At the Montgomery County Economic Development Committee meeting, staff reviewed the Jobs Initiative — a one‑time $20 million allocation approved last year to create three subfunds — and told the committee that funds are disbursed only after verification periods tied to hiring outcomes.

County staff said the Job Creation Fund requires eligible companies to create at least five jobs at a base annual salary of $100,000; awards are roughly $10,000 per job and companies can receive larger packages in some cases. Staff reported 31 applications so far that propose 339 jobs and approximately $3.5 million in encumbered awards that will be paid after verification and hiring are complete.

Council members pressed for transparency and demographic reporting. Council Member Lorien Sales said the quarterly packet lacked details required by a Council amendment — including outreach, marketing, demographic breakdowns, and which businesses will receive funds. Nadia Khan, Department of Finance, said awardees will be publicly announced only after agreements are signed and that finance is aggregating available metrics for quarterly snapshots. Ken Hartman said the county will circulate demographic information that is available and promised to follow up.

Staff reiterated the legal constraints on moving Jobs Initiative money: the appropriation creating the Jobs Initiative would need to be amended to divert funds and any such diversion would be a one‑time action; neither the executive nor the council can commit to replenishing diverted funds in future budgets.

Council members requested an updated list of dispersed amounts (as allowable given confidentiality of agreements in process) and asked staff to return with more granular application and demographic data to inform the January budget cycle.

Next steps: staff to provide additional reporting on awardees and metrics once agreements are in place; committee to consider whether to recommend reallocations, supplemental appropriations, or parameter changes during the budget process.