News and Events

March 2004

Back by Popular Demand:  “The Business of Government” Supplement. The Greater Washington Initiative is teaming up with Washington Flyer magazine to produce The Business of Government, a new update of the popular 2002 supplement that provides info for firms interested in selling a product or service to the U.S. government. Articles contributed by experts outline the impact of new procurement laws, Federal IT market trends, tips for selling to the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense and other valuable resources. The publication will appear in the May/June issue of the Washington Flyer (circulation: 267,000) and will be distributed by GWI to 10,000 site selection consultants, U.S. and international companies. For more information; for advertising opportunities, contact Peter Abrahams at 202-721-1466.

Canadian Technology Delegation Visits Greater Washington this Week. Along with those cool, northern winds that blew into town this week, a Canadian business delegation arrived to meet with GWI staff and area firms. The delegation, from the Province of Ontario and the Ottawa Centre for Research & Innovation (OCRI), is in town to attend the annual FOSE conference. The group of nine tech firms will be briefed by GWI, network with local companies and learn more about Greater Washington’s business and government procurement opportunities. Interested in meeting with Canadian tech firms?

British Biometrics Firms to Cross the Atlantic to Seek Partnerships with Local Firms. On March 29, GWI will provide a packed day of briefings and company tours for 11 U.K. biometrics companies. (Biometrics uses automated methods of recognizing a person based on physiological or behavioral characteristics.) The high-tech delegation will hear presentations from local industry execs and participate in tours of the GSA and BioPay, both of which currently use biometrics technology. During its week-long mission hosted by the British Embassy, the group will also attend the Homeland and Global Security Summit (see next story for details). For more info, contact April DuBois at GWI or Terry Shear at the British Embassy.

Updated Network Security Directory to be Released at Global Conference. GWI will release an analysis of its updated Network Security Directory, including detailed information about 94 of the region’s network security companies, at the 2004 Homeland and Global Security Summit, scheduled March 31-April 1 at the Washington Convention Center. Representatives from Federal agencies, company executives and first responders will be on hand for this annual conference. To download a copy of the updated Directory, visit www.greaterwashington.org
 

New Inc. List Features DC, Suburban MD, No VA Among Best Cities for Doing Business. According to Inc. Magazine’s recently released Top 25 Cities in America for Doing Business report, the cities "are not at all where most people think.” In the large cities category, Suburban Maryland ranked number 10; Washington, DC and Northern Virginia placed in the top 20. In this year’s survey, current and historical job growth is considered the most objective indicator of a region's economic vitality for entrepreneurs. View List

Anne Arundel County, MD: Norsk Hydro ASA, based in Norway, will transfer holding company functions from Tampa, FL to Linthicum, MD. The new unit, Norsk Hydro North America, will expand its operations already located in the BWI Corporate Center. Hydro is a Fortune 500 energy and aluminum supplier operating in more than 40 countries.  Details

Arlington County, VA: Arlington Economic Development has launched an in-depth study of emerging technologies by hosting a series of focus groups on new and emerging industries. The year-long effort’s goal is to identify those industries with growth potential for the region and for Arlington, and to determine strategies by which economic development agencies can attract and support this progress. For more info, contact Arlington Economic Development's Director of Business Investment Terry Holzheimer.

City of Alexandria, VA: The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Inc. congratulate the Defense Group Inc., winner of the 8th annual Alexandria Technology Achievement Award. The Defense Group Inc. developed a Chemical and Biological Response Aid (CoBRA) decision support tool, which provides emergency responders with the interactive tools needed to respond to weapons of mass destruction incidents and large-scale emergencies. Details

District of Columbia: The National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC) announced that Lowe Enterprises has been awarded the development rights for the former Wax Museum site located at 5th & K Streets, NW. The proposal for the 3.2 acre site includes 623 residential units, 50,000 sq. ft. of retail space and a 55,000 sq. ft. full-service Safeway grocery store, which includes Starbucks and SunTrust Bank. The project will be served by underground parking and will also include a neighborhood park space and restaurants with outdoor seating. More Info

Fairfax County, VA: Companies in Fairfax County lured more than $246 million in venture capital investments in 2003, in part due to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority’s Capital Attraction Program. The program works to link entrepreneurs and early-stage companies with potential investors. To learn more about the Capital Attraction Program contact Rodney Lusk at 703-790-0600.

Falls Church, VA: With the approval in recent months of three major mixed-use projects clustered within a two-block area, Falls Church has positioned itself as a key growth location within the Capital Beltway. The Broadway, the Byron and the Spectrum properties will bring 361 luxury condominium units and 100,000 s.f. of high-end retail, commercial and office space. Together, these projects represent $155 million in new development for Falls Church. Details

Loudoun County, VA: The Loudoun Rangers, a new Valley Baseball League team, will start play in Loudoun County this summer. A member of the NCAA, this all-star college baseball summer league is sanctioned by Major League Baseball. Players will stay with Loudoun families, and games will be played at Mickie Gordon Memorial Park in Middleburg, VA. The team's first game is scheduled June 4th against the Front Royal Cardinals. Learn more at www.loudounrangers.com.

Montgomery County, MD: The Montgomery County Department of Economic Development is sponsoring the Fifth Annual Women in Business Conference on April 1 in Bethesda. The event features seminars dedicated to help women-owned businesses thrive and a luncheon forum where execs share their experiences. There will also be an exhibit hall featuring women-owned firms; large corporations with partnering opportunities; and government organizations explaining their programs for women-owned businesses.  To register, call 301-424-9300.

St. Mary’s County, MD: Stanley Martin, one of Washington's leading builders, has purchased more than 2,000 home sites and retail/commercial space in Wildewood, a residential community in St. Mary's County. Partnering with developer Lowe Enterprises, the new residences will include a mix of townhomes, single family homes and duplexes to meet the housing demand for this growing community. For more info about investment opportunities in St. Mary's County, email Karen Everett or call 301-475-4200, ext. 1407.
 

Greater Washington: More Than Politics And Government
The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, March 2004
 

Upcoming Business Events

Listed below are links to learn more about a variety of upcoming professional programs:

April 26-29, 2004
CardTech/SecurTech Conference and Exhibition, Washington Convention Center

May 11-12, 2004
Contracting with the Department of Homeland Security Forum, Crystal Gateway Marriott

May 11-13, 2004
Technet International 2004, Washington Convention Center

May 25-28, 2004
20th Annual NDIA Homeland Security Division Symposium & Exhibition,
Hyatt Regency Crystal City