News and Events
Taking the Initiative Newsletter
"Taking the Initiative: A news digest from the Greater Washington Initiative" is published monthly. Add me to the distribution list.
December 2004 |
| Latest News from the Greater Washington Initiative |
New Firms Call Area Home: 2004 is Strong Year for Business Development - The Greater Washington Initiative directly assisted 16 firms locate or expand to the area, up from 12 in 2003. A majority of these firms, which GWI attracted through its conferences and missions, are technology related, and many have recently landed federal government contracts. In addition, GWI currently has 148 active company prospects… a great way to begin work in the new year! To learn how to participate in a U.S. or international business development program planned for 2005, contact Tim Priest. Regional IT Study in Progress; Deadline is January 15, 2005 - How large is Greater Washington’s IT industry? What are its most significant sub-sectors? How has the industry adapted to change over the past decade and what are its future prospects? For answers, and to provide an up-to-date comparative analysis, GWI will release a landmark information technology and communications study in March of 2005. It’s not too late to participate in this study! IT professionals - in firms ranging from defense to manufacturing- are encouraged to complete an online survey. Take survey Educational Conferences Benefit Prospective Companies and GWI - GWI’s latest outreach effort, a seminar entitled “ Increasing Your U.S. Government Market Share ” held earlier this month in Dallas, TX, drew nearly 100 attendees. Special thanks to Dan Sturdivant of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, for an impressive keynote presentation. T hese seminars offer small to mid-sized companies the tools needed to locate to the region, and have helped firms make successful professional connections. For example, Strategic Thought, a 2004 “locate” that GWI met through a workshop held in the U.K., obtained important contracts from NASA and Lockheed Martin Space Systems. Details Pumping Dollars into Region: Heart Society Moves South from Boston - The Heart Rhythm Society recently relocated its headquarters from Boston to DC, after GWI provided the organization with extensive real estate and other data. Representing cardiac arrhythmia professionals , the Heart Rhythm Society moved into new offices at 1400 K St., NW on Dec. 13 and plans to have a staff of approximately 30. More info New-to-Region IT Firm Becomes Part of Local Defense Giant - Stasys Ltd., a technology and consulting firm that GWI helped expand to the area in 2003, was recently acquired by Lockheed Martin. According to Lockheed Martin President and CEO Bob Stevens, "Stasys is an outstanding addition to the Lockheed Martin team that will bolster our core competencies in net-centric operations and systems engineering." Read More Welcome to GWI’s New National Business Development Manager - Last week, Gwen Varndell joined the Greater Washington Initiative staff as National Business Development Manager, focused on business recruitment activities within the U.S. A native Virginian, Varndell most recently worked in business development for Enterprise Technology Partners, LLC, a minority-owned consulting firm. She also has experience at the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust. Gwen replaces Danielle Misko, who is now with Clearwave, a healthcare technology company. Gwen may be reached at 202-857-5989 or gwenvardell@bot.org. |
| Regional Business Update |
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| Economic Development News from Across the Region |
We asked our economic development partners to share their most significant news of 2004…Here’s a summary: Alexandria , VA - The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) in Alexandria represents the largest lease ever signed by General Service Administration. When completed in May 2005, the campus will house 7,100 employees and consist of five interconnected buildings crowned by a 204-foot atrium. As a result of the PTO development, Alexandria is now witnessing a surge in commercial, residential and office activities, including a Whole Foods Market and 10-story hotel currently in the works. PTO info BWI Airport , MD - The ongoing improvement and expansion program at BWI is the most aggressive capital program in the history of the airport. When complete, the facility will have tripled the amount of parking close to the terminal, increased the capacity of its terminal and roadways, and supplied new aircraft gates for airline partners. Read more Calvert County , MD - The Department of Economic Development is winding down a year-long celebration of Calvert County's 350th anniversary. Showcasing the growing Southern Maryland community, the celebration featured parades, special events, a lecture series, placement of a time capsule and the creation of a documentary on Calvert County's history. Details District of Columbia - The Washington, DC Marketing Center has had an exciting year. The Center moved into new office spaces at 1495 F St., NW and launched a new website. The site features interactive search tools that allow visitors to look for retail space by size, neighborhood, ward, Metro proximity, and other criteria. The site also provides easy access to data including development activity, demographics, neighborhood statistics, publications and more. Visit website Fairfax County , VA - In 2004, the Economic Development Authority worked with 107 companies that announced they would create 6,000+ jobs. And in November, Virginia Gov. Mark Warner announced that six companies -- AgustaWestland, Booz Allen Hamilton, CGI-AMS, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Science Applications International Corp. and SRA International -- would create more than 10,000 jobs in the county over the next five years. More info Howard County, MD – In November, County Executive Jim Robey and Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich joined company execs for the Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream ceremonial groundbreaking in Laurel. The $185 million project will add 400 new jobs to the County. The 600,000-square foot location will include a manufacturing area and a frozen distribution warehouse; once completed, it will be one of the world’s largest ice cream plants! Details Montgomery County, MD - Montgomery County opened its new Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference this past fall, the largest of its kind in the area. The Center features the largest ballroom in the state of Maryland, and more than 35,000 square feet of meeting space. This state-of-the-art facility, with bookings through 2009, has attracted many national organizations and associations. More info Prince William County, MD - Prince William County was noted as the number one “large community” in the nation for average annual job growth, and for having the nation’s third-highest median household income. This past quarter, community leaders received the highly coveted AAA bond rating from Wall Street, an award given to less than one percent of all communities in the U.S. And the county added the 2004 Virginia Biotechnology Company of the Year (Mediatech, Inc.) to its business community. Learn more |
| GWI in the News |
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| "Taking the Initiative - A News Digest" is a monthly communication from GWI - a regional economic development marketing organization that promotes the area encompassing the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland as a premier business location. GWI is financially supported by local public jurisdictions and leading area companies. For more information on GWI or to be added to the "Digest" distribution list, email greaterwashingtoninitiative@bot.org. To opt-out of this list, please reply to this message with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. For regional data and statistics, visit our website at www.greaterwashington.org. GWI is an affiliate of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. |
