87 million had been dispersed to date across several EDF programs, the MOVE program activity increased and the SBIR/STTR local match program disbursed roughly $140,000 to seven businesses.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6288489,"MCEDC board outlines leadership search, says strategic plan will be delivered by July after short delay",642,2604395,3246680,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2540227-b54ddfb26e0e65301f4f7ebfc49601e0&start=2604&end=3246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2540227-b54ddfb26e0e65301f4f7ebfc49601e0/thumbnail_2604395.jpg","/articles/6288489/Montgomery-County/Maryland/MCEDC-board-outlines-leadership-search-says-strategic-plan-will-be-delivered-by-July-after-short-delay","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6288489-720b8fa05f4d605a4b5e1a5878379815/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200457&Signature=YdPSweefUbFgxCw0IdV4GQqhIMz2PvJKnTY6ak8EgjKzJyeZQjFder8s2ZF1u-jfy78lJ29WxCN4ALOIO8PX-JwM~LrPZdkzKdCqxrlQZ4Z45KzkXE4nPWmhdLHohkgfhUMp-1dFzoI8DhIdF8nb0VSJpf0LH-rJNjJi3U7FWTBoRcEkFEUNVXbWphzY89LXKuWTlHcb0hh2VBDNHhvVWgxUertUcc8ae1w2bwvswfT0kwF49zFA7abgGB1TlWtkUH0YII-wgxb-fuyDxx7wbClDiYLOE3Uo~BBfnjmj25R8NHgoxpuMmSotwW6g46faJpWWUDyoW5UplS0YIGdEdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Yolanda Fine, chair of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation board, told the Economic Development Committee that the board is conducting a national search for a new MCEDC leader and has formed a transition committee and a search committee co‑chaired by local business and university leaders.

Fine said the board has selected a search firm and will post the CEO job publicly; the board thanked outgoing interim leader Bill Tompkins for stabilizing the organization. MCEDC staff urged stronger engagement between the corporation, county government and local partners and recommended that the council view investments in MCEDC as investments in the county’s economic future.

Council staff reminded the committee that MCEDC is required to submit a draft of the county’s economic development strategic plan by July 1, 2025. Committee members and MCEDC representatives discussed a short postponement and agreed that the corporation will provide a schedule by May so the council and administration can coordinate on July submittal and follow‑up.

The group discussed FY25 budget context: MCEDC had requested $5,950,000, the county executive recommended $4,000,000, and the council appropriated $4,670,000. MCEDC staff said they had used some one‑time reserves during the fiscal year to maintain operations and that marketing and communications positions were reduced in the FY25 appropriation; they listed key initiatives they plan to continue if funded in FY26, including life‑sciences outreach, the InnovateED summit with University of Maryland, Shady Grove, and targeted marketing to out‑of‑region life‑sciences markets.

MCEDC staff and board representatives requested continued council engagement as the corporation completes its leadership transition and prepares the strategic plan; they said the organization will return to the committee with detailed program and budget requests as the FY26 process unfolds.

No formal committee action was taken during the presentation; committee members pressed staff for performance and return‑on‑investment data related to MCEDC outreach and marketing and asked for follow‑up on program metrics.","The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation board said it is conducting a national CEO search, has engaged a search firm and transition committee, and will deliver a draft strategic plan to the council by July 1 after postponing an earlier timeline; the board urged continued investment in economic development.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County selects FedTech to vet commercialization applicants; $10 million job/innovation package drew 104 applicants

County, MCDC and workforce partners mobilize amid federal layoffs; staff estimate up to 12,000 county‑area job impacts

Montgomery County quarterly indicators show tight housing market, lagging young-worker labor force and child-care shortfalls

Economic Development Fund activity: MOVE oversubscription, grant & loan awards disbursed and SBIR matches

MCEDC board outlines leadership search, says strategic plan will be delivered by July after short delay