Archives for November 2021

Primary Goals: 

1. Promote policies that will help increase and diversify Rockville employers and assist small businesses; and
2. Facilitate and maintain high-quality education in Rockville based schools and post-secondary institutions that supports student career preparation in areas of high-need in the region;
3. Work in partnership with the City, FRIT, and other stakeholders to make Rockville Town Center a vibrant destination with arts and culture as a focus:
4.  Promote policies designed to explore and improve transportation options with a focus on their economic impact to the business community.

Goal: Attract new businesses/employers to Rockville and retain existing businesses to increase employment opportunities, wage rates, and the tax base. 

• Encourage the City to provide incentives to new businesses/employers and to reduce the zoning restrictions that deter businesses/employers from choosing Rockville.
• Make Rockville a destination for the arts and creative industries, which will in turn increase business for Rockville’s multitude of restaurants and service providers. Explore the creation of an Arts and Entertainment District.
• Support investment in Rockville’s infrastructure and work with stakeholders on developing existing venues in Rockville as arts and culture destinations – Redgate, Stone Street corridor, Dairy Barns at King Farm, etc.
• Advocate for the state to maintain a healthy balance of the unemployment insurance trust fund as it rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic without further raising premium rates for employers.
• Advocate for the addition of workforce, affordable housing in the City of Rockville

Goal: Promote high-quality education in Rockville based schools and post-secondary institutions.

• Advocate for smart funding of school capital and operating budgets at the County and State level. 
• Advocate for better methodologies for calculating school population growth
• Conduct a campaign to educate elected officials and the public on the effects of housing moratoriums in jurisdictions that negatively impact economic development.  Demonstrate how moratoriums have hindered school construction, hurt economic development, and exacerbated the cost of housing.

Goal: Work in partnership with the City of Rockville, Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT) and other stakeholders to make Rockville Town Center (RTC) a vibrant destination with arts and culture as a focus.

• Improve connections between Montgomery College and Town Center;
• Create more vibrant and active signage to mark arrival in RTC including along Rockville Pike, and Promenade Park;
• Work with REDI, the City of Rockville and FRIT on exploring ways to attract and retain merchants in RTC including reviewing parking rates and hours, types of merchants approached for leasing opportunities, etc. 
• Create a working group to explore ways to increase development density in RTC in order to make it a vibrant and active destination.
• Work with the City of Rockville, REDI, and other stakeholders including WAMTA to improve access to the Rockville Metro station and make it more inviting and attractive through art, culture, and destination entertainment events that differentiate RTC from its competitors.

Goal: Partner with the City of Rockville, REDI and other stakeholders to review and explore transportation issues affecting Rockville residents and businesses.

• Continue working with all stakeholders on the Managed Lane Studies regarding 270 and 495 and promote leveraging of smart technologies, review of road capacity, transit options, and telework policies.
• Continue advocating to ensure that the State Highway Administration moves forward with West End Noise Barrier Project.
• Advocate for increased investment in WMATA.
• Partner with the City of Rockville, REDI, the Pedestrian Safety Action Taskforce, and other stakeholders to research and advocate for policies to improve pedestrian safety.