Economic Development, Homeless Solutions Center of Department Day Trips: Community Connections Visit to Montgomery County

SILVER SPRING, Md. (Sept. 15, 2026) -  Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day today visited Montgomery County to meet with community leaders to discuss homeless solutions and economic development during the latest stop of the Department's county tour series. Secretary Day also celebrated the Moore-Miller Administration’s State Revitalization Program funding to a renovation project in Takoma Park that will turn a former bank into a cocktail bar and distillery.

Montgomery County was the fifth stop in the Department’s Day Trips: Community Connections series, a continuation of its broader Day Trips initiative created in 2023. The new Community Connections phase focuses on engaging with key community and civic partners closest to the work in housing, community revitalization, homeless solutions, business development, and more.

“Maryland is most successful when our counties and municipalities have strong economic development and abundant housing opportunities," said Secretary Jake Day. “Montgomery County is an example of that success and an example of what we can achieve when state and local partners work together to achieve those shared goals.”

The Montgomery County tour was anchored by two community roundtables in Silver Spring at the offices of the Housing Opportunities Commission. The meetings brought together local government officials, non-profit leaders, community advocates and Department staff to discuss challenges in the area and how the Department can help. Roundtable discussions included: 

• Discussion with homeless services providers in Montgomery County on current activities, challenges, and successes and specifically, what role the Department can play in facilitating those efforts.
• Identification of key programmatic, partnership and policy initiatives regarding challenges and opportunities facing development near the Purple Line, Maryland's future 16-mile light rail transit system with 21 stations connecting Prince George's and Montgomery counties. 

Solving homelessness and supporting economic development in the state continue to be top priorities for the Moore-Miller administration and the Department. In August, the Department announced more than $2.1 million in grants for housing counseling services and low-cost legal assistance through the Maryland Housing Counseling Fund. The fund supports non-profit and local government organizations who provide housing counseling services and free or low-cost legal assistance to ensure the state’s most vulnerable populations remain stably housed. Additionally, the Moore-Miller administration committed $3 million through the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget to drive economic development in Montgomery County through supporting exterior upgrades for business within a half mile of Montgomery County Purple Line stations.

Tuesday's Day Trip concluded with a tour of the renovation of the Historic Takoma Park Bank into a new distillery and cocktail bar for Hyattsville-based Sangfroid Distilling. The project received $150,000 in Fiscal Year 2027 National Capital Strategic Economic Development program funding, announced in June 2026. Secretary Day was joined by Takoma Park leaders as he presented Sangfroid Distilling co-owner Jeff Harner with a ceremonial check to highlight the State’s investment in the project. 

“Small businesses are the heart of Takoma Park, and continued state investment is vital to keeping businesses like Sangfroid Distilling and our commercial districts thriving,” said Talisha Searcy, Mayor of Takoma Park.

Here’s what community partners had to say about today’s visit. 

“Jake Day and DHCD have done a fantastic job finding ways to push local governments to embrace ambitious goals for housing and community development. They are more plugged into what’s happening in communities across the state than ever before, and they have worked relentlessly to build relationships with elected officials, real estate developers, non-profit housing providers, and advocacy groups to make an impact in every corner of the state.” - Casey Anderson, an executive at Rodgers Consulting and former chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board

"Strong communities are built when organizations, government agencies, and local partners work together to address the challenges that impact people's daily lives. We appreciate the opportunity to join this conversation with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and other community leaders to explore solutions that strengthen housing stability, support people experiencing homelessness, and create pathways for individuals and families to thrive." - Priscilla Lissik, Director of Homeless Services at The Coordinating Center

“Preserving affordability near the Purple Line, unlocking faith-owned land for new homes, and creating a stronger anti-displacement toolbox to retain residents—incredible work is happening across the Purple Line corridor and beyond thanks to partnerships across sectors, counties, and communities. We need everyone at the table to fully realize the benefits from this once-in-a-generation transit investment and we're grateful to have leadership at the state level, especially in this critical moment before the Purple Line opens.”  - Zachary Marks, EVP, Head of Real Estate Development, Enterprise Community Development

"As the Purple Line nears fruition, we're excited to work with Secretary Day to champion this transformative project and ensure that more people can benefit from it, especially those who live and work along the corridor today." - D. Reed, Maryland Policy Director, Greater Greater Washington

“Law enforcement cannot address the most critical challenges facing our communities alone. Through strong collaboration and meaningful partnerships, we can connect individuals experiencing homelessness with the resources, services and support they need. When we bring our expertise, resources, and relationships together around a shared vision, we move beyond enforcement to address challenges to cultivate meaningful, sustainable solutions that strengthen our neighborhoods and our entire community.”  - Sheriff Maxwell Uy,  Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office 

“Some of our most important challenges—housing affordability, economic opportunity, neighborhood revitalization, and homelessness—cannot be solved by any one organization or level of government. They require us to listen, learn, and act together. Bringing DHCD, local leaders, and community organizations to the same table creates the kind of collaboration that turns shared challenges into meaningful solutions for Montgomery County and communities across Maryland.” – Chelsea Andrews, President, Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County

“Achieving the Purple Line Corridor Coalition’s mission of equitable development and anti-displacement requires deep, intentional collaboration. Secretary Day’s visit underscores a shared commitment to working alongside local and community partners to ensure that this historic transit investment directly benefits the residents and small business owners who call the corridor home.” - Sheila Somashekhar, Director, Purple Line Corridor Coalition