The Arlington Chamber of Commerce is deeply proud of its accomplishments in working to strengthen the business environment in Arlington for the past century. In the coming quarter-century, we hope to build on the successes we have had in Arlington and in the region. We expect that the Arlington of 2050 will remain the world-class community and premiere location for businesses and residents that it is today, but we must work for it. Arlington faces major challenges, and it is crucial that we meet them head on to ensure a future for the community that we can all enjoy.
From transit-oriented development to attracting major corporate headquarters, Arlington has had its share of successes. But no community can take success for granted. Arlington is facing a historically high commercial-vacancy rate, along with rising costs of housing and living expenses. These challenges carry the risk of Arlington’s attracting fewer workers and businesses, negatively affecting our capacity to fund important public services such as education, parks, public safety and human services, all of which are contingent on a strong commercial tax base, and all of which make Arlington the world-class community that it is.
To provide economic opportunities for Arlington, it is therefore imperative that Arlington have a strong and vibrant business community. Arlington must continue to build a positive and welcoming climate for business, to ensure not only economic vibrancy, but also a sustainable base for our community services.
Arlington County has recognized this challenge and has adopted impactful policy that encourages businesses of all sizes and sectors to thrive in Arlington. This includes permitting use of commercial space for new types of businesses that did not exist when the Zoning Code was adopted, such as podcast studios, pet boarding and micro-fulfillment centers. Arlington’s economy of 2050 will include businesses that we cannot yet envision, and we must have a framework in place for those businesses to develop and grow in Arlington.
Other policies like more flexible signage rules and flexible site-plan processes will also serve to encourage businesses of the future to move and grow here.
Beyond Arlington, Northern Virginia and the metropolitan area will need a collective vision for our infrastructure and transportation, which plays a crucial role in our economy and attracting a talented workforce. Additionally, policies will need to be considered across the region to grow our housing supply and ensure an adequate number of attainable housing units for our residents and our workforce.
The Arlington Chamber is committed to collaborating with Arlington County, our regional partners and other business stakeholders to develop and advocate for the steps we must take to ensure our local economy remains attractive and growing. The Arlington Chamber is hopeful that collaboration on these key issues will allow our community to navigate these challenges and ensure the next quarter-century in Arlington can be even better than the last.
