County staff outline plans for Montgomery County History Center; one-year funding extension recommended for Historical Activities NDA

Montgomery County Office of Management and Budget officials and the county's historical activities staff told the budget committee that the county is moving forward with plans to create a Montgomery County History Center and to continue funded oral-history and anniversary projects under the Historical Activities non-departmental account (NDA).

Matt Logan, representing the historical activities team, described two facilities priorities: acquiring the Farmers Bank and Trust building at Fort Courthouse Square for exhibit and public space, and finalizing a lease for top-floor space in the Circuit Courthouse to store and process the county's artifact collections. "The first thing we're working closely with the League of Women Voters right now... The big thing in our world right now is the development of a Montgomery County History Center, a physical location," Logan said. He said the team expects to begin construction work at the Fort Courthouse Square location in the fall and hopes to move artifacts into the county-owned courthouse storage space by next June or July.

The committee also heard an update on two recurrent initiatives supported in last year's budget: the Black Resistance oral-history initiative and the county's 250th-anniversary project, referred to in committee materials as the "unfinished revolution." OMB staff said the executive's recommended operating budget includes a recommended one-year continuation that equates to a roughly 3 percent increase (about $6,656) over the FY25 approved baseline; staff characterized the additional funds as a one-year continuation to support ongoing work while fundraising and capital planning continue.

Why it matters: Logan told committee members the oral-history work is already producing interviews from communities across the county and that the initiative has uncovered materials and testimony important to local history. He described projects underway that will broaden the county's historical record, such as chapters on transportation history, research into Jim Crow-era activity and archeological work on pre-contact indigenous history.

Logistics and timeline: Logan said initial cost estimates for renovating the Fort Courthouse Square banking building are higher than previously anticipated and that the county will need to continue fundraising and budgeting work. He said the lease for courthouse storage is a multi-decade term that should allow artifact consolidation into county-managed space. "If things sort of continue on the current path, we should be able to start construction by the fall and be in, hopefully, by the end of the calendar year or at least start the move... move in by next June or July," Logan said.

Committee response and next steps: Members praised the oral-history interviews and the anniversary planning and offered to help with outreach, partnerships and student engagement. Several members emphasized the urgency of recording firsthand accounts while sources remain available. OMB staff said the executive's recommended budget includes the one-year extension for these initiatives; the presentation was informational and did not require a committee vote beyond standard budget review.

Clarifying details: Committee materials cited the executive's recommended 3 percent increase (about $6,656) for the Historical Activities NDA compared with the current FY25 approved budget and noted that some last-year, one-time funds remain in use. Staff directed members to posted oral-history interviews and said further fundraising and capital work will accompany the planned facility improvements.

The committee concluded the item as an informational briefing; staff will continue coordination with the council on anniversary planning, fundraising and artifact consolidation.