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Support Requested to Insure Regional Transportation Funding in Northern Virginia

 Now that the General Assembly and the Governor have agreed on a plan to fund transportation, the Northern Virginia Transportation Coalition (to which your Chamber is a member) is making a concerted effort to insure that the funding mechanisms are put in place in our region. 

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (consisting of local government officials) has been given the responsibility for the supervision of the region’s funding and the selection of specific projects. They are holding a regional public hearing at 6:00pm on July 12 at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School (7130 Leesburg Pike) in Falls Church. The advertised purpose is “to consider enacting the seven taxes and fees authorized by the General Assembly in HB3202, as well as an initial set of projects and an associated bond issue. The Coalition and your Chamber believe that the Authority should vote to enact the taxes and fees on July 12th but not adopt an initial set of projects without publicizing the names of those projects and seeking public input in advance. In order to press our case, we are seeking volunteers to speak at the public hearing. Comments will be received between 6:00 and 8:00pm  Each speaker will be limited to three minutes. The Authority may act on some or all of these measures immediately after the public hearing.

If you believe that, now that we hold a good portion of our destiny in our own hands, we should act promptly and wisely, please volunteer to say a few words at the hearing. The specific points that need to be made are:

1.   Encourage local governments to do their part in expeditiously implementing the regional components of the legislation (a wide majority of local governments must agree to participate or there will be no regional funding); and

2.   Encourage the authority to insure that the legislatively approved funds are well spent, based on factual analysis and criteria to insure that investment priorities are the most cost effective ways to reduce congestion and delays, improve travel times, connect regional activity centers and move the most people and goods. This will require a flexible, business-like organizational structure with strong leadership and a regional view. This is not a time for politically-driven agendas.

If you can squeeze out a few minutes to speak, please inform (via email) Chamber President Rich Doud of your intention to do so. This is about the business community’s attempt to see the most good come from this opportunity. Thank you. 

Arlington County Workforce Housing
Initiative & Summit

The Arlington County Workforce Housing Initiative is a public/private partnership (and your Chamber is one of the partners) created to promote homeownership for persons employed within Arlington County. The initiative provides special mortgage products and resources, homeownership education, financial literacy training and discounts on selected properties from participating residential developers. The county will be holding a Workforce Housing Summit June 29, 2007.
Click here to find out more and register!

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Communications Council First Meeting!

The Communications Council's first meeting will be tomorrow, June 19 from 5-6:00pm in the Chamber Board Room. If you are in the communications industry or want to learn more about communicating effectively, this is the right committee for you! Our council will serve as a knowledge sharing forum amongst area communications professionals. Our field is huge, and we can all learn from each other!

E-mail Meghan at the Chamber if you are in the communications industry and are interested in attending tomorrow's meeting.

Click here to take the Communication Council questionnaire. This tool will help us shape the council to fit your needs!

Small Business Roundtable:
Business From the Ground Up
The Business Roundtable will be held Wednesday, June 27 from 11:45am-1pm in the Chamber Board Room. This is a monthly open discussion forum, facilitated by Jim Whelan of ProActive Corporation of America. Register Now for this free event!

The topic of June's Roundtable will be: "Lunch with the Leaders " A popular session last year! The present and prior ABBIES award winners are invited to share their experience on growing their business. There’s a lot to learn from successful people!

Small Business Roundtable
Wednesday, June 27
11:45am-1:00pm
Chamber Board Room
Register Now!

Help Business Take Off This Summer!
Attend June's Business After Business!
Kick back at June's Business After Business at the Holiday Inn National Airport on Thursday, June 28 from 5-7:00pm. Network with Arlington's top business professionals and make tons of contacts! Socializing and networking made easy! Bring plenty of business cards. 

Business After Business
Thursday, June 28
5-7:00p.m.
Holiday Inn National Airport
2650 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
Register Now!

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