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Business center reports 2,100-plus business engagements, urges clearer budget data for FY26
Summary
Gene Smith, manager of Montgomery County's business center, told the Economic Development Committee the office assisted or engaged more than 2,100 businesses in 2024, described new cohorts and accelerator programming, and said staff track needs via a client-relationship system; the committee requested written budget and grant-performance details ahead of FY26 deliberations.
Gene Smith, manager of the Montgomery County business center, told the County Council's Economic Development Committee that the office assisted or engaged more than 2,100 businesses in 2024 and has expanded programming and staffing.
The update, delivered at a committee work session called by Chair Natalie Fanny Gonzales, outlined a team that now includes four business liaisons, a small-business navigator, innovation-center operators and staff who manage contracts and grant-matching programs. "We were able to assist, engage, or directly assist and engage more than 2,100 businesses," Smith said, noting the office's outreach focuses today on East County, Silver Spring, Mid County and the Rockville corridor.
The business center has added services this year including an accelerator program, pathways-to-entrepreneurship cohorts and a client-relationship management system intended to track referrals, follow-up services and where businesses get stuck in county processes. Smith said the center also administers microloans, an SBIR grant-matching program and other grant supports, and has roughly $1.8 million in contracts with resource partners for additional services.
Why it matters: Committee members framed the briefing as part of budget preparation. Several members said the liaison model is a force multiplier for county resources but flagged coverage gaps in certain geographies and recurring requests from businesses for deeper legal assistance and marketing support.
Committee response and follow-up: Chair Natalie Fanny Gonzales asked for a written update showing how grants and microloans approved in the last budget are performing and for details on staff and proposed budget requests before FY26 deliberations. Councilmember Balcom and others urged the county to compile liaison-collected trends so planning, transportation, public safety and other departments can coordinate responses. Ken Hartman, assistant chief administrative officer, said liaison and regional center partnerships increase impact and encouraged continued referrals from council offices.
The committee did not take formal action at the session. Staff said a more detailed annual report and budget materials will follow.
