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Officials outline small-business grants, outreach and community grants tied to Purple Line construction
Summary
MTA and Purple Line teams described business engagement measures—rodent abatement, signage and banners—and the MDOT small-business grant program (about $1.5 million awarded in early rounds, $1 million available annually until the line opens). The Purple Line community grant program has provided additional local awards.
MDOT, MTA and the Purple Line team told the Montgomery County Transportation and Environment Committee about outreach and financial support to help businesses and community groups affected by years of construction.
Ray Biggs said the project’s business engagement team coordinates advanced notices, in-person site visits and social-media promotion, and that the team expanded rodent abatement beyond construction limits following community concerns in Long Branch and Flower Avenue. The team plans to install "open for business" signage and large banners to help promote affected commercial corridors.
Biggs said the MDOT-administered small business grant program has awarded $1.5 million across the first two rounds and that a third round will open October 6, with applications accepted through mid-November. He added that $1,000,000 is allocated to the grant program each year until the Purple Line opens and that funds will continue to be available to impacted businesses.
Doran Bosso said more than $81,000 in community grant awards have gone to local recipients in Montgomery County, naming CHEER, Community Forklift and the Sligo Creek Elementary PTA as recent recipients. The presenters encouraged business owners and residents to attend upcoming community advisory team meetings and public workshops.
Council members pressed for clearer and quicker follow-up after community walkthroughs, asked that updated materials be posted publicly and emphasized equitable distribution of grant resources across the corridor, noting areas such as downtown Silver Spring and Long Branch have experienced greater construction impacts.
The agencies said they will post corrected slide decks and a detailed list of pedestrian and bicycle improvements in the revised packet later that afternoon and will follow up on outstanding constituent questions in writing.
