Prince George’s County Secures More Than $1.4 Million in Awards to Advance Energy Equity

By PRESS OFFICER
Prince George’s County Department of the Environment

Largo, Md. (May 21, 2026)—Prince George’s County Department of the Environment (DoE) has been awarded nearly $1.4 million through the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) Residential Energy Equity Grant Program to support home energy efficiency improvements and expand access to solar energy for income-qualifying residents.

The County was awarded a total of $1,399,722, including:

• $750,000 for Residential Whole Home/Building Energy Efficiency Retrofits

• $649,722 for the installation of cost-effective solar technologies in single-family and certain multi-family homes for income-qualifying Prince Georgians

The funding will help residents lower utility costs, improve home energy performance, and increase access to clean, renewable energy technologies.

Dr. Samuel B. Moki, Director of the DoE, emphasized the direct impact the funding will have on residents:

“This investment allows us to expand programs that directly support residents by improving energy efficiency, lowering utility costs, and increasing access to solar technologies. By prioritizing income-qualifying households, we are helping ensure that the transition to a clean energy future is both inclusive and impactful.”

The Residential Energy Equity funding is designed to address longstanding disparities in access to energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy technologies, particularly among low- to moderate-income households.

Additional details on program implementation and resident participation opportunities will be announced in the coming months.

For more information about county environmental programs, visit environment.mypgc.us.

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Melwood Enterprises Employee Derek Point Receives National Recognition for Outstanding Achievements

By PRESS OFFICER
Melwood Inc.

Grapevine, Texas (May 21, 2026)—Derek Point, a valued Melwood Enterprises employee and AbilityOne program participant, was honored with the distinguished William M. Usdane Award during SourceAmerica’s Achievement Awards Ceremony in Grapevine, Texas. These awards recognize individuals and organizations that exemplify how disability employment drives innovation, strengthens the economy, and enhances the nation’s workforce readiness.

As a 23-year member of the Melwood Enterprises team, Derek, who is deaf, has devoted his career to ensuring the safety, maintenance, and upkeep of the USDA’s George Washington Carver Center in Beltsville, Maryland. He has continuously expanded his skillset by seeking out new training opportunities and mastering a suite of technical disciplines.

As a general maintenance worker, Derek is instrumental in supporting advanced maintenance operations and critical facility needs. Alongside a team of highly skilled Melwood Enterprises employees, Derek helps maintain a federal complex that spans 45 acres and over 350,000 square feet of space. Most recently, he earned his forklift certification and now helps manage large-scale deliveries in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Derek has an unstoppable willingness to take on increasingly complex work that advances his career and strengthens his team. His spirit of never settling is proof of what is possible when talent is recognized and opportunity is accessible,” said Larysa Kautz, president and CEO of Melwood. “We are so proud of Derek and honored that he brings determination, curiosity, and pride to his work every day.”

Melwood Enterprises, which relies on an integrated workforce that includes people with significant disabilities, prioritizes training and career advancement for its employees. By establishing high-quality training programs, while collaborating with both unions and industry organizations, Melwood Enterprises creates pathways to growth for employees through registered apprenticeships, certification trainings, leadership opportunities, and more.

“At Melwood Enterprises, we pride ourselves on delivering world-class service to our customers while fostering employee excellence and growth,” said Brice Alexander, Executive Director of Melwood Enterprises. “Derek exemplifies the professionalism, dedication, and commitment to service that defines our organization. He is deeply respected by his colleagues, valued by our customers, and incredibly deserving of this recognition.”

Melwood Enterprises delivers top-tier business solutions to public and private sector clients across more than 70 locations in the D.C. region and across the mid-Atlantic, while expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities.?Boasting a team of seasoned performers, industry-respected certifications, unparalleled retention rates, and excellence in long-standing contracts, Melwood Enterprises delivers satisfaction, stability, and exceptional return on investment.?For more information about Melwood Enterprises, a part of the Melwood family of companies, visit?www.MelwoodEnterprises.org.

SourceAmerica is a national nonprofit that helps administer the AbilityOne Program —a program that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities through federal product and service contracts. We are a bridge between our network contractors and federal customers, providing the resources and support they need to successfully navigate the AbilityOne Program. To learn more, visit SourceAmerica.org.

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DoSEM Expands Economic Mobility Through Ready, Set, GROW! in the National Capital Region—Connecting Maryland’s Small and Minority Businesses With State Contracting Information
Statewide event supports Maryland’s effort to build an inclusive economic ecosystem by connecting small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses to state procurement opportunities

By PRESS OFFICER
Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility

OXON HILL, Md. (May 20, 2026)—The Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility (DoSEM), the nation’s first cabinet- level agency dedicated to advancing social and economic mobility, will host its next Ready, Set, GROW! Procurement Connections Workshop on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill. The free, in-person workshop is designed to help small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses from across Maryland access government contracting opportunities through networking with agencies and procurement officers responsible for billions of dollars in annual state contracting activity. This workshop is part of DoSEM’s broader mission to build an inclusive economic mobility ecosystem that expands access to opportunity, removes barriers to growth, and helps entrepreneurs and small businesses achieve long-term economic stability.

Hosted in the Central Maryland region, the June workshop is expected to draw entrepreneurs and business leaders from Prince George’s, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, and Howard counties, with participation welcome across the state. Participants will meet directly with state procurement officers, learn how Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Small Business Reserve (SBR), and Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) programs position businesses for growth. They will also gain practical strategies for identifying upcoming opportunities through public data sources.

“At DoSEM, we believe economic mobility means ensuring that every business owner and entrepreneur—regardless of background, race, ethnicity, immigration status, or geography—has a fair opportunity to grow, compete and succeed,” said DoSEM Secretary Walter Simmons. “We are proud to connect business owners with the resources and procurement partners they need to develop meaningful and economically productive relationships. Our Ready, Set, GROW! is not only about procurement. It is about building a true Economic Mobility Ecosystem, that builds pathway to work, wages and wealth.”

MGM National Harbor, a longstanding partner in socioeconomic procurement and small business engagement, continues to serve as a community partner for small business development in the National Capital Region. “Our partnership with the Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility reflects something we believe deeply—that when diverse businesses thrive, our entire community is stronger. MGM National Harbor is proud to host this event again and proud to have built relationships with more than 173 minority and women-owned businesses over the last decade. These partnerships are not just good business, they are a reflection of who we are and the standard of excellence our guests deserve every time they walk through our doors,” said Melonie Johnson (President and Chief Operating Officer) for MGM National Harbor.

The Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility was established under House Bill 1253 (Chapter 605, Acts of 2025) as the first cabinet-level agency in the country dedicated to social and economic mobility. DoSEM consolidates the Office of Minority Business Enterprise, the Office of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs, and the Office of Social Equity into a single department charged with expanding access to opportunity for historically underserved Maryland communities. The department administers the State’s MBE, SBR, and VSBE programs, certifies federal and state socioeconomic procurement programs, and serves as a hub for resources, technical assistance, and advocacy for the businesses that drive Maryland’s economy.

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