3 min read March 2024 — Montgomery County’s business community has many opportunities to promote inclusivity and diversity, providing a great quality of life and quality of work for its increasingly diverse and growing population. As the first Asian American to serve as a county commissioner in Pennsylvania’s history, Neil Makhija is playing a defining role in fostering those opportunities. “In order to meet this moment, it’s going to take creative thinking, willingness to try new things, as well as expansion of the things that are working in our communities in order to achieve our goals,” he said.
How does Montgomery County stand to benefit from diversity of leadership?
Montgomery County’s population is growing and at the same time is becoming more diverse. According to the 2020 census data, Asian Americans are the third largest population in the County (8.6%). One quarter of our population identifies as non-white (26.5%). Beyond that, the largest percentage change in ethnic diversity since 2000 was an increase of 150% for people identifying as multiracial.
When there is diversity of leadership and experience, communities that have traditionally been excluded can become more engaged, bringing in new perspectives that uplift all of us. Montgomery County is a great place to live and work, and it’s only going to continue to get better.
What type of role can creativity and innovation play in Montgomery County government to address key challenges from affordable housing to public safety?
We are facing many complex challenges that require complex and unorthodox solutions. In order to meet this moment, it’s going to take creative thinking, willingness to try new things, as well as expansion of the things that are working in our communities in order to achieve our goals.
Recently, for example, we encouraged local municipal police departments to link up their record management systems with the County’s. Some police departments were incentivized through initial funding from the County, and after seeing the success of this program we have been able to expand it further. This idea required the County to see the long-term benefits of a short-term financial investment, and to leverage relationships with communities. So, we’re moving from a patchwork approach to public safety to a more unified approach that benefits everyone, thanks to an investment from the County and the partnership with our local law enforcement.
Given your commitment to protecting voting rights and advancing criminal justice reform, how do you envision these efforts contributing to the economic well-being and overall quality of life for residents in Montgomery County?
It is critical that we do everything we can to ensure that the sacred, hard-fought and hard-won right to vote and engage in our democracy remains intact for Montgomery County residents. Our elections are one of the most direct ways residents can make their voices heard, and when we invest in protecting that right for all residents, we demonstrate our commitment to stewarding and building a Montgomery County that values input and engagement.
By committing to protecting voting rights and expanding access to voting, by making sure our justice system is fair and effective for everyone, we are building and nurturing the trust of our residents. When everyone has a voice and everyone gets treated fairly, there’s more confidence. When people feel confident and safe, they will continue to choose to live, work, and invest in the County.
What role do you envision businesses operating in Montgomery County playing during your tenure as a commissioner to make Montgomery a more inclusive community?
Businesses here in Montgomery County have great opportunities to contribute to inclusivity. They can be leaders in promoting inclusivity and diversity, both within their organizations and throughout the community, by embracing diversity, promoting diverse hiring practices, providing equal opportunities for advancement, and fostering a culture of respect and acceptance.
We are very supportive of the business community and know that there are many barriers that business owners, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, can face. Through our Recovery Office, we created the Small Business Grant Program Focused on Minority, Women, and Veteran-Owned Businesses. When distributing those funds, we made special consideration to ensure that businesses with historically less access to capital were supported: business owners who are women, people of color, veterans, people identifying as LGBTQIA+, immigrants, people with limited English proficiency, or people with disabilities. Across the County, a total of 254 small businesses were awarded grants, for a total of nearly $3.2 million.
With some of your focus areas involving climate action and access to mental health services, how will these priorities play a role in shaping Montgomery County’s economic development strategies and investments?
Taking an approach that centers issues like climate change and mental health first involves analyzing the overall landscape for the programs we invest in. We are working collaboratively across departments, and with multiple stakeholders in government and business to identify vulnerabilities in the County, whether those are environmental, societal, or economic.
Take the housing crisis, for example. Climate and mental health are both factors to consider when talking about how to solve for homelessness and housing affordability.
We have some of the oldest housing stock in the country here in Pennsylvania, and these old homes are not built to withstand today’s extreme weather. Our homes need to be safe from extreme heat, extreme cold, and extreme rain. We recently launched the Whole Home Repairs program, which is specifically shaped to give Montgomery County homeowners who struggle to make ends meet an opportunity to access the funds needed to weatherize their homes, so that everyone has a safe place to live.
And those who are unhoused frequently need more than just a safe place to live, though that’s a very important start. They also need supportive services. Addressing homelessness means preventing eviction, addressing childcare needs, offering programs for mental health and substance issues, lowering healthcare costs, and addressing other burdens that individuals might be facing.
Bringing climate and mental health to the forefront brings a multi-layered approach to addressing the County’s development strategies and economic investments, which requires partnership: governmental, organizational, and community involvement.
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