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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 2006

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.
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    Other Newsworthy Projects Across the Region


    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

    City of Alexandria

  • U.S. Patent and Trademark office: spurred commercial growth

    • Arlington County

  • Shirlington Library and Signature Theatre: added to residential plaza
  • Kettler’s Iceplex: Washington Capital’s training facility and public ice rink

    • Fairfax County

  • International Expansions: Relocation of 12 South Korean firms to area
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers: added 488 new jobs in the area

    • Loudoun County

  • Airbus North America: opened new customer service center
  • Verizon Government Network Operations: opened in former MCI facility  

    • Prince William County

  • McLane Foodservice: construction of distribution facility
  • EnviroSolutions: Relocation of headquarters to area
  • PowerLoft: data center under construction in new tech park
    • Suburban Maryland

    Anne Arundel County

  • Annapolis Town Center: construction of residential and retail center
  • BWI Hilton Park: 280-room hotel with 8,600 sq ft ballroom
  • Park Place: high-end, mixed use development in Annapolis  
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    Frederick County

  • Carroll Creek Park: redevelopment of mixed-use park in historic Frederick
  • Lockheed Martin Leadership Center: opening of Transportation & Security Solutions office
  • BP Solar: expansion of headquarters and manufacturing facility
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    Montgomery County

  • Wheaton Business Innovation Center: expanded incubator network
  • Birchmere: new venue to bring in national musical acts to Silver Spring
  • Lockheed Martin Leadership Center: construction of Leadership Center at firm’s HQ
  • American Speech & Hearing Assn.: construction of new headquarters

    • Prince George’s County

  • University Town Center: 3.1 million sq. ft of residential/retail space
  • Woodmore Town Center: will include residential, hotels and retail
  • Steeplechase 95: International business park in the Enterprise Zone
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    City of Rockville

  • Rockville Innovation Center: new incubator targeting international IT firms
     
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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.