Rockville Economic Development, Inc. launches survey of business community needs

Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) yesterday announced the launch of its 2022 survey of business community needs. The feedback gathered from city businesses will be used to improve REDI's and the City's efforts to promote economic development, and create a thriving business environment. Over $1200 value in prizes will be given away via random drawing to a few of the businesses that fill out the online survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete. The survey can be accessed online.

“The responses from the survey will be crucial in helping REDI, the City and key stakeholders prioritize what will best serve our local business community,” REDI CEO Cynthia Rivarde said in a statement Thursday. REDI is a public-private partnership that helps businesses launch, locate, expand in the City of Rockville.

Rockville expected to add new Rock East District

Rockville's Mayor and Council may officially designate a new district within the City at its meeting on Monday, July 19, 2021. Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) has formally submitted a request that elected officials declare the East Gude Drive corridor as the "Rock East District." If the Mayor and Council approve Monday night, REDI will fund and install pole banners along East Gude Drive for a targeted formal launch of the branding in September. Banners, signage and other branding materials will illustrate the breweries, "trendy shopping" and recreational opportunities found along the industrial-oriented corridor.

Simply Nutrition store sets grand opening date in Rockville

Simply Nutrition is set to celebrate the opening of its first bricks and mortar store in Rockville at 1098 Taft Street. A grand opening has now been scheduled for Thursday, November 12, 2020 at 9:00 AM, until 5:00 PM. An outdoor tent will be used, and social distancing protocols will be observed. The number of customers allowed into the store at one time will be limited due to Montgomery County Covid-19 regulations, and masks must be worn at all times on the premises.

A ribbon-cutting will be held at 12:00 PM that day. Participating will be representatives of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI). Food trucks will be on-site between 11:00 AM and 4:30 PM. There will also be giveaways and raffles.

Simply Nutrition was founded by brothers Ryan Terko and Brandon Owens as Vitamins2You. After expanding beyond vitamins and supplements to other natural product categories like beauty and personal care, they rebranded as Simply Nutrition. A portion of their sales goes to help victims of opioid addiction.

You can RSVP for the grand opening online.

REDI ASKS CITY OF ROCKVILLE TO BE ON HOOK FOR PROPERTY LEASE

Rockville Economic Development, Inc., a public-private partnership that helps launch and expand Rockville businesses, is asking the city to take on additional financial responsibility as it leases an unidentified property. Mayor Bridget Newton said she was first informed of the request last Friday. “This isn’t something that they’ve known about, or I’ve known about, for a while," Newton said Monday. "I’d like to see us be as helpful as we can."

REDI Chairman Ray Whalen appeared before the Mayor and Council Monday evening to seek changes to the Memorandum of Understanding the city has with the organization. Whalen said this property transaction will be the first major financial obligation REDI has taken on. REDI currently receives over $500,000 annually from the city, Whalen said. His concern is that REDI would be unable to pay back the cost of the 3-year rent, plus fees, should the city suddenly defund the organization.

Councilmembers Tom Moore and Beryl Feinberg expressed some concern about the request, seeking more time and detail. "For us to just agree in the space of six hours," Moore said, "this is fast." Moore added that the vagueness of just what the city's obligation would be, and the short notice of the issue, was "giving us heartburn up here."

“If you were to go ahead and do this…how much would the city be on the hook for?” Moore asked. City attorney Debra Yerg Daniel also asked for clarification of REDI's definition of partial defunding. Would a $10,000 cut to REDI's budget trigger an obligation for the city regarding the lease, for example? “We’d figure things out. I don’t where the line is," Whelan said. "We’ve never really looked at that from that perspective.”

While Whelan said he could not provide definitive numbers on paper that evening, he assured the council that "we certainly know the ballpark." “This has come to us so late," Feinberg said. "I pause a little bit when it says 'other obligations not included in payroll'…there’s no specificity to it," she added. "Personally, I have no problem with it," Newton said, but she and the council adjourned to Executive Session in the Blue Crab conference room, to obtain legal advice from city counsel. Upon restarting the public session later, Newton informed Whalen that she and the council were not prepared to make a decision on the matter Monday night.