News and Events

News and Press Releases

Most Significant Economic Development Projects – 2006

December 13, 2006 - Washington, DC -- The Greater Washington Initiative asked economic development officials in DC, Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland to look back over 2006 and describe the year’s most significant economic development projects. The results of this informal survey comes in advance of a detailed GWI analysis, planned for 2007, of 6 to 8 key development projects across the region.

“Our sample of ten top projects for 2006 represents an approximate investment of $3.1 billion in the region,” said Tim Priest, Executive Director, Greater Washington Initiative. “This huge investment in just a small number of new projects is indicative of the region’s incredibly strong and dynamic economy.”

New to Greater Washington

These corporate relocations and expansions confirm the strength and scope of our region’s economy:

  • Dreyer’s . One of the largest ice cream plants in the world, Dryer’s created 700 new jobs in Howard County, MD.
  • Dyncorp . To be closer to their key clients, the firm relocated its headquarters from Dallas, TX to Northern Virginia in July.
  • FBI –Northern Virginia Office . Set to open in 2007 in Prince William County, VA, it is the first federal facility to be built under new federal security guidelines.
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Janelia Farm Research Campus .Located in Loudoun County, VA, the life science research facility is the home of Nobel Prize-winning researchers from around the world.
  • MedImmune . The expansion of a new manufacturing facility for the biotech company will add 250 new jobs in Frederick County, MD.

    • Major Development Underway

    These projects, all well underway, will transform their surrounding neighborhoods:

  • Anne Arundel Preserve .The 270-acre mixed use project in western Anne Arundel County will add 1,100 new residential units.
  • Nationals’ Baseball Stadium . The 44,100-seat stadium will anchor a new mixed-use neighborhood in southeast Washington, DC.
  • National Harbor .The 350-acre mixed use project, along the Potomac River in Prince George’s County, will be the largest convention center on the east and future home to the Gaylord National Resort.
  • Rockville Town Centre : $352 million of a public/private investment will be used to revitalize the downtown area, including a new library, business incubator and office space.
  • M Square : The Prince George’s research park will have 2.5 million sq. ft. of public and private research, lab and incubator space.
    •

    Other Newsworthy Projects Across the Region

    The following list is a sample of other major projects in the area that made news in 2006. For a detailed list, visit www.greaterwashington.org

    District of Columbia

  • CityVista : 685 residential units, grocery store and 62,000 sq ft. of retail space
  • DC USA : future home to regional and national retailers, including Best Buy and Target
  • American Art Museum & Portrait Gallery : reopened after 6 years of renovations
  • Capitol Gateway : received $31 million HOPE VI grant for 1,300 residences and retail

    • Northern Virginia

  • U.S. Patent and Trademark office : spurred commercial growth ( Alexandria, VA)
  • Shirlington library and SignatureTheatre: added to residential plaza ( Arlington, VA)
  • Kettler’s Iceplex : Washington Capital’s training facility and public ice rink ( Arlington, VA)
  • International Expansions : Relocation of 12 South Korean firms to area ( Fairfax County)
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers: added 488 new jobs in the area ( Fairfax County)
  • Airbus North America : opened new customer service center ( Loudoun County)
  • Verzion Government Network Operations : opened in former MCI facility ( Loudoun County)
  • McLane Foodservice : construction of distribution facility ( Prince William County)
  • EnviroSolutions : Relocation of headquarters to area ( Prince William County)
  • PowerLoft : data center under construction in new tech park ( Prince William County)

    • Suburban Maryland

  • Annapolis Town Center : construction of residential and retail center ( Anne Arundel County)
  • BWI Hilton Park : 280-room hotel with 8,600 sq ft ballroom ( Anne Arundel County)
  • Park Place : high-end, mixed use development in Annapolis ( Anne Arundel County)
  • Carroll Creek Park : redevelopment of mixed-use park in historic Frederick ( Frederick County)
  • Lockheed Martin Leadership Center : opening of Transportation & Security Solutions office ( Frederick County)
  • BP Solar : expansion of headquarters and manufacturing facility ( Frederick County)
  • Wheaton Business Innovation Center : expanded incubator network ( Montgomery County)
  • Birchmere : new venue to bring in national musical acts to Silver Spring ( Montgomery County)
  • Lockheed Martin Leadership Center : construction of Leadership Center at firm’s HQ ( Montgomery County)
  • American Speech & Hearing Assoc. : construction of new headquarters ( Montgomery County)
  • University Town Center : 3.1 million sq. ft of residential/retail space ( Prince George’s County)
  • Woodmore Town Center : will include residential, hotels and retail ( Prince George’s County)
  • Steeplechase 95 : International business park in the Enterprise Zone ( Prince George’s County)
  • Rockville Innovation Center: new incubator targeting international IT firms ( Rockville, MD)

    • ###

    The Greater Washington Initiative ( GWI) is the regional economic development marketing organization that assists firms in expanding their businesses in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland. GWI provides complimentary and confidential client services and research and is an affiliate of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. For more info, visit www.greaterwashington.org.

    GWI Services

    Contact GWI

    Greater Washington Initiative
    (202) 857-5999