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The Silver Spring Regional Center is one of four groups recognized by the EPA for innovative approaches to development that expand economic opportunity and protect public health and the environment in its 2008 National Awards for Smart Growth Achievement.

The other areas are the Atlanta Regional Commission; the Urban Edge Housing Corporation in Roxbury, Mass.; and Mercy Housing California and the San Francisco Housing Authority.

The regional center received the Overall Excellence award for the Downtown Silver Spring Redevelopment Project that united public and private organizations in revitalizing the downtown area.

Winners were selected based on how effectively they used smart growth strategies to improve their communities and how well they engaged citizens and fostered partnerships.

EPA created the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement in 2002 to recognize outstanding approaches to development that benefit the economy, the community, public health, and the environment. Since 2002, EPA has recognized 32 smart growth leaders from among 523 applications representing 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

For more information on the winners and EPA's Smart Growth program, visit www.epa.gov/smartgrowth.

Discovery receives honors by women's group

Discovery Communications has been named the 2008 Best Programmer for Women in Cable by Women in Cable Telecommunications in collaboration with Working Mother Media, according to a news release from the Silver Spring-based company.

In its sixth year, the Women in Cable Telecommunications initiative examines and ranks companies in the cable telecommunications industry according to three criteria: Pay Equity, Advancement Opportunities and Resources for Work/Life Support. The honor was to be presented in a ceremony Thursday.

Discovery also extended the wellness center at its global headquarters to offer services to employee dependents over the age of fourteen. Discovery restructured its compensation program last year to better reflect employees' core skills and analyze pay equity.

College receives grant

to assist veterans

The Wal-Mart Foundation has awarded Montgomery College a $100,000 grant to support veterans and veteran programs at the community college. Montgomery College is one of 10 higher education institutions selected to receive a grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation because of its successful veteran educational assistance programs. Montgomery College will receive $100,000 from the foundation, according to a news release from the college.

The grant will support the development of new and existing programs and provide resources to assist veterans with access to education, adjustment to civilian life and success in completing their degrees. Currently, nearly 300 identified veterans are enrolled in credit classes at Montgomery College.

For more information about Montgomery College, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu. To learn more about the Wal-Mart Foundation, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

Commission for Women hosts December seminars

The Montgomery County Commission for Women, Counseling and Career Center offers a variety of business-related events in December at its office, 401- N. Washington St., Suite 100, Rockville. Call 240-777-8300 for more information.

"Recession-proof Your Money" will be held 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 3.

"Building a Portfolio of Career Assets" will be held 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Innovation center hosts business plan seminar

A seminar titled "Writing a Winning Business Plan" sponsored by the Wheaton Business Innovation Center will be held 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the center, 11002 Veirs Mill Road, Suite 700, Wheaton. Call 301-403-0501, ext. 11.

County chamber hosts breakfast seminar

A breakfast seminar titled "Do More with Less: Making-over Your IT Department" sponsored by the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will be held 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday at the chamber office, 51 Monroe St., Rockville. Call 240-425-4447.

Baltimore-Washington chamber hosts holiday mixer

The Baltimore-Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce Foundation will hold a holiday mixer 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 in the Great Room of savage Mill, 8600 Foundry St., Savage. Call 301-725-4000.

Items appropriate for Business Notes may be mailed to The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. They may also be sent by fax to 240-473-7501 or by e-mail to flewis@gazette.net.