Arlington Advocacy on Economic Development 

Examples of the Chamber’s advocacy in Arlington on issues related to economic development include:
The Arlington Chamber strongly supports Item 62 on the July 15 County Board Agenda, which will approve the Arlington Innovation Fund Catalyst Grant Program. This program, to be operated by Arlington Economic Development (AED), will provide see capital grants to Arlington’s early-stage tech entrepreneurs during the early stages of their company lifecycles. This program is designed to develop a homegrown pipeline of tech companies by providing grants of $25,000 to $50,000 to tech businesses who need an initial collection of capital. This pipeline will not only create jobs, but also create potential new office tenants in Arlington as we deal with a historically high commercial vacancy rate.
The Arlington Chamber of Commerce and Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association followed up on recent advocacy by Arlington hotels for a local hospitality grant by recommending that Arlington enact a hotel grant similar to those in neighboring jurisdictions. The organizations recommended grants of at least $400 per hotel room, which is the same as Fairfax County offered its PIVOT program, and providing all hotels with relief for at least their first 250 rooms, as in Loudoun County. Hotels have a current need to meet obligations that are critical to maintaining the ongoing operation of their businesses. A grant program will allow for Arlington hotels to rehire furloughed staff, prepare for the uncertain travel period ahead, and safely budget for the near future. The Chamber encouraged Arlington County to include industry-specific terms for hotels in its upcoming business recovery grant program. The hospitality and tourism industry is facing unique and persistent challenges in recovering from the pandemic. Arlington’s hotel occupancy rates are still down considerably from their pre-pandemic levels, which is having a prolonged impact on jobs at hotels and also at stores and restaurants that serve visitors. An effective and equitable grant program will address the hospitality industry’s needs directly, rather than attempting to serve all businesses with the same terms. The Chamber further encouraged Arlington County to look toward regional counterparts for instructive examples of effective hotel grant programs. The Chamber encouraged Arlington County to establish a new direct financial grant program for local businesses with its coronavirus response funding. Such a program would build on the successful GRANT program last year. Businesses continue to cite access to capital for pandemic-response activities as their greatest need. Capital grants allow businesses to invest in what they individually need to retain or restore jobs, and maintain their businesses as Arlington works through the economic recovery from the pandemic. The Chamber requested that the Arlington County Board restore a proposed reduction in operating funds for the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service (ACVS) for Fiscal Year 2022. Restoring its operating funds will allow ACVS to build back its travel marketing activities, which will support Arlington's hotels in regaining room occupancy and restoring jobs lost during the coronavirus pandemic. Bridging ACVS's funding will help restore its future revenue stream through increased Transient Occupancy Tax revenues. The Chamber sent a letter to the County Board supporting the expansion of the boundaries of the Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) to include areas of Pentagon City and the Arlington portion of Potomac Yard. The Chamber sent a letter to the County Board encouraging their approval of the proposed performance agreement for the Amazon headquarters. Approving the performance agreement is a powerful statement that Arlington is open for business. Welcoming Amazon to Arlington will create opportunities for residents and businesses. The community as a whole will benefit from the jobs, economic activity, and innovation that Amazon will bring to Arlington. The performance incentives are reasonable and well-designed. Overall, the proposed performance agreement is a good deal for Arlington, and we look forward to working together as a community to seize the opportunities that welcoming Amazon affords to all of Arlington. In the lead up to the County Board’s vote on approving the Amazon headquarters performance agreement on Saturday, March 16, the Chamber prepared sample messages for Arlington residents and businesses to use to express their support for welcoming Amazon to Arlington. There are templates for businesses and residents. For those who live or work near where Amazon’s headquarters will be located – in Crystal City, Pentagon City, Potomac Yard, or nearby neighborhoods – there are templates that contain information neighborhood-specific benefits for businesses and residents. Letter writers are encouraged to customize their messages, as personal notes go a long way. The Chamber sent a letter to County Board Chair Katie Cristol, expressing its support of the County's efforts to bring Amazon HQ2 to Arlington. In the letter, the Chamber explains that adding a global brand like Amazon to Arlington's corporate roster would be a monumental win for the area, helping to continue to diversify the economy and maintain the significant commercial sector in the local tax base.
​ The Chamber sent a letter to the Arlington County Board, urging the Board to include additional funding for tourism promotion in its FY 2016 budget proposal.