On May 14, 2024, MCCC’s Infrastructure and Land Use Committee received a briefing from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government (COG). The briefing was provided by COG’s Clark Mercer, Executive Director and Kanti Srikanth, Deputy Executive Director for Metropolitan Planning.

​The MCCC Economic Development Committee met on May 1, 2024 to learn the latest about Viva White Oak, which is a Montgomery County development spanning nearly 300 acres up to 12 million square feet, featuring life science offices, multifamily, townhomes, and a retail town center. The development strives to leverage regional strength in health, education, and life sciences with commercial space for technology innovation, while investing in retail and housing amenities that this community has long awaited.

​On April 9, 2024, the Infrastructure and Land Use Committee hosted a meeting featuring Chris Conklin, Director of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT).

The Legislative Affairs Committee met on May 11, 2023 and received a post-session briefing from the Honorable Eric Luedtke, Chief Legislative Officer for Governor Wes Moore. Mr. Luedtke, who served 12 years in the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 14 in Montgomery County, led a discussion about the recently completed 2023 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly and the issues that impact the business community, including priority items in the Governor’s first legislative package.

On June 29, 2022, the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors held a virtual forum for the three major candidates running for the Montgomery County Executive.

Moderators:

• Lowell Yoder, Chair of the Board
• Leslie Ford Weber, Legislative Affairs Committee Chair

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Candidates:

• David Blair - 3:20
• Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer - 34:12
• Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich - 1:03:30

​On June 16, 2022, the MCCC Legislative Affairs Committee and the MCCC Economic Development Committee, meeting jointly, received an economic development and business climate briefing from Montgomery County Council Vice President Evan Glass.

​Council Vice President Glass, who is finished his second term as an At-Large Councilmember, talked about a number of issues relevant to the business community in Montgomery County. They included his support for Thrive Montgomery 2050, which is an update to the County’s planning policy document. Council Vice President Glass also discussed issues such as transit oriented development, housing diversity, and climate change policies.

​On Tuesday, June 14, 2022, the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce’s Infrastructure and Land Use Committee met with Delegate Marc Korman. Delegate Korman represents District 16 in Montgomery County and is Chair of the Montgomery County House Delegation of the Maryland General Assembly. He is also Chair of the House Appropriations Committee’s Transportation & the Environment Subcommittee, giving him a great deal of responsibility for infrastructure and transportation policy for the State of Maryland.

Delegate Korman shared his expertise on a variety of issues, including the federal infrastructure bill and what is means for Maryland. He also discussed priority transportation legislation during the recently completed 2022 Legislative Session, including legislation that requires the Maryland Transit Administration to establish individual investment programs to advance the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Cornerstone Plan and other MARC improvements.

On March 2, 2022, MCCC's Economic Development Committee received a briefing from Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot​. Comptroller Franchot, a former Montgomery County member of the House of Delegates, told MCCC members that Maryland's tax filing deadline was moved 90 days to July 15, 2022. The Comptroller said moving the date helps small businesses by essentially providing a short-term loan to taxpayers.

Comptroller Franchot also discussed the State of Maryland's budget surplus. He urged policymakers to commit $2B to the Rainy Day Fund to buffer the State from future economic downturns. He also suggested that $1B be committed to infrastructure projects, $2B for low-wage Marylanders, $500 million for childcare, and $500 million to small businesses.