I would like to share some exciting news with you. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), last week signed a 15-year lease renewal for more than one million square feet of Foulger-Pratt Companies-owned office space in Silver Spring - keeping more than 4,000 well-paying jobs in Montgomery County.

Below are quotes from County Executive Leggett and Bryant Foulger of the Foulger-Pratt Companies pulled from the press release issued by our Department on this most recent County win:

“Montgomery County is keenly aware of the vital role our more than 19 federal agencies play in supporting and sustaining our local economy and I applaud the decision by the General Services Administration to renew NOAA’s lease in Downtown Silver Spring, keeping some 4,200 jobs in the County,” said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. “This latest federal win is a direct result of the County’s strategic, proactive outreach, led by our Department of Economic Development, to both GSA and NOAA and is also a result of the Department’s ongoing interaction with area developers and property owners, in this case Foulger-Pratt.”

“We are thrilled with GSA’s lease renewal for NOAA in Silver Spring and this great outcome was made possible by the County economic development team’s initiative to work with us to ensure a deal that was viable for all parties involved,” said Bryant Foulger, Managing Principal, Foulger-Pratt Companies. “Of the $40 million we will invest in the three buildings over the next two years, $10-15 million will go to upgrade HVAC and lighting systems to improve energy efficiency and to achieve LEED-EB Silver certification, ensuring this space will meet the needs of NOAA’s 4,000-plus employees for many years to come.”

With more than 8.3 million square feet of federally-leased space in the County, our Department understands that working with GSA, federal agency leadership and the development community is critical to ensuring we continue to facilitate the retention and growth of the federal sector in Montgomery County, as it remains a steady contributor to our local economic and job base.

NOAA’s lease renewal comes on the heels of other positive federal activity in the County over the past 18 months including: the Department of Health and Human Services’ lease renewal for 932,391 square feet to house 3,000 employees at the Parklawn office complex in Twinbrook; the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' (NIAIDs') 15-year lease on a new 490,998 square foot Class A office building in Twinbrook to house 2,000 employees; and a new $200 million satellite campus at the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center for 2,100 employees of the National Cancer Institute. This activity helps us end 2011 on a high note and we look forward to working hard in 2012 and beyond to ensure continued success.

I, along with the DED staff, wish you a very joyous holiday season and best wishes for a Happy New Year!
 
Sincerely,
Steve Silverman,
Director
Montgomery County Department of Economic Development
111 Rockville Pike, Suite 800
Rockville, Maryland 20850 | 240-777-2000