A Montgomery County Council committee will discuss a bill that could mean thousands of dollars in help for recognized green businesses.
The Green Organization Supplement, proposed by Bethesda Councilman Roger Berliner (D), could mean as much as $25,000 for green businesses annually. The bill comes out of the county’s Green Economy Task Force, which recommended more incentives for companies in the green sector.
At issue in the Monday afternoon committee hearing on the measure will be what exactly makes a business “green.” The Department of Economic Development has suggested that a green product or service be defined as “a product or service that measures, prevents, limits, minimizes or corrects environmental damage to water, air and soil, as well as problems related to waste, ecosystems, biodiversity, habitat or natural resource depletion.”
A similar county-funded incentive package for biotechnology companies provided $500,000 in supplement funds in 2012, according to the Department of Economic Development. There were 66 awards, ranging from $2,000 to $42,000. The average award was around $7,500.
Bethesda Green executive director David Feldman was a member of the county task force, which came out with its recommendations in 2010. The nonprofit based in Woodmont Triangle has a green business incubator, which works closely with the county’s Economic Development people.
The task force also recommended using Bethesda Green and its incubator program as a model for “Green Business Zones” in other areas.
The committee discussion of the bill is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be shown live on County Cable Montgomery.