ARLINGTON, VA. - The Arlington Chamber of Commerce convened key voices from across Arlington’s business community this morning for its State of Economic Development in Arlington panel. The event, sponsored by Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, & Walsh, P.C. and hosted at Monday Properties in Rosslyn, featured the leaders of Arlington’s three Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) for a dynamic discussion on the challenges and opportunities shaping Arlington’s evolving economy.

Kate Bates, President and CEO of the Arlington Chamber, opened the event by acknowledging the upcoming leadership transition at Arlington Economic Development (AED). She expressed appreciation for Director Ryan Touhill's efforts during his tenure with Arlington and noted confidence in the continued strength and direction of AED under Deputy Director Kate Ange and the department's experienced leadership team as the County moves forward with its search process.

Following Bates' remarks, Marc McCauley, Director of the Strategic Investment Group at Arlington Economic Development, provided an overview of economic development in Arlington. McCauley described the challenges posed by uncertainty in the commercial real estate market and reductions in the federal workforce, noting that Arlington is at a paradigm shift in its economic identity. McCauley emphasized that this transition requires a stronger focus on private-sector growth, expressing the importance of more market-driven policies to attract and retain business.

The panel discussion that followed featured the leaders of Arlington's three Business Improvement Districts (BIDs): Mary-Claire Burick, President of the Rosslyn BID; Danette Nguyen, CEO of the Ballston BID; and Tracy Sayegh Gabriel, President and CEO of the National Landing BID. Andrew Painter, Shareholder with Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, & Walsh, P.C., served as moderator.

From left to right: Kate Bates, Arlington Chamber of Commerce; Mary-Claire Burick, Rosslyn BID; Marc McCauley, Arlington Economic Development; Tracy Sayegh Gabriel, National Landing BID; Danette Nguyen, Ballston BID; Kate Ange, Arlington Economic Development; and Andrew Painter, Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, & Walsh P.C.

The BID leaders began by discussing what makes their business district unique, and how their roles have evolved since the time of their formation. A key theme in the conversation was the evolution of the business districts into mixed-use neighborhoods with both a strong business presence and a robust residential population.

Tracy Sayegh Gabriel of the National Landing BID emphasized the mixed-use nature of Arlington business districts as a key economic development asset. "Arlington has outperformed bigger markets because the County, very strategically and intentionally, planned for a balance of uses," said Gabriel. "We're about 10 years ahead of all of our competitors because we planned for residential growth." Gabriel added that the National Landing area has seen a 10% increase in its residential population in the past year alone.

Building on the theme of community, Mary-Claire Burick of the Rosslyn BID discussed the role of engaging with public and private sector partners to best promote the Rosslyn neighborhood. "One of our core tenets is that we're a convener. And that means we are convening the community; working across the aisle with our developers, our property owners, residents, businesses, Arlington County, and the Chamber," said Burick. She emphasized the benefits of such partnerships on placemaking, events, and community engagement.

The conversation steered to the subject of the County's Adaptive Reuse policy to convert obsolete office space into residential or hotel use. Danette Nguyen of the Ballston BID emphasized that the benefits of adaptive reuse go beyond simply removing obsolete office space. "It's not just about converting commercial space into residential space; it's really about knitting the neighborhood together and strengthening our identity," said Nguyen. "We're not thinking that this [policy] is about replacement; we're thinking that is reinvestment."

The Arlington Chamber of Commerce is proud to champion policies and partnerships that support a vibrant, resilient economy. As Arlington's economy continues to evolve, the Chamber remains committed to working alongside our business community, local government, and partners like the BIDs to foster innovation, attract investment, and ensure a strong economic future for all who live and work in Arlington.

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ABOUT THE CHAMBER

Founded in 1924, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit membership organization of more than 650 businesses that cultivates connections, shapes policies, and empowers Arlington’s economic future. The Chamber supports our members through networking, advocacy, professional development, and community engagement. For more information or to become a member, visit www.arlingtonchamber.org.