1. Building Community Prosperity in the Washington Metropolitan Area
District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Regional Action Plan
Ford Fellowship for
Regionalism and Sustainable Development

2. District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Problem
Region is divided by race, income, jobs and opportunity
Fast growing counties (traffic, schools, quality of life)
District of Columbia needs more middle class residents – and increased number of businesses to serve them
District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce

3. District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Major Findings
Traffic growing worse
Housing getting more expensive
Open space disappearing
Poverty increasing
Jobs and affordable housing separating
Public school system facing growing strains
District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce

4. District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce
RSD Implications
Division in this region cannot be explained as ‘city versus suburb’
Eastern half carrying the area’s burden of poverty and social distress
Western half enjoys most of the ‘fruits of labor’ – including parts of the District
Polarizing patterns hurt fast growing counties
Patterns of extensive growth in some communities and significantly less growth in other are inextricably linked
If regional divisions widen as growth proceeds, it will be difficult to create a region that is competitive, prosperous and livable.
District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce

5. District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Proposed Solutions
Cross cutting policy workgroups
Strategic Industries
Strategic Population attraction and retention
District focus on targeted business growth and recruitment i.e.
retail, entertainment and neighborhood services
Increasing the supply of mixed income housing
Improving the neighborhood schools
District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce

6. District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Barriers
Lack of comprehensive economic development action plans – both for the District and metro region
Revenue sharing
Infrastructure funding
Federal payment
Most DC jobs held by non residents
Lack of skilled District resident workers
District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce

7. District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Benefits
DC Chamber of Commerce
Business attraction and retention
More tax dollars
Better qualified workforce
Washington Metro Region
Less school overcrowding
Diversity in the workplace and communities
Reduced traffic congestion
District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce

8. District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Next Steps
Engage research
Conduct partner outreach
Develop Chamber action plan
Engage Chamber members and other stakeholders through committee work
District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce