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Greater Washington Prepares to Host Global Leaders for Nuclear Security Summit

Washington, DC – All eyes will be on Greater Washington on April 12-13, 2010, when U.S. President Barack Obama hosts leaders from nearly 50 countries for the Global Nuclear Security Summit.  In addition to the Summit, the delegates will be exploring our nation’s capital, discussing business in Greater Washington, and discovering that government is not all we do here. In fact, here are a few things you may not know about the Greater Washington region as the premier business location:

  • Business gets done in a serious way here - we are the 5th largest regional economy in the U.S., with a Gross Regional Product of nearly $443 billion and a population of 6.2 million people.
  • Greater Washington’s economy is diverse – the region is the 2nd largest employer of technology workers in the U.S., and 23% of jobs are in the professional & business services sector (the largest and fastest growing industry sector).
  • World leaders are known for their smarts and educational attainment.  They will feel right at home here in Greater Washington – we have the best educated workforce and the highest concentration of “knowledge workers” in the U.S. – 47% has a bachelor’s degree and 22% has an advanced degree.
  • In this time of change, you must have innovation and entrepreneurial spirit – we have a proven track record in both. For the thirteenth (13th) consecutive year, Greater Washington boasts the largest number of Inc. 500 fastest-growing private companies in America, with 48 Inc. 500 companies in our region. 
  • Bienvenido! Bienvenue! Huan Ying!  Greater Washington is globally connected, with more than 530 weekly international nonstop flights from three airports.  Foreign-born workers account for 20% of the workforce, and more than 1,000 foreign-owned firms from nearly 50 countries call Greater Washington home.
  • Greater Washington has more than 50 colleges and universities.  In 2008, 264,000 full-time undergraduate students were enrolled in regional universities, and 73,500 students graduated with bachelor’s degrees.
  • Energy efficiency and sustainability is a new multibillion-dollar segment of the economy – and we are at the center.  Greater Washington has the largest “green collar workforce” in the U.S. and the second-most LEED registered and certified buildings of any major U.S. metro.
  • Busy workers and the high number of professional, scientific and management jobs help give Greater Washington’s households the highest median income in the U.S. ($85,824).  And, our cost of living is lower than New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, or Boston.

For more information about the Greater Washington region, visit our website and download the 2009 Regional Report at www.greaterwashington.org.  The 2010 Regional Report will be published on June 10, 2010.

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The Greater Washington Initiative (GWI) is the regional economic development, marketing and research organization that promotes the area encompassing the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland as the premier business location. GWI is an affiliate of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. For more information, visit www.greaterwashington.org.