Council approves bill to establish County’s first Office of Grants Management

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Bill 36-19 will increase efficiency and transparency in countywide grant processes and provide funding through County departments

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 13, 2021—Today the Montgomery County Council unanimously approved Bill 36-19, Contracts and Procurement - Office of Grants Management - Established, which creates an Office of Grants Management as a non-principal office in the County’s executive branch. The goal of this legislation is to increase efficiency in countywide grant processes and provide funding through County departments. Councilmember Nancy Navarro was the lead sponsor of the bill and Council President Tom Hucker, Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Sidney Katz, Craig Rice and Hans Riemer were cosponsors.

“I first introduced this bill in 2019 during my Council presidency, and now that we have a clearer picture of the fiscal situation in the near, post-pandemic future, I am happy that this Council is able to resume our work reshaping County Government to better suit our residents’ needs,” said Councilmember Nancy Navarro, who chairs the Council's Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee. “Our grants process needed to be modernized. During the annual review of grant applications, even seasoned community organizations were devoting considerable time and effort to this process, and it was discouraging new organizations from participating. This bill streamlines the grants process by establishing a dedicated grants office within County Government. I look forward to seeing grant applications processed more efficiently, and community organizations being able to get the financial support they need expeditiously once the Office of Grants Management gets off the ground.”

The Office of Grants Management would have the following responsibilities:

• provide a central point of contact regarding grants that the County receives and awards;
• disseminate to executive branch departments and principal offices information regarding federal, state, philanthropic and private sector grant opportunities;
• maintain a central database of grants that the County receives and awards;
• provide training, grant writing expertise and technical assistance regarding grants management to Executive Branch departments and principal offices;
• develop countywide policies and procedures regarding grants management, in coordination with the Office of Procurement;
• develop practices to ensure that grants management and awards made in the County are consistent with racial equity and social justice goals, in coordination with the Office of Procurement;
• perform public outreach regarding grants offered by the County; and
• perform any other grants function assigned by the Chief Administrative Officer.

The effective date for Bill 36-19, Contracts and Procurement - Office of Grants Management - Established is July 1, 2022. The Council staff report for Bill 36-19 can be viewed here.

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Release ID: 21-287
Media Contact: Ikhide Roland Ikheloa 240-777-7967