Montgomery County officials visit businesses for ‘National Small Business Week'

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) – Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and members of the Montgomery County Business Center met with three people who own small businesses in Eastern Montgomery County. Elrich thanked them for their hard work and their commitment to continue helping the county grow.
The first business on the tour was K. Hill Orthodontics in Silver Spring. Owner Dr. Karlene-Anne Hill opened her business in 2002. She says what she enjoys most about practicing in Montgomery County is the people she helps every day.
'I love seeing patients,' Hill said, 'especially the kids who come in. You know, they're shy, they don't want to smile, they don't like how their teeth look. We're able to give them a nice, beautiful smile.'
From there, the group traveled a mile-and-a-half down New Hampshire Avenue to Yeneta Language & Culture Academy.
The space is used to teach children and adults about Ethiopian customs and traditions. The academy is a recipient of the MOVE Grant, which helps businesses with their lease, as well as cover expenses.
'We had issues because all of the payments,' Yeneta Language & Culture Academy owner Rakeb Zeleke said, 'We were able to pay the rent and other stuff, so the grant was very helpful to us.'
The last stop on the tour was the new location for Isaac's Poultry Market in Burtonsville. Head chef and owner Rob Gresham says he chose to open a second location in Montgomery County because of the support they receive from the community.
'We're in the people business,' Gresham said, 'we just happen to sell chicken. So, taking care of the customers and seeing their excitement and their joy eating our food, it's really awesome.'
Elrich says successful small businesses are what make Montgomery County continue to thrive.
'It feels really good when you can go out and look at the things that have been done and say, 'Yeah, this is actually making a difference,'' he said. 'So, I'm happy about this.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Business Insider

17 hours ago

• Business Insider

Top 8 African countries with the least affordable housing in 2025

The 2025 Global Housing Affordability Index from Numbeo has revealed a concerning trend across African countries: a wide gap between property prices and average household incomes. Business Insider Africa presents the African countries with the least affordable housing in 2025 The ranking is courtesy of Numbeo Ethiopia and Cameroon rank among the least affordable housing markets globally, with ratios indicating nearly five decades of income required to afford housing. The new ranking places Ethiopia and Cameroon among the three least affordable housing markets in the world, trailing only behind Syria and Cuba. The Price-to-Income Ratio (PIR) is the key metric used in this index. It compares the cost of a home to the median annual household income in a country. The higher the ratio, the more years of income it would take for a typical citizen to afford a house signaling poor affordability. Numbeo, the world's largest database of user-contributed housing data, released the 2025 figures based on crowd-sourced entries across global cities and countries. The data paints a stark picture for countries like Ethiopia and Cameroon, where citizens face almost five decades of income sacrifice just to own a modest home. In contrast, some African nations, like South Africa, have some of the most affordable housing ratios on the continent. Top 8 African countries with the highest price-to-income ratios in 2025 Rank Country Price-to-Income Ratio (PIR) 1 Ethiopia 47.1 2 Cameroon 46.6 3 Mauritius 18.5 4 Egypt 18.2 5 Algeria 16.7 6 Morocco 13.4 7 Tunisia 12.2 8 South Africa 3.2 Investor interest drops as luxury units outpace demand Real estate pioneer Ermias Amelga describes the Ethiopian market as oversupplied with expensive apartments and villas. He said: ' Speculative investors are offloading properties at discounted rates,' noting that demand has slowed and confidence has dropped. In Addis Ababa, the situation is especially severe. Despite hosting institutions like the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the City Administration has repaid just 1.9% of its 25.85 billion birr bond to the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia over the first three quarters of the fiscal year. Experts blame the lack of mortgage banking, luxury-focused development, and the widening gap between housing demand and availability. The crisis is also tied to a wider slowdown in Ethiopia's real estate sector. Developers face longer sales cycles, while government efforts to regulate the industry and close the supply gap have struggled to gain traction.

Indianapolis Star

6 days ago

• Indianapolis Star

As the country celebrates Juneteenth, here are 40 Black-owned restaurants to check out

With Juneteenth — the federal holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when the last slaves of the Confederacy were freed following the arrival of Union troops — fast approaching, many communities across the United States are especially focused on supporting Black-owned businesses. There's no reason it has to be Juneteenth for you to visit any of these establishments, but in honor of the country's newest federal holiday, here's a sample of places to try. VisitIndy and both maintain comprehensive registries of Black-owned businesses in the Indianapolis area, including restaurants. You can find 40 eateries listed below, from upscale lounges to neighborhood ice cream shops and plenty of soul food. Axum Ethiopian Restaurant 825 N. Pennsylvania St., 317.493.1139, This downtown Ethiopian eatery, located right by the Central Library, serves heaping platefuls of spongy injera flatbread topped with stews (wot) and semi-dry meat stir fries (tibs). The berbere-spiced lamb awaze tibs ($23) offer a hearty option for heat seekers, while the atakilt wot ($21) marries chopped Ethiopian greens, potatoes and aromatic vegetables in a mild, vegetarian-friendly medley. INdulge: Spicy lamb at downtown Ethiopian restaurant is best thing I ate in Indy this week More Black-owned restaurants that serve East African cuisine: Abyssinia (5352 W. 38th St., 317.299.0608, Lete's Injera & Café (2927 W. 10th St., 317.667.7587, Major Restaurant (1150 S. Mickley Ave., 317.240.2700, The Jollof Buka 2501 W. Washington St., 317.384.1575, This westside restaurant specializes in the cuisine of Nigeria and Ghana, with a menu full of rich stews, starchy grain dumplings called swallows and the signature spiced rice dish of West Africa called jollof. More Black-owned restaurants that serve West African cuisine: Barry's African Restaurant (4253 Lafayette Road, 463.888.7007, Mega Suya (3081 N. High School Road, 317.672.6186, Bar-B-Q Heaven 2515 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. St., 317.926.1667 and 877 E. 30th St., 317.283.0035, This 73-year-old Indianapolis staple sells just about every form of smoked and sauced meat you can fathom, from pig's feet to turkey ribs. Bar-B-Q Heaven's no-frills, all-flavor reputation has made it one of Indy's biggest names in barbecue since owner and longtime pitmaster Ronald Jones began selling barbecue outside the Frederick Douglass Park on the east side as an 11-year-old. INdulge: INdulge: This BBQ dish was best thing I ate in Indy this week Pa and Ma's Backyard BBQ 2621 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. St., 317.835.1695, The mother-daughter duo of Monica and Brockelle Nelson carry on the legacy of Evansville native and longtime Indy resident George Nelson (Monica's husband and Brockelle's father), who last year was shot and killed outside the restaurant he first opened on 27th and Rader Street in 2007. Pa and Ma's, named for George and Monica, serves smoked meat and soul food in a casual family setting. Last fall the eatery appeared on an episode of Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," where celebrity chef-host Guy Fieri lauded George's chicken and dumplings. More Black-owned barbecue restaurants: King Ribs (3145 W. 16th St., 317.488.0223 and 4130 N. Keystone Ave., 317.543.0841, Gip Got Tips (2073 N. Emerson Ave., 317.258.1447, Just Wing'n It 7834 Michigan Road, 317.471.1020, This Crooked Creek sports bar serves up pizza, pasta, sandwiches and, indeed, wings, in an all-ages setting lined with TV screens. Papa Bears Chicken 1938 E. 46th St., (317) 253-2697 Owner, chef and lone employee Kelvin Brasher hawks wings, fries, ribs, pizzas and more from his carry-out venture just off 46th Street and Keystone Avenue. The one-man show operates seven days per week, open until 3 a.m. on weekends. The Coffee Den 201 S. Capitol Ave., 317.500.4333, Situated in the first floor of the Pan Am Tower across from the Indiana Convention Center, the Coffee Den brews hot and iced drinks and offers a slim selection of to-go sandwiches and breakfast items. Tea's Me Café 140 E. 22nd St., 317.920.1016, 3967 N. Illinois St., 317.518.7536 and 420 University Blvd., 317.432.0022, Acquired by WNBA champion and Indiana Fever great Tamika Catchings in 2017, Tea's Me's three Indianapolis locations serve inexpensive breakfast and lunch fare ($11.25 and under) with a robust selection of cold and hot loose-leaf teas. Shadow Lounge 2380 E. 54th St., 317.974.9288, Chef Tia Wilson, who previously helmed the popular wing joint Chicken Scratch downtown, has crafted an upscale menu with dishes like lamb "lollipops" ($30), jerk lamb pasta ($35) and high-end takes on popular bar foods at this 21+ eatery on the northeast side. The food, plus a full bar and live music, has made Shadow Lounge a popular haunt since it opened last August. Other Black-owned lounges in Indianapolis: Arden Café and Lounge (6 W. Washington St., 317.401.3848, BlankUS Luxury Lounge (501 N. College Ave., 317.734.3161, Kulture Bar and Bistro (7038 Shore Terrace, 317.222.4964, Living Room Lounge (934 N. Pennsylvania St., 317.635.0361, Yaso Jamaican Grill 1501 Prospect St., 317.744.0011, Curried goat, jerk chicken and Jamaica's national dish of ackee and saltfish ($16 to $23) headline the menu at this popular Fountain Square Jamaican spot. A rotation of daily specials offers plenty of opportunities for those unfamiliar with island cuisine to try something new. More Black-owned restaurants that sell Jamaican and Caribbean cuisine: Da Blue Lagoon (11705 Pendleton Pike, 317.855.3778, Jamaican Breeze (4189 N. Keystone Ave., 317.426.4045, Scotchy Jamaican Grill (inside the Fishers Test Kitchen at 9713 District N. Drive, Fishers, His Place Eatery 6916 E. 30th St., 317.545.4890 and 1141 W. 86th St., 317.790.3406, Owner James Jones has loved barbecue and soul food since he took in the smells of nearby church potlucks as a kid growing up in downtown Indy. In 2009 he opened the first of two His Place Eateries, both of which serve James' blend of smoked meats and comfort staples like ribs ($18 to $21), chicken and dumplings ($17), collard greens grilled cheese ($18) and sweet twists on chicken and waffles like red velvet, churro and peach cobbler (around $20). More: His Place Eatery appears on 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.' Here's what makes it special Kountry Kitchen 1831 N. College Ave., 317.635.6000, This Indianapolis institution, whose dining room has welcomed guests ranging from Shaquille O'Neal to Barack Obama, has carried on its tradition of artisanal soul food since it reopened in October 2023, three years after a 2020 fire destroyed the original Kountry Kitchen. Dishes like oxtail and grits ($23), rib tips ($22) and shrimp and grits ($22) with a slew of comfort sides have made Kountry Kitchen an Indianapolis favorite for decades. More soul food restaurants in Indianapolis: The Grub House (1953 N. College Ave., 317.974.9089, Healthy Soul Indy (inside The AMP food hall at 1220 Waterway Blvd., 317.210.0345, SouthPaw Soul Kitchen (3351 Central Ave., 317.794.9349, Black Leaf Vegan Café 335 W. 9th St., 317.560.4222, A blend of vegetarian dishes and imitation meats headline the menu at Black Leaf, located just off the Downtown Canal. From an egg-less bagel sandwich ($7) to jackfruit potato stew ($9) and vegan cinnamon rolls ($4.25), Black Leaf accomodates those on plant-based diets. Burgeezy 335 W. 9th St., 317.419.2180, Situated along the Downtown Canal, Burgeezy offers visually striking plant impersonations of American carnivores' favorite flavors, with animal-free versions of burgers, fried chicken and breakfast sausage ($10 to $20). LiftOff Creamery 111 E. 16th St., 317.426.2641, 5539 E. Washington St., 317.419.3885 and 1280 U.S. Highway 31 N., Greenwood, 317.300.1737, Veteran commercial airline pilot Ryan Lynch pays homage to his career with the aviation-themed ice cream at LiftOff Creamery in the Old Northside. Each of the brand's three shops offers a staggering variety of flavors, often as many as 80 at a time. More Black-owned dessert vendors in Indianapolis: Cretia Cakes Bake Shop (1435 Chase Court, Carmel, 317.929.1560, Gordon's Milkshake Bar (865 Massachusetts Ave., Punkin's Pies (inside The AMP food hall at 1220 Waterway Blvd., Scoopz Ice Cream (inside The AMP food hall at 1220 Waterway Blvd., Flatiron on Penn 605 N. Pennsylvania St., 317.746.6961, This downtown eatery wedged between Pennsylvania Street and Fort Wayne Avenue started as the Elbow Room tavern in 1933, closed in 2018 and reopened in 2019 under chef-owner Glenn Brown. Re-envisioned as an upscale American eatery with a robust cocktail menu and plates like filet mignon ($46 to $57) and pan-roasted salmon ($32), the Flatiron still pays homage to its less extravagant roots with dishes like the Elbow Room pork tenderloin sandwich ($15) and other familiar pub fare. More Black-owned restaurants in Indianapolis: The Block Bistro and Grill (115 W. Market St., 317.932.9200, Foster's Café and Catering (inside Ivy Tech Community College-Lawrence at 9301 E. 59th St. Open Kitchen (4022 Shelby St., 317.974.9032,

Business Upturn

14-06-2025

• Business Upturn

The Joe Spot Launches Online Coffee Store Offering Artisan Blends, Single Origin Beans, and Fast Coffee Delivery Across the USA

MARINA DEL REY, Calif., June 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Joe Spot, an online coffee store from Marina Del Rey, California, announces its official launch, offering premium coffee beans, specialty coffee online, and fresh roasted coffee to customers across the United States. The platform delivers artisan coffee, single origin coffee, and gourmet coffee beans direct to door, combining quality with convenience. The Joe Spot logo, established in 2025, highlights its premium coffee identity. features curated selections under three categories: Blends, Flavored, and Single Origin, each roast delivered in 12 oz coffee bags, 1 lb coffee beans, or 2 lb coffee bulk sizes. Popular offerings include Bali Blue coffee, Brazil Santos beans, Colombia coffee, Ethiopian coffee, and a distinctive Earl Grey coffee blend. Ground options include coarse grind coffee, espresso grind, standard grind coffee, as well as whole bean coffee. To support routines from morning coffee routine to work from home coffee, The Joe Spot offers a coffee subscription program that includes 20 percent off recurring orders. All orders qualify for free shipping on all United States orders. Whether customers want coffee beans near me, plan to buy coffee online, or seek coffee gifts, The Joe Spot provides fast coffee delivery USA through its user-friendly online coffee store. The platform also caters to corporate needs with tailored coffee for office and bulk ordering. Customers can choose between ground coffee, whole bean coffee, and flavored options like Holiday Blend or Italian Roast to keep teams energized. A coffee direct to door model ensures timely delivery, ideal for offices and communal spaces. In addition to coffee, The Joe Spot offers a small but refined tea collection, including Earl Grey tea, sourced to complement its coffee lineup. By offering fresh coffee shipped from roast to cup, The Joe Spot brings small-batch craftsmanship to the convenience of online retail. The platform's offerings address the demand for best coffee delivery, combining quality sourcing with rapid fulfillment. Media Contact:James HollandThe Joe Spot [email protected]