Public Input Wanted 4Business: Benchmarking to Be the Best for Business

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 9, 2019

County Executive Marc Elrich and Council Vice President Sidney Katz are embarking on a multi-pronged joint initiative: 4Business – Benchmarking to Be the Best for Business.   

The objective is to engage the local business community in a grassroots campaign to assist businesses to locate, grow and prosper in Montgomery County.  

This campaign will kick off with information gathering sessions and public comments that can be submitted to [email protected] and through a survey that will be posted online.  The first 4Business session is set for Wednesday, April 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the third-floor hearing room at the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. 

 Additional information gathering sessions are scheduled across the County to receive input from stakeholders about what they need to succeed, and to engage them to share their experiences in locating and growing their businesses in Montgomery County. The County is seeking feedback about the experiences of businesses looking to establish and grow here.  The first phase of 4Business is focused on the regulatory climate, including codes, the permitting process, licensing, inspections, and other issues.  

“We want to reexamine our processes and regulations to make sure they are sensible, fair and efficient,” said Elrich. “The public’s input in this process is key. I asked Council Vice President Sidney Katz to help lead this initiative because of his small business background and I very much appreciate his willingness to work with all of us on this important endeavor.” 

The 4Business initiative will include examining benchmarking experiences and regulations of neighboring jurisdictions. 

“I am pleased to have been asked by our County Executive to spearhead this effort with him,” said Katz. “As a former small-business owner and a Councilmember who is committed to economic development in the County, I look forward to receiving input from all stakeholders about their experiences – both good and bad.  We want to build a better business climate in the County; and we can only accomplish this by working together.” 

The schedule of information sessions, below, includes five evening listening sessions and one daytime session:  

• Wednesday, April 17, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Council Office Building, 3rd floor Hearing Room, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville.

• Thursday, April 18, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda. 

• Monday, May 6, 7 p.m. to 8:30 pm, East County Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring.

• Monday, May 13, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Charles W. Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center (Mid County service area), 11002 Veirs Mill Road, Wheaton. 

• Wednesday, May 22, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring.

• Monday, June 10, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Upcounty Regional Services Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown.

Sign language interpreter services will be provided only upon request with notice as far in advance as possible, but no less than 72 hours prior to the event.  If these or other services or aids are needed to participate in this activity, call 240-777-6507, Maryland Relay 711 or email a request to [email protected].

For those who can’t attend the hearings, an email has been established to receive comments and feedback: [email protected].   

Assembled comments and benchmarking results will help the County identify areas in which Montgomery County can reduce obstacles to success, build positive relations and help Montgomery County to be the best for business.  

For more information, visit the 4Business web page.

Follow Montgomery County Government on Facebook and Twitter.

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Release ID: 19-118
Media Contact: Sonya Burke 240-777-6531, Jessica Fusillo 240-777-6272