Dear Friends,

The State of Business in Howard County is more than strong. It is resilient, it is robust, and it is relentlessly moving ahead to embrace the future.

I truly believe the potential of Howard County is unlimited – as long as we continue to target out resources, remove barriers, and make our government more effective.

Our fiscal strength, our pandemic response, and our vision for future jobs have created the right framework. We know that when businesses advance, so does our community.

Read more about my State of Business address here and watch the full address here.

I am honored that the Maryland-Washington Minority Companies Association has recognized our efforts to support small and minority owned businesses during its Black History Month celebration.

Since taking office, I have made it a priority to increase business opportunity for our minority owned businesses. In our most recent fiscal year, 29.2% of all county spending went to minority- and women-owned firms, the highest proportion in county history, and up from 18.8% in FY17. Additionally, in December of 2018, there were 100 certified firms with $4 million in spending. Now, Howard County has 300 certified local businesses, which received $15 million in government spending in the past two quarters alone. 

We are creating the ecosystems so that our small and minority owned firms can be successful for years to come. When these businesses win, we all win.

It is humbling and gratifying to receive recognition by the Daily Record on their Power 40 list for effective leadership. We work hard every day on behalf of our community, and constantly strive to make Howard County the best place to live, work, play, and grow for all. Congratulations to all my colleagues also mentioned on this list. 

Read more here.

It was a pleasure to join Taylor Williams to celebrate her new children’s cookbook Healthy Heroes at the Long Reach Village Center. It’s encouraging to see our community become engaged and learning new healthy, active lifestyles. Congratulations Taylor and I wish you much success!

According to the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Howard County’s positivity rate is 3.14% and our 7-day moving average case rate per 100k is 11.5. There are currently 17 COVID-19 patients in both the ICU and Acute Care units at Howard County General Hospital.

Howard County has high vaccination rates with 90% of our residents 5+ fully vaccinated. Approximately 34% of our eligible residents have not yet received their booster shot. Please get boosted if you have not yet received a booster shot. Vaccination, including boosters, work by significantly reducing serious illness, hospitalization, and death.

The CDC has released new guidance for determining community transmission and when masking is recommended. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. When the county’s COVID-19 Community Levels are low or moderate, masking is optional. Masking remains a prevention measure at the high level. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should always wear a mask. Howard County is currently in the low category.

Getting vaccinated continues to be the best way to prevent severe illness and death from COVID-19. Please get vaccinated and boosted if you have not already. Find a vaccine near you at vaccine.howardcountymd.gov.

We have made incredible progress combatting COVID-19, but we are not completely out of the woods yet. Get tested if you're experiencing any symptoms or may have been recently exposed to COVID-19. All residents can now get tested for free at facilities that were previously limited to government employees and families. Fast, accurate testing is a still a vital tool to keep our community safe. 

Testing remains an important tool in preventing the spread of Covid-19 and keeping our community safe. Don’t hesitate to use it! Find a testing location near you here.

We are dedicated to ensuring all Howard County students are successful, and the School System’s Class of 2021 remarkable graduation rate of 94% shows our progress. This is the highest graduating rate since 2011 and a 1.26% point increase from the Class of 2019.

Please join me in thanking our dedicated educators, Board of Education, and entire school system for their efforts. I congratulate our students for this achievement. We will continue to strive toward excellence for all.

It’s always a pleasure to join our students at Northfield Elementary School to honor Black History Month. I joined Ms. Clay’s first grade class for a reading of Suzanne Buckingham Slade’s book “A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped put America on the Moon.” Through events like this, we will continue to acknowledge our past, honor our present, and inspire our future.

It was great to attend the Child Care Fair at North Laurel Community Center hosted by our Office of Children and Families. Now in its 30th year, this fair provides parents, guardians, grandparents, and childcare personnel with a “one stop shop” for information on childcare, pre-school, and summer programs. 

It is essential to do what we can to prepare our children to be ready and successful students. Thank you to Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services, Howard County Library System, Howard County Family Child Care Association, and all our partners for coordinating this event!

To help provide resources to children’s guardians and childcare providers alike, Howard County is happy to be part of the Maryland Family Network, which you can learn more about here.

As Black History Month nears the end, we would be remiss not to recognize Councilmember Opel Jones! Now a dedicated public servant at the Howard County Council, Dr. Jones previously served the county as the Human Rights Commissioner. He exemplifies his commitment to both public service and education, also serving as an administrator and mathematical science lecturer at Towson University. 

Beyond even that, he mentors, tutors, and volunteers his time through local organizations such as our fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. This Black History Month, we commend Dr. Jones for his ongoing commitment to our community, county, and beyond!

Today is the LAST day to enroll in affordable health insurance through the state. The state has even created new subsidies this year to bring down the cost of health insurance for young adults. Now, more people ages 18-34 can get plans for as little as $1 per month.

Don’t delay. Get insured today. Visit MarylandHealthConnection.gov today!

Age-Friendly communities foster independence and allow residents of all ages and abilities to have great access to our amenities and services. Recently, I announced that AARP has approved the Howard County Age-Friendly Action Plan. A transformational document and critical milestone to join the AARP Network of Age Friendly States and Communities, this plan includes 80 recommendations across eight domains that influence the health and quality of life of our residents. With AARP’s stamp of approval, we can move forward confidently over the next three years to work to ensure all recommendations can be implemented.

If you or someone you know is caring for a family member or friend with dementia, we encourage you to check out DCRS’ Office on Aging and Independence’s (OAI) Dementia Live®. This virtual interactive experience that immerses participants into life with dementia to create a deeper understanding of what it’s like to live with a cognitive impairment and sensory changes. If interested in participating, OAI’s next upcoming sessions are March 7^th and April 11^th, both at 6:00 p.m. As space is limited, I encourage you to call 410-313-5917 today to register.

Did you know as soon as your child receives their Social Security number, they could be at risk for identify theft? Now is the time to protect your child’s identity, money, credit and benefits from would-be thieves with these simply steps and tips from DCRS’s Office of Consumer Protection.

The week of March 6^th through the 12^th is National Consumer Protection Week and to mark the occasion, DCRS’ Office of Consumer Protection has planned two informative webinars to discuss “Debt Collection, Credit and Your Credit Score” (on March 8^th) and “How to Safely Use Payment Apps” (on March 10^th). Both webinars will take place at 7:00 p.m. and can be viewed live on DCRS’ Facebook page.

The first webinar will take an in-depth look at debt collection and credit topics, including how to build, maintain and improve your credit; how FICO® scores are calculated; your rights under debt collection, and how to deal with debt collectors; and avoid debt workout scams. To register to take part in this FREE seminar, visit https://ocpdebtandcredit.eventbrite.com.

The second webinar will explain your rights under the law; how payment apps have become a favorite of criminals; and what you can do to avoid being scammed. To register for this FREE seminar, visit https://ocppaymentapps.eventbrite.com.

For questions and/or more information or assistance with a consumer issue, contact the Howard Office of Consumer Protection at 410-313-6420 or email consumer@howardcountymd.gov.

Our Department of Planning and Zoning’s (DPZ) Planning Board will be holding a hybrid meeting this Thursday, March 3^rd at 7:00 p.m. to hear the following agenda item:

A five-member board, the Planning Board makes recommendations to the Zoning Board or County Council on matters related to planning and zoning and renders a final decision on selected development proposals. Before recommendations or decisions are made, the Board holds a public meeting or hearing to provide interested persons the opportunity to provide comment. For details about procedures for testifying at a Planning Board meeting, click HERE.

To learn more about Howard County’s Planning Board and upcoming meeting dates, click HERE. To register to testify at Thursday’s hybrid meeting, visit HERE prior to 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, March 2^nd. 

To watch the meeting live on the night of the 3^rd, click HERE.

Also, this Thursday, March 3^rd, DPZ’s Historic Preservation Commission will be holding a VIRTUAL meeting starting at 7:00 p.m. The meeting agenda and instructions on how to join/participate in Thursday’s meeting can be found on the Commission’s website. To register to join Thursday’s meeting through your computer to view and hear the presentations, you will need to register by noon on the 3^rd. Once registered, further instructions and a call-in attendee number will be provided via email.

Those who wish to provide oral testimony are required to sign up online by noon on March 3^rd. Please follow the instructions for registering on the “Registering or Joining by Telephone” tab, where there will be an option to sign-up to testify. After you register through WebEx, please email preservation@howardcountymd.gov by noon on the 3^rd with the case information that you wish to testify on. Per HPC Rule of Procedure 102.B, only those parties who registered in advance of the March 3, 2022 meeting may participate in the proceedings by asking questions and giving testimony.

For questions, to learn more about this program and/or to request a flag of your address, visit HERE or contact HCPD's Community Outreach Division at 410-313-2207 or HCPDOutreach@howardcountymd.gov.

Our Department of Public Works’ (DPW) Stormwater Management Division will hold a virtual public meeting next Tuesday, March 8^th at 7:00 p.m., to present plans for a stormwater management pond repair project near 15036 Scottswood Court in Woodbine. The pond’s infrastructure is deteriorating and DPW’s Stormwater Management Division plans to replace the existing principal spillway and riser with a concrete principal spillway pipe and riser structure to repair the facility. Riprap will also be placed at the outfall to reduce erosive velocities. This project is expected to begin construction in June 2023.

The informal meeting will include an overview of the project followed by an open discussion. County staff and the project’s design consultant will be on hand to answer any questions and gather public comments. To participate in the meeting by computer, go to www.webex.com and click “join;” the meeting number is 2308 546 3817 and “stormwater” is the password. To participate by phone, call 1-650-479-3207 (note, fees may apply) and enter the access code 2308 546 3817.

Those unable to participate in the virtual meeting who would like to view the plans and/or have questions, should contact Ms. Michele Monde with DPW’s Stormwater Management Division at 410-313-0844 or email mmonde@howardcountymd.gov.

To learn about Department of Public Works (DPW) projects currently underway, visit https://bit.ly/2V6K5B6. Searchable by project category and street name, from this site you’ll find additional project details, including news releases about the project. You can also contact DPW’s Customer Service Office at 410-313-3440 or email publicworks@howardcountymd.gov for further assistance.

If you have questions or are interested in finding out about a State road (numbered roadway) project in your area, visit the Maryland State Highway Administration’s (SHA) “Project Portal” website.

In case you missed it, Recreation and Parks' 2022 Spring/Summer Activity Guide is NOW AVAILABLE online. Online registration for Howard County residents begins Wednesday, March 2^nd at 6:00 p.m., with mail-in, over-the-phone and in-person beginning the following morning, March 3^rd at 8:00 a.m.

For non-Howard County residents, online registration begins March 9^th at 6:00 p.m., with all other registration methods beginning the following morning.

Online registration, mail-in, phone and walk-in registration for Howard County and non-county residents and for Recreation and Parks' 2022 Summer Camp Guide is now open and filling quickly! To view the Summer Camp Guide, click HERE or to register online, visit https://tinyurl.com/HCRPSummerCamps2022.

If you are a looking for activities for your child to participate in when schools are closed, I encourage you to check out the variety of one-day camps our Department of Recreation & Parks offers that your child is sure to love. For the Howard County Public School System’s upcoming spring break (April 11th to April 15th and April 18th), be sure to check out these camp offerings.

Join members of the Howard Astronomical League (HAL) on March 12^th from 6:15 to 11:00 p.m. for its upcoming Public Star Party at the observatory at Alpha Ridge Park in Marriottsville. Participants will have the chance to take in telescopic views and programming, while mingling and asking questions with HAL members. All ages are welcome to participate in this FREE event and registration is not required; however, pets are not allowed. Before heading out on the 12^th, be sure to check HAL’s website for weather or health updates before coming out.

For more information about this event, please contact Danielle Bassett at 410-313-4634 or email dbassett@howardcountymd.gov.

Our Department of Recreation & Parks is currently hiring and looking to fill a variety of job vacancies, ranging from childcare to camp counselors, score keepers, park maintenance workers and more. For a full list of available jobs, to learn more about each job and/or to apply, click HERE.

While the Howard County Bikeshare pilot program that provided fitness-friendly transportation in Columbia and Ellicott City will be coming to an end this month, we now have the opportunity to test other modes of transportation for our community. County officials are currently working with community partners in Downtown Columbia and vendors to pilot shared electric scooters to Columbia.

The current Bikeshare system relies on outdated 3G technology for communication between components, and upgrades have been determined to be cost-prohibitive. Bikeshare use has also declined significantly since the onset of the pandemic. The vendor began removing existing bicycles and stations yesterday, with all equipment slated to be gone by February 28^th. Howard County Bikeshare members will have their memberships prorated.

Reminder, the Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA) has implemented planned service adjustments affecting routes: 301, 403, 404, 405, 406 and 503. For details regarding these adjustments, please visit www.transitrta.com/february2022/. RTA Mobility Services are NOT affected by any of these adjustments.