PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Prince George’s $1.2B Public School Construction Project Approved by Council By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill With final negotiations set to transpire on a $1.2 billion public-private partnership (P3) project, some residents and education advocates offered some recommendations for Prince George’s County officials to incorporate into the contract. A few of the proposed measures sent to County Council and public school officials include: preference given to contractors who hire returning citizens,
or those formerly incarcerated; a minimum penalty of 15 percent of total cost of the project for missing set dates for completion; and a minimum of 40 percent of all total contracted workforce must be Prince George’s county residents. “If those things are not in the contract, then Prince George’s County are raked over the coals and no one has any excuse for that,” Janna Parker, an education advocate of Temple Hills, said Saturday, Oct. 24. Parker and others with the Keep PGCPS Public Coalition are part
of a group that expressed concerns P3 project funding, specific project details and what the conditions will be when children return to school, especially amid a global pandemic. But the school board still nearly voted unanimously on Oct. 21 to build six schools using the P3 model. The majority Black jurisdiction will be the site of the first effort in the nation to use a public private partnership to build public schools. “I am so proud to be at this point where we’re going to be stepping out in front of the crowd and being looked upon as trend setters on building new schools quicker,” said Sonya Williams (District 9), one of 11 school board members to approve the plan. “This is not the end of this issue. This is the beginning.” Before any dirt gets shoveled and bricks laid down, final contract negotiations will take place for the private companies to maintain each school for a 30-year period. Because up to three months of negotiations are scheduled with some discussions held closed doors, that’s one of several reasons board member Raaheela Ahmed (District 5) voted against the project. “That’s kind of concerning for me,”
The Prince George’s County Department of Housing Community Development Announces its Emergency Rental Assistance Relaunch
she said. “With a deal this big and understanding the risks, this is what’s important to me and I think that’s where some controversy lies.” Board member David Murray (District 1) abstained. The board already chose Fengate Capital Management, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, and Gilbane Development Co., based in Providence, R.I., to lead and manage the
project. Stantec, an architecture firm with offices in northwest D.C. and Laurel, Md., is chief architect, and Honeywell of Charlotte, N.C. is services provider. Five of the six buildings are not only middle schools, but are sited inside the Beltway. About 8,000 students are slated to
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Prince George’s Chamber Holds Awards Gala
By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill
Prince George’s Chamber hosted its annual awards gala virtually Friday, Oct. 23. Among the guest speakers was James Brown, legendary broadcaster, host of “The NFL Today” on CBS and a former DeMatha High School basketball standout. The chamber awards went to “those who have assisted with the maintenance and restoration of our county during this pandemic,” the chamber said. FSC First and Industrial Bank was singled out with the Financial Relief of the Year award. The Small Business of the Year award went to Portera Rehabilitation. “Hero of the Year” to Doctors Community Health System; “Lifetime Achievement Educator of the Year” went to Charlene Dukes, former president of Prince George’s Community College; and “Chamber Hall of Fame” was awarded to County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. WI
Landlords must complete an on-line application and submit the following documents on behalf of all eligible delinquent tenants: Application
Rental Assistance Agreement
IRS Form W-9
Owner Losses Report
Rent Ledger
Property Deed
Rental Lease (1st and signature page) Agent or Management Agreement
The Prince George’s County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is now offering relief to landlords on behalf of renters experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic through its second Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program. Landlords submit your application by 11:59 p.m. EST on Nov. 10, 2020! Funds are limited, so apply now. Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Landlords/Owners of multi-family, single-family, condominium and cooperative properties with a valid County rental license are eligible to apply.
(between the Owner and the Agent) PGC Electronic Funds Transfer Form Tenant Self-Certification of Eligibility and Annual Income Form Client Information Authorization Rental License (issued by the County for the property)
Tenants must meet the following requirements: Have a valid lease agreement in their name. Income eligible families whose annual income does not exceed 80% of the area median income, as determined by HUD, and adjusted for household size. The household has COVID-19 triggering event.
Program opens Tuesday, October 27, 2020 For detailed information about the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, visit the DHCD website:
https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/908/Housing-Community-Development
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THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
