DC Residents Concerned about Job Growth and Spurring Economic Development
DC Residents Concerned about Job Growth and Spurring Economic Development
Are you concerned about job growth, economic development, and improving access to retail services throughout the District of Columbia?
Here are recommendations for DC residents to consider to encourage the Mayor’s Office and DC Council to support the creation of good-paying jobs and to improve economic development and neighborhood revitalization planning within the District.
A Comprehensive Workforce Development Strategy for the Entire City. There are neighborhoods in Wards 5, 7 and 8 with the highest unemployment levels in the city, such as Ivy City and Brentwood in Ward 5. A comprehensive outreach and workforce development strategy should identify persons in need of training and job-search assistance. As part of this strategy, the District should conduct “Annual Jobs Summits” and invite small and local businesses and larger corporations to outline their workforce development strategies, employment needs, and interview job applicants.
Economic Development and Neighborhood Revitalization Update
More information is needed from the Mayor’s Office and DC Council on the status of the following projects:
• Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue Wal-Mart/Condominium project
• Ft. Lincoln Costco/Wal-Mart
• New York and Rhode Island Avenue Revitalization at the eastern gateway into the city.
• SW Waterfront redevelopment with local businesses, retail, restaurant and hotel investments.
• Mixed-Use and Residential Redevelopment of Macmillan Reservoir and Walter-Reed Hospital
• Proposal for Wal-Mart at Georgia and Missouri and East Capitol and Southern Avenues
Lessons Learned
More comprehensive and collaborative planning is needed among DC government, small and local business, residents and corporations the District is interested in attracting to the region.
Attracting Corporate Investment and Quality Retail Services. District planners must vigorously make commercial-strips along our major streets and other industrial and revitalization sites attractive for existing small businesses and new private investment. When the District is unable to secure commercial investment, businesses frequently locate at commercial sites along our borders in Maryland and Virginia. We then buy quality, goods and services that are desired and valuable tax dollars are lost to our neighbors.
Negotiating Win-Wins for the District. The District Government must improve its tactics when negotiating with corporate investors to improve the hiring of qualified and trained DC residents or to attract the desired commercial or retail services. For example, the District should secure a feasible number of Wal-Mart locations with agreements for good paying jobs and benefits. District officials should continue to promote private investment around Nationals stadium to revitalize the Southeast neighborhood into a 365-day a year destination with retail, entertainment and restaurant services.
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Ward 5 Resident commented
Some good points here. But one note: Walmart isn't taking any economic development incentives ($) from the District, so the city has no leverage to guarantee hires, etc.