Recent Advocacy

The mission of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce is to strengthen businesses and the economic environment for all those who work, live, and do business in Arlington. A key part of accomplishing this mission is by advocating on behalf of the business community, which we approach in a decided, intentional, and strategic manner. 

For more information contact Steven Marku, Government Affairs Director, at (703) 525-2400 or advocacy@arlingtonchamber.org.
Examples of the Chamber's recent advocacy efforts may be found below:​​​​​​

The Chamber encouraged the US Department of Transportation to grant $300 million to expand rail capacity over Long Bridge. When complete, this project will grow the existing two-track bridge into a four-track corridor providing additional long-term capacity for the growing intercity passenger rail and commuter rail services between the Northeast Corridor, Virginia, and points south in North Carolina and beyond.
The Chamber urged NVTA and NVTC to fully grant Arlington’s request for funding for a second entrance to the Ballston Metro. Adding another entrance at North Fairfax Drive and North Vermont Street will improve access around Glebe Road and be a huge boost to the restaurants and other customer-facing businesses on that side of Ballston.The Chamber encouraged the Arlington County Board to approve the Clarendon Sector Plan. The draft Plan offers a good compromise on many key items that will better serve the needs of the community today and help move the neighborhood forward. It allows for some increased density in the western part of Clarendon, makes the step-back requirements less restrictive, and allows for redevelopment of several sites in western Clarendon that would greatly benefit from it.The Chamber supported Amazon’s application for PenPlace, the second piece of HQ2. PenPlace will bring thousands of new jobs to Arlington, helping to reduce our high office vacancy rates. It also represents a significant step forward in enhancing the strength of Arlington’s commercial sector, diversifying our economic base, and growing this region inclusively.The Chamber supported Marymount University’s request for a federal appropriation for its Caregivers to Bread Winner Project. This project will help women gain new skills to find higher paying, more flexible jobs in Virginia’s technology industry, while helping Virginia employers overcome the labor shortages that they face.The Chamber sent a letter to the Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development expressing concern that CPHD has proposed a 4% increase in fees without offering an increase in service levels. ​​The Arlington Chamber joined a coalition of businesses and organization from across Northern Virginia in strongly opposing the proposed suspension of the Commonwealth’s gasoline tax and the proposed permanent 2% cap on its annual indexing for inflation. The gasoline tax is one of the top three dedicated sources of Virginia transportation funding. Making such a significant cut to state transportation revenue would have long-term consequences for our transportation network, making it harder for people to access jobs, products, and services. The Chamber encouraged the Arlington County Manager to include the construction of a second entrance to the Ballston Metro Station in Arlington County’s Capital Improvement Plan, and ensuring that it remains a priority for the County. Adding another entrance at North Fairfax Drive and North Vermont Street will improve access around Glebe Road and be a huge boost to the restaurants and other customer-facing businesses on that side of Ballston. The Chamber supported changes to a site plan ordinance that will allow Marymount University to convert 133 residential units at the Rixey Building to hotel units. This amendment would enable Marymount University to provide hands-on experience to students in their Hospitality Management Program. The Chamber wrote to the Virginia’s Health and Safety Codes Board in support of their proposed finding that there is no longer a continued need for the Permanent Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19. These workplace standards conflict with current CDC guidance and have created confusion for businesses who simply want to follow the rules and keep their employees and customers safe. The Chamber encouraged the Arlington County Board to approve the Pentagon City Sector Plan, which aims to lead the way for a new dynamic downtown in Arlington. The Plan identifies several locations that are well-suited for increased density in National Landing. The added density would drive significant commercial growth in the neighborhood as well, as businesses would be attracted to the larger pool of residents. The Chamber, along with other businesses and organizations from across Northern Virginia, supported  the 2022 priorities of the coalition, emphasizing the importance of transportation in the region. A regional multimodal transportation network remains key to our future economic and workforce competitiveness, quality of life, environmental sustainability, and equitable access to opportunity.  The Chamber encouraged Arlington County to amend the General Land Use Plan to support projects that will add density and provide much-needed housing at the Courthouse West site, located four blocks from both the Courthouse and Clarendon Metro stations. Approaching the third anniversary of the filing of the Special GLUP Study Application, the Chamber advocated for the amendment to be made without further delay. Chamber supported the criteria being used to evaluate proposals for the CC2DCA Intermodal Connector project and encouraged the selection of a design concept 7D for further development. The preferred design concept best fulfills the project’s purpose and need, when compared with the other concepts remaining under consideration, and is the most robust to all possible future connections between the airport and rail station. The Chamber sent a letter to GO Virginia Region 7 supporting the University of Virginia’s proposal to GO Virginia for a grant supporting the Cloud Computing Certificate program that UVA’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies has developed in partnership with AWS. The Chamber supports enhancing partnerships for cyber, computer science, and technology education at public and private universities across the Commonwealth.  The Chamber joined with business and community groups from across the region in encouraging the federal and Maryland governments not to extend the comment period for the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement of the 495 Express Lane project to ensure that the project can proceed in a timely fashion. The Chamber supported a proposed amendment to the Crystal City Water Park site plan that will allow for the construction of features already determined to suit the community and to allow for the Water Park to be used for a variety of uses. This amendment will help fulfill the vision for the Water Park that the County Board approved earlier this year. 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 encourages the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) to design its TransAction Plan to prioritize projects that will support development and connections throughout the region. The Chamber supports continuing investments to build on recent commitments and projects to help connect people from across our region to employment and other economic centers. The Chamber encouraged Arlington County not to implement a five-cent tax on plastic bags at this time. The General Assembly gave localities the power to impose this tax with a goal of motivating consumers to use reusable carriers. But, many grocers suspended the use of patron-provided totes earlier in the pandemic, and there is the risk that the tax will not serve its purpose if stores reinstitute such rules to protect their front-line workers. There is also considerable risk that the tax’s impacts will be felt inequitably across the community, including burdening small, independent, neighborhood-serving retailers most. 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 supports moving forward with the CC2DCA Intermodal Connector. The CC2DCA Intermodal Connector will provide direct connection to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport terminal from multiple transportation facilities in Crystal City. It will provide a more comfortable and safe access to the airport terminal for pedestrians, bikes, and other micromobility traffic. The Chamber expressed broad support for the Plan Lee Highway Scenario Analysis, which provides for additional commercial and residential development in the Langston Boulevard transit corridor. As Arlington County moves ahead with designing development plans for this corridor, the Chamber encouraged creating flexible land use policies and regulations to attract investment, and cautioned against restrictions that could limit the ability of future community processes to develop innovative designs and solutions. As one of the most highly used Metrorail stations in Arlington, the new entrance to the Crystal City station will help accommodate the anticipated increase in trips to National Landing as development in the area continues. This new second entrance will provide more direct access than the existing entrance to offices, shops, and residences along Crystal Drive. The entrance also will offer a more direct connection to the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Metroway bus rapid transit network. ​The Chamber expressed support for including the Maryland Traffic Relief Plan to extend the 495 Express Lanes across a rebuilt American Legion Bridge in the Transportation Planning Board’s long-range plan. Significant improvements to existing roadway infrastructure and transit systems are essential to accommodate projected growing traffic patterns in the Nation Capital Region. The Traffic Relief Plan is expected to relieve existing congestion, improve transit options, and reduce emissions through incentives HOV and transit travel.  It is also anticipated to have improve regional equity by increasing connectivity for all National Capital Region residents to access jobs and other opportunities throughout the region.  The Chamber expressed support for including funds for the Metro and construction of second entrances at Ballston and Crystal City Metro stops in the Arlington County Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for FY 2022-2024. Metrorail serves as the backbone of Arlington’s transportation management program and is a primary driver of economic development in Arlington and the metropolitan region. The CIP also secures funding for critical improvements to transportation infrastructure including the second entrances at the Ballston and Crystal City Metro stations and improvements to transit and multimodal services on Columbia Pike. The Chamber supports converting the current elevated Richmond Highway, U.S. 1 to an at-grade urban boulevard following concept recommended by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The current elevated highway design creates a barrier between the parts of National Landing located east and west of Richmond Highway. An urban boulevard will act as a true community center that engages residents, workers, and visitors in National Landing. The Chamber also encourage VDOT to broaden the project’s scope, implementing best practices and building infrastructure for all modes of transportation, which will help to address concerns raised in the community. ​​​Temporary Outdoor Seating Areas (TOSAs) have been among Arlington County’s most successful responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chamber supports Arlington County’s efforts to make these expanded outdoor dining areas permanent. To make this expansion a success, the Chamber is encouraging Arlington County work with restaurants on their seating, rather than adapting one-size-fits-all regulations, and to establish streamlined processes for restaurants to secure permanent outdoor seating. Moreover, the Chamber encourages Arlington County to complete this work before the end of 2021 to prevent any costly interruption in outdoor service for restaurants still struggling to recovery from the pandemic. The Chamber encouraged Arlington’s Congressional delegation to support the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Replenishment Act, a bill which would allocate an additional $60 billion to support restaurants. Passed as part of the American Rescue Plan in March, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund is designed to help restaurants make up for lost revenues from the pandemic. However, the $28.6 billion that Congress originally allocated for the program has been insufficient to meet the demand of restaurant operators who applied. The proposed legislation would add the necessary money to fund the applications that have been received.  The Chamber encouraged Arlington County to allow for the broadest possible range of ground story uses in the Columbia Pike Form Based Code. Arlington County is studying how to update the code to add permission for uses that were not envisioned when the Form Based Code was adopted, but such an update still won’t cover desired future uses not envisioned today. The goal of the Form Based Code is to provide a thriving main-street feeling; permitting all uses by default, unless specifically identified as adverse, will help deliver that goal for South Arlington’s central main street. The Chamber expressed support for a proposal by Jefferson Apartment Group to replace a 1960s office building with a 423-unit residential apartment building that includes 12 on-site committed affordable units and ground floor retail. This project would deliver on the goals of the Rosslyn Sector Plan and provide much-needed housing in Rosslyn. The Chamber supported changes to a site plan and zoning ordinance that will allow the Clarendon West project to add 20 more apartments without increasing the structural area and lowering overall building height. The proposed amendments would allow the building to fit better with its surroundings and would support Arlington’s housing goals. The Chamber encouraged the Commonwealth of Virginia to clarify its requirements around masks and distancing in the workplace. The Chamber further encouraged the Commonwealth to update or repeal DOLI’s Permanent Standard for COVID-19 Workplace Safety to bring the requirements on fully vaccinated workers in line with current CDC guidance. Since the announcement of Executive Order 79, the Permanent Standard’s requirements on businesses and employees now vary greatly from requirements on the customers they are serving and the general public with no underlying rationale for that difference. The Chamber supported Congressionally Directed Spending requests by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). The request for consideration will enable for purchasing of one mobile power station and supporting electrical charging infrastructure for a fleet of electric vehicles, and the installation of solar rooftop panels, supporting environmental stewardship at Washington Ronald Reagan National and Dulles International Airports. ​The Chamber supported a Congressionally Directed Spending request submitted by George Mason University. The request will allow for purchasing of a solar array for their Institute of Digital InnovAtion (IDIA), as well as additional off-site renewal energy sources to achieve actual net-zero consumption of energy. The Chamber expressed support for the broad goals of the Public Art Master Plan update to contribute to Arlington's vibrancy, while suggesting amendments to make the plan stronger. The drafted plan favors County-curated art over privately-curated art, and adds cost without accounting for other public benefits delivered by site plan projects. The Chamber encouraged Arlington County to broaden its definition of public art and to work to minimize the cost burden of public art contributions. ​​​The Chamber encouraged the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board to include cross-river rail service as part of its Visualize 2045 transportation plan. Cross-river rail service open the opportunity for more seamless connections between Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland.  ​The Chamber supported two community funding project proposals by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). The projects for consideration will allow for purchasing of electric vehicles, supporting environmental stewardship at Washington Ronald Reagan National and Dulles International Airports. The Arlington Chamber joined with a coalition of chambers and hospitality industry associations from across Virginia to call on the Commonwealth to use a portion of its American Rescue Plan funding to provide grants to support the hospitality industry. The group is asking for per-room grants for hotels and other lodging establishments, per-seat grants for restaurants, and applications of the ARP for attractions, destination marketing organizations, other venues, and hospitality training programs. The Virginia General Assembly is expected to convene a special session later this year to allocate the Commonwealth’s share of the ARP money. ​​​The Chamber supported allowing more flexibility to give bonus height for site plan projects delivering affordable housing. The proposed amendments to the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance would allow the County Board to approve more bonus height for certain projects that are 100% low- or middle-income housing or that meet the goals of the Affordable Housing Master Plan. Projects receiving bonus height would need to design it to establish effective transitions to neighboring developments. Business Groups from across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia joined together to encourage that the Maryland Department of Transportation move forward with its Traffic Relief Plan, which includes replacing the American Legion Bridge and congestion improvements in the I-495/I-270 corridor. This public-private partnership will expand capacity and reduce congestion across the region. 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 Principal Planner position in the Arlington County government due to be frozen in Fiscal Year 2022. Restoring this position will help prevent delays in planning studies for which applicants pay cost-recovery fees. Prompt review of development projects is also an investment in Arlington’s future through the taxes they will generate when completed. The Chamber encouraged the County Board to amend the site plan for Westpost in Pentagon City to provide more flexibility for providing grocery and drug store items at that site by removing a requirement for a specific size grocery store at that location. The original language reflected how supermarkets were designed when it was approved in 1998, and may not be appropriate for how consumers buy these products in the future. The Chamber expressed support for a redesign of the Crystal City Water Park and path connecting Crystal Drive with the Mount Vernon Trail and the forthcoming north entrance to the Crystal City VRE Station. This update will help fulfill the community's vision for Crystal City and the design has been updated to allay pedestrian safety concerns raised by an early proposal. 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 joined chambers of commerce and business organizations from across the country in letter to the U.S. Senate calling on Congress to extend the deadline for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to December 31, 2021. Under current law, the program will expire at the end of March.  The Chamber wrote a letter of support for the federal Gyms Mitigation and Survival Act (GYMS Act). This bill would provide funds to the Small Business Association for grants to eligible fitness businesses. Local gyms and fitness studios have faced revenue constraints over the past year due to the capacity restrictions enacted by the Commonwealth to prevent the spread of COVID-19.​  The Arlington Chamber of Commerce encourages and supports the broad policy goals of the Community Energy Plan (CEP). The target of net-zero CO2 equivalent emission by 2050 is aspirational, and can be an impetus for innovation. But there is also the risk of losing the plan’s sensitivity to individual circumstances if its implementation is too prescriptive. Arlington County should ensure sufficient flexibility in implementing the plan so that it is viable and economically feasible for businesses and residents, including the availability to consumers of a diverse range of energy choices in meeting growing energy needs.   The Arlington Chamber of Commerce encourages Arlington County to define and move forward with a planning process for the Courthouse West project. The applicant, CRC Companies, submitted a Special GLUP Study application in May 2019, and received its Tier I review and Tier II acceptance in November 2019. The change will facilitate a site plan to add much needed housing at this highly transit-accessible location and to bridge similar scale developments in the adjacent Clarendon and Courthouse neighborhoods.   The Arlington Chamber of Commerce encourages the County Board to adopt the proposed ordinance to authorize non-commercial banners in the Ballston Business Improvement District (BID). This signage will support the Ballston BID’s placemaking work and build on its Ballston “full” campaign.  The Chamber encouraged the County Board to accept the proposed ordinance to allow non-commercial banners in the National Landing Business Improvement District (BID). This would allow the National Landing BID to identify and build community across its three neighborhoods, Crystal City, Pentagon City, and Potomac Yard. The Chamber also believes this will approval will enhance neighborhoods in Arlington.  ​The Chamber joined with 23 other organizations from across Northern Virginia to advocate to the General Assembly for key multimodal transportation projects, restoration of Northern Virginia Transportation Authority funding, congestion management, sustained Metro funding, and transportation demand management. The Chamber encouraged WMATA to reconsider its plan to reduce bus services by 50% and close at 9:00 p.m. starting in January 2022. Though this plan is a part of the closing of its projected budget gap, the Chamber believes that the reduction would inhibit the recovery of workplaces reopening and create inequitable consequences for people whose jobs do not permit telework. Most prominently, the proposed service reductions would fall hardest on our region's service sector workforce.  The Chamber showed support of the Arlington Public Schools plan to hire a Partnership Coordinator for Fiscal Year 2022. The Chamber believes that this individual will be well-positioned to identify work-based learning opportunities and would provide leadership in developing comprehensive career pathways for students. The educational return on investing in this position will be significant. The Chamber encouraged the Safety and Health Codes Board to not enact the Revised Proposed Permanent Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19 as there remain many concerns that this standard will not minimize disruption and cost in meeting the regulation's health and safety goals.  The Chamber continues to believe that businesses should have flexibility to apply practices that work best for achieving health and safety in their circumstances. The shifting regulatory landscape continues to be a challenge for our businesses’ recovery, especially for our small businesses. ​
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