PLCC held its 2021 annual meeting on November 17. In case you missed it, the recording is now available. Over 100 attendees joined us to hear from peers working on the ground to ensure housing stability, economic vitality, and neighborhood livability in the communities along the transit line. Thanks to all who attended, and stay tuned for more ways to engage with us!
PLCC’s 2021-2022 Small Business Support Action Plan is now available, and it will guide PLCC’s work to support small and microbusinesses through the overlapping challenges of rising commercial rents, construction disruptions, and the pandemic.
The PLCC Small Business Support Action Plan builds on a three-phase small business COVID recovery framework developed by Jill Schlesinger, a nationally-syndicated financial columnist. This includes immediate Triage, medium-term Transition, and long-term Transformation strategies that will create vibrant spaces for the existing community and attract new customers. This plan prioritizes six neighborhoods, referred to throughout the plan as equity areas, where small businesses are most vulnerable to displacement and where increased community investment can drive racial equity. These areas include Greater Riverdale, communities along University Boulevard including Northern Gateway and Langley Park, Long Branch, Bonifant Street and Fenton Village in Silver Spring, and the Brookville Road Business District in Lyttonsville. There are an estimated 830 micro-businesses within 1/2 mile and 513 micro-businesses within 1/4 mile of these stations.
Co-Chaired by the Latino Economic Development Center and CASA, the PLCC Small Business Action Team is focused on supporting existing businesses and strengthening commercial corridors. Strategies identified include:
-Place-based Management, Technical Assistance and Service Coordination
-Policy, Advocacy, and Education
-Marketing and Promotion
-Research and Relationship-Building for Transformation
See the Executive Summary here, and the full Small Business Support Action Plan here.
Members of the PLCC Small Business Action Team have sent a letter to Governor Larry Hogan asking him to release $2 million in funding allocated by the state legislature to help businesses impacted by Purple Line construction.
A prolonged construction schedule, caused by multiple delays, is hurting small businesses in the corridor who were already suffering from the effects of the pandemic.
—from the letter to Governor Hogan
The letter-writing effort is being spearheaded by the Latino Economic Development Center and CASA de Maryland, co-chairs of PLCC’s Small Business Action Team. PLCC’s Small Business Action Team works to support small and family-owned businesses along the corridor.
Read the full text of the letter here.
Members of the PLCC Small Business Action Team invite members of the community to sign-on to the letter by completing this form.