Washington, DC Economic Partnership Charges Forward In 2012
Local Nonprofit Realigns Itself with District Government
Contact
Andi Joseph
Director, Research & Communications
Washington, DC Economic Partnership
202-661-8678
January 05, 2012
Washington, DC– Yesterday, the Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP), under new leadership of President and CEO Keith Sellars, secured funding for Fiscal Year 2012, through a new MOU with the District Government’s Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. Both of the WDCEP’s Board co-chairs, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor Hoskins, and Reed Smith partner Olivia Shay-Byrne, played a pivotal role in structuring the agreement, which has allowed the WDCEP to remain open as an economic development asset for District based entrepreneurs and businesses. Key to the success of this accomplishment was the organization’s ability to restructure its work programs and initiatives to reflect funding priorities for the District Government, and to realign its efforts to that of the city’s economic development interests.
In 2012, the WDCEP will continue to play a pivotal role for the City as the lead organizer at both ICSC Las Vegas conference and Mid-Atlantic conference, providing the City with a seamless interface for its business attraction efforts, including marketing collateral and booth organization. Additionally, the WDCEP’s ever popular economic development publications will be revamped and updated for 2012, including the Neighborhood Profiles, DC Development Report and Doing Business in DC guide. As in previous years, these publications will once again be available on wdcep.com, the WDCEP’s innovative online platform, where research, demographics, data and economic development databases such as the Development Search and Retail Site Search will continue to be made available to the public.
Additionally, this year, the WDCEP will beef up its focus on marketing the District’s emerging neighborhoods through site tours, which will focus on business attraction opportunities while providing important updates on major mixed-use development projects in the City. Finally, WDCEP will continue to host business information seminars, provide rapid response assistance, and undertake retail facilitation to further grow the city’s business base.
“The Washington, DC Economic Partnership is an important ally in the District’s economic development efforts,” said Deputy Mayor Victor L. Hoskins. “They have reduced overhead expenditures and are intent on significantly increasing private sector funds to ensure their long term fiscal health. Going forward, they will be the key players in marketing District-owned retail sites and publicizing city business services throughout the private sector. We are excited to work with Keith Sellars and his team to continue attracting new and exciting businesses to the District.”
The WDCEP is committed to ensuring that the District of Columbia continues to achieve economic development success now and into the future, and looks forward to working with our partners, supporters, DC entrepreneurs, businesses, non-profits in the coming weeks, months, and years.
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It is the mission of the Washington, DC Economic Partnership, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to promote business opportunities throughout the District of Columbia and to contribute to business retention and attraction activities