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.
March 2005 |
| Latest News from the Greater Washington Initiative |
Canadian, Swedish Delegations Seek Business Opportunities in Region. On April 19, area businesses are invited to join Québec Premier Jean Charest and local tech firm CGI-AMS’s Chairman & CEO Serge Godin for a networking breakfast connecting local firms with 30 Quebec companies. More Info Also, area execs are welcome to participate in Swedish-American Entrepreneurial Days, April 20-22, a trade event for U.S. and Swedish companies. View Agenda World’s Largest Tech Trade Event is Productive Platform for Greater Washington. Dozens of companies representing 14 countries attended GWI’s workshop, “Doing Business with the U.S. Government” at CEBIT, the world’s largest IT trade show held March 10-15 in Germany. Thanks to extensive promotion prior to and during CEBIT, the seminar netted GWI solid business prospects, international visibility in the global technology market and major media coverage throughout Europe. Details Marketing to German Firms: Making the Most of a Productive Week. During the trip to Germany for CEBIT, GWI collaborated on a U.S. government seminar for German companies with the Berlin Business Development Corporation, one of GWI’s World Cities Alliance partners. In addition, GWI Managing Partner Tom Morr spoke about the importance of regional marketing and the strengths of the Washington area to 500 business and community leaders from across Germany’s Rhine-Ruhr region. More Info Stay Tuned as GWI’s Message Hits the Presses and Airways. Potential clients and consumers will soon see GWI’s new print ad and TV spot. The print ad will run this spring in America's Best Cities & States: The Annual Gold Guide to Leading Rankings and will run in upcoming issues of Washington Flyer magazine. See print ad The TV spot, focused on the area’s “hot” business climate, will appear on Comcast and Discovery networks; it will also run thousands of times each month at the baggage claim areas of Dulles and Reagan National airports. Where More Traffic is a Good Thing: GWI Website Gains Wider Audience. The Initiative’s extensive website, re-designed last spring, continues to draw increasing traffic. In February, there were 6,200 unique visitors – nearly 900 more than in February of 2004! Most downloaded item? The Regional Report and our industry directories are consistently popular. Visit our website |
| Economic Development News from Across the Region |
Alexandria, VA - The American Planning Association awarded the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Inc. the “2005 Excellence in Economic Development Planning Award” for the recruitment of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which brings more than 7,100 new jobs to the County. Details Anne Arundel County, MD - KPSS, a global manufacturer of professional hair care products, has consolidated its North American headquarters operations at the Hock Business Park in Linthicum. Contact Laura Holmes at 410-850-7555 for details. Arlington, VA- Thanks to United Airlines, the March 2005 issue of Hemispheres, United’s monthly, in-flight magazine, features Arlington’s flourishing business and development sectors and exciting urban environment. The 30-plus page profile is on national and international flights. More info BWI Airport, MD - The airport recently announced the launch of the British Airways’ Club World business class service between BWI and London Heathrow airports. Offering seats that convert to a fully flat, six-foot-long bed, British Airways becomes the only carrier to offer this product on a BWI/London route. Read announcement City of Bowie, MD -The City of Bowie has expanded its revolving loan program to include an additional $100,000 to fund loans for the construction of “Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility ” (SCIF) space. Landlords can use this money to build basic SCIF space to attract tenants. For eligibility details, call John Henry King at 301-809-3042. District of Columbia - In April, the Washington, DC Marketing Center will host the Neighborhood Retail Summit. This one-day event will focus on attraction opportunities in District neighborhoods and target potential and existing retailers. For details, contact Keith Sellars at 202-661-8684. Fairfax County, VA - The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority recently announced that it will hire a marketing representative in Seoul, South Korea, to promote Fairfax County as a location for Korean companies interested in expanding to the U.S. Fairfax is the nation’s only county to establish investment marketing operations in the Republic of Korea. Read more Loudoun County, VA - George Washington University's Virginia Campus in Ashburn has begun a year-long expansion that will include the transfer of 250 positions from the school's Washington, DC campus. The Virginia site currently has three buildings and approximately 600 students. For details, call 703-777-0426. Montgomery County, MD - This month, Montgomery County welcomed GMED NA, the North American operation of an international certification authority, to the Silver Spring Innovation Center. The group is authorized by the European Union to certify any medical device to be sold in the European market and is accredited by government agencies in Taiwan, Canada and the U.S. Details Prince William County, VA - Prince William County continues to see positive changes to its economic landscape. Signs of prosperity include receiving the Fitch Ratings’ AAA Bond Rating, announcement of the county’s first luxury hotel and conference center, and the highest rate of job growth in the nation. Learn more Washington Dulles International Airport - South African Airways will start weekly service to South Africa beginning July 2. This new route features four flights a week from Dulles International to Johannesburg. With the addition of this service, Dulles will provide direct service to 40 international destinations. More info |
| GWI in the News |
Ex-EPA site not expected to languish Too Big for our own Good 2005 - Best Year for Job Growth since 2000? Economic & environmental issues compete at Dulles airport hearing |
| "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. |
