Tucked inside the recently-adopted federal budget for Fiscal Year 2022 is $300,000 to support the Arts & Brewery District in Downtown Silver Spring. The goal is to strengthen that area’s business community, according to U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, who secured the appropriation.
The funds will be used for students at Montgomery College’s campus in Silver Spring to train and apprentice for careers that support craft food and beverage manufacturing. Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) will administer the money.
The Downtown Silver Spring Arts & Brewery District includes Denizens Brewing Co., Silver Branch Brewing, Astro Lab Brewing and almost 160 restaurants, delis and bars. Maryland designated Silver Spring as an Arts & Entertainment District.
Other proposed projects include creating streetscapes, pedestrian-friendly walkways, lighting and signage that would guide visitors to walk between the breweries. It would also be used to create pop up space for local farm breweries during special events and weekends. Money also will be used for promotions and marketing.
The initiative previously received $100,000 from MCDOT in the fall of 2021.
“Dynamic federal-local partnerships help our Eighth District community thrive,” Raskin said in a news release. “I’m elated that President Biden has signed into law funding to support Downtown Silver Spring’s Arts & Brewery District, one of Montgomery County’s exciting business centers. This project will create economic development opportunities and invigorate Silver Spring.”
County Executive Marc Elrich called the district “a game changer for our County’s economy and re-establishes this community as a destination location for dining, entertainment, and good times.”
Added Montgomery President & CEO Kelly Groff in the news release, “Visitors and residents are drawn to Silver Spring’s unique mix of diverse restaurants, award-winning breweries, walkability, vibrant shopping and thriving cultural arts experiences. With its close proximity to Washington, D.C. and Red Line Metro access, Silver Spring is well-positioned to grow its local tourism economy through the creation of a new Arts & Brewery District,”
Exciting news for #MoCo! Downtown Silver Spring has been included in the FY22 congressional appropriation thanks to support from @RepRaskin. The $300k appropriation will support the Arts & Brewery District and will be administered by MCEDC. Read more > https://t.co/1yVHgOCSf3 pic.twitter.com/BtdPJa0t1f
— MCEDC (@think_moco) March 21, 2022
