Arlington Finalist for CoreNET National “Best Deals” Award AED has been named one of five finalists for CoreNet Global's Economic Development Leadership award for 2004. In the major projects/deals category, Arlington was lauded for using a variety of incentives, financial and otherwise, that totaled a $300 million investment and attracted PBS, the Corporate Executive Board, BAE Systems and AES last year. Arlington is competing against economic development groups in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan and Texas for the award. Atlanta-based CoreNet Global is a worldwide association for corporate real estate professionals. The organization's 7,500 members manage about 700 billion square feet of office and industrial space. Full release -->.

Call for Nominations: 2005 ABBIE Awards Each year, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and Arlington's Economic Development Commission recognize outstanding businesses in the community with a prestigious ABBIE award. This award is earned by businesses that deliver exceptional quality of service to their customers, are industry leaders or offer a unique approach to delivery of its goods or services, and display an interest in and concern for the Arlington community. The event will be held on Friday, May 13, 2005 at 7:30 a.m. at the Marriott Crystal Gateway. Nominations are now being accepted, and are due by April 4, 2005. To nominate a company for this prestigious award, visit the AED Web site.

Arlington Tops List of “10 Best U.S. Walking Cities” Twelve thousand foot doctors can’t be wrong: Arlington is the number one place in America for walking, topping the American Podiatric Medical Association’s list of the “Top 10 Best U.S. Walking Cities.” This year’s competition surveyed 200 U.S. cities based on three walking conducive categories: healthy lifestyles, modes of transportation to and from work and involvement in fitness and sport activities. “Encouraging walking for enjoyment and to promote health is one of my top priorities this year,” said County Board Chairman Jay Fisette. “I hope this ringing endorsement of Arlington as a walkable community will inspire residents, commuters and visitors to get out and get moving.” Rounding out the list of best walking cities, in order, are: San Francisco; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; Boston; Washington, D.C.; New York City; Eugene, Ore.; Jersey City, N.J. and Denver.

Arlington Among 100 Best Communities in America for Music Education For the sixth year in a row, a survey conducted by a partnership of leading music and educational organizations has identified the "Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America." The 2005 roster includes school districts from 34 different states whose commitment to quality music education -- measured across a variety of economic, curricular and programmatic criteria -- has enabled them to stand out despite the many pressures on music programs across the country. Studies have shown that music appreciation programs help students excel in other areas, including math and science. A 2001 study published by The College Entrance Examination Board found that students in music appreciation scored 63 points higher on the verbal and 44 points higher on the math sections of the SAT than students with no arts participation. For more information about the nationwide music education survey and the organizations that sponsored it, visit www.amc-music.org.

PowerSPACE Celebrates in Crystal City PowerSPACE & Services, a provider of work space solutions for business, recently held an open house at its Crystal City business center, showcasing its over 20,000 square feet of prime office space, at One Crystal Park. PowerSPACE offers an array of office space options including large team rooms, executive spaces, individual offices, or conference and training rooms plus support services to help businesses create a professional office environment at a moment’s notice. Fully wired with cutting-edge technology, PowerSPACE facilities are also tastefully designed and decorated, and provide a professional work environment with all of the amenities to help your business succeed. More information-->.

Interstate Adds Wyndham hotels, Names New President Interstate Hotels and Resorts is adding almost two dozen upscale hotels to the properties it manages under an agreement with Goldman Sachs. The 22 hotels were recently acquired by affiliates of Highgate Holdings and a private investment fund managed by Goldman Sachs. Goldman bought the hotels from Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, including the Wyndham D.C. City Center. Arlington-based Interstate manages about 300 hotel properties. More information -->.

Interstate Hotels & Resorts also recently named Paul Burke its new president of hotel operations. Burke previously was Interstate's executive vice president of operations, overseeing a portfolio of full-service properties, ranging from independent resorts and boutique properties to large, branded urban hotels. In the new position, he will oversee the company's hotel operations. "Interstate has exceptional bench strength and promoting Paul was a natural progression," said Thomas F. Hewitt, Interstate CEO. "He has more than 25 years of operating experience with a wide variety of properties and has a great grasp of our organization and culture."

Plateau Rated Overall Customer Satisfaction Leader for Global Enterprises Arlington-based Plateau Systems, a leader in enterprise software that manages learning and knowledge readiness, announced superior customer satisfaction results in the Bersin & Associates' 2005 LMS Customer Satisfaction Study. Plateau received top customer ratings in six of eight customer satisfaction measures. Among global enterprise vendors, customers rated Plateau as the leader in overall satisfaction with the LMS solution and also the leader in the vendor loyalty category. In addition, Plateau received the leader rating in solution value, total customer service, ease of ownership and ease of use. The "leader" rating was given to the vendor that received the top rating among its peer group for each customer satisfaction category. More information-->.

BAE Acquires UDI Rockville-based BAE Systems North America, the subsidiary of the large British defense company, has entered into an agreement to acquire Arlington-based United Defense Industries (UDI) for about $4 billion in cash. UDI, headquartered in Arlington, had 2004 sales of $2,292 million. It produces combat vehicles, artillery systems, naval guns, missile launchers and precision munitions. UDI's stock was up nearly 25% on Monday. More information -->.

Arlington-Based MPRI Wins $400 Million Justice Dept. Contract Defense contractor L-3 Communications announced its Arlington-based MPRI subsidiary has landed a Department of Justice deal valued at $400 million to provide support services for law enforcement advisors and trainers. Under the contract, MPRI will work through four regional offices to support the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) for law enforcement advisors and trainers around the world. ICITAP currently has teams in 35 countries. More information -->.

Revolution Cycles Celebrates Grand Opening of Two New Stores Revolution Cycles, with locations in Washington, D.C. and Arlington, celebrated the grand opening of two new stores in Rockville, MD and Stafford, VA. Its Clarendon location features two actual bikes ridden by Lance Armstrong: his 2000 Olympic bike and 2002 Tour de France Time Trial bike. Revolution Cycles is a sponsor of the CSC Invitational, the region’s most prestigious professional bike race, formerly called the Clarendon Cup. This year’s race will be held Sunday, May 29th, 2005, where national champions, Olympians and world champions will compete on the streets of Arlington, VA. More information -->.

GSA Leases Crystal City Space The US General Services Administration (GSA) leased 56,446 square feet on the ninth, tenth and 11th floors at 223 23rd Street or Crystal Plaza 5. The space will be occupied by the Department of Defense. GSA originally occupied 139,000 square feet in the 154,940-square-foot 11-story building, but recently downsized to 56,446 square feet.

National Air and Space Museum to Acquire SpaceShipOne The Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum will later this year become the permanent home to SpaceShipOne, the first privately built and operated vehicle to reach space and a milestone toward development of tourism beyond Earth's gravity. Paul G. Allen, Microsoft co-founder and sole funder of SpaceShipOne, announced plans to donate the spacecraft to the Smithsonian during the National Air and Space Museum's annual Trophy awards ceremony on March 9. Plans call for SpaceShipOne to arrive at the museum's flagship building on the National Mall in Washington in late summer.

Faces of the Fallen Exhibit Honors Military Dead More than 1,300 portraits debuted at Arlington Cemetery Gateway in an exhibit designed to honor the men and women killed in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The "Faces of the Fallen" exhibit features the works of some 200 artists using a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, sculpture and collage. "We have worked intensely to make this an apolitical event," said Anne Murphy, one of the main founders of the exhibit. Murphy called "Faces of the Fallen" an "intense family experience." More information -->.

Q1 2005 Shows RevPAR Increase for Metro Area Smith Travel Research statistics show big RevPAR increases in the Washington, D.C. metro region during the first two months of 2005, jumping 20.9% from $64.5 to $77.95. Arlington's February year-to-date RevPAR increased 16.5% over 2004 to $84.97, up from $72.94.

Washington Monument Reopens to Crowds The venerable Washington Monument, a focal point for the National Mall's historic sights, reopened to the public after completion of security renovations. With the heavy tourist season looming and the cherry blossom trees in bloom, the monument will resume its place as a top attraction for visitors to the capital. The more than 555-foot obelisk had been closed since September when a $15 million security project began. The security improvements included vehicle barriers and a new lighting system. Visitors will now be able -- from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week -- to travel by elevator to the top of the monument. But the surrounding 55-acres will remain off limits until late June. More information -->.

Positive Lodging Industry Trends Appear Sustainable into 2007 After four years of recovery, the lodging industry is on track to exceed its previous peak performance recorded in 2000. That’s the conclusion of Ernst & Young’s 2005 National Lodging Report, which includes insight from their Real Estate Advisory Services practice on the direction of the U.S. hotel business, its key trends, segment performance, and detailed outlook for major metropolitan markets including Washington, D.C. Full report -->.

BizLaunch Events The following events are sponsored by BizLaunch, Arlington’s Small Business Assistance Network, in April. Events are free, unless otherwise noted. For more information, on these events and others, visit the BizLaunch Web site

Interested in Starting a Business?
April 14, 6 - 8 p.m.
1015 N. Quincy Street Auditorium, Arlington, VA 22201, Arlington, VA Learn what you need to do to get a business license, certificate of occupancy, and state registration. Discover free website tools which can aid you in writing your business plan, developing a marketing strategy and financing options. Also, find out which organizations can help you map out your entrepreneurial plans. For more information phone (703) 228-0898 or email Darnell Roseboro.

The 9th Annual Arlington Teen Summer Expo
April 23, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Washington-Lee High School, Arlington, VA. The Arlington Teen Summer Expo offers teens the opportunity to connect with local businesses, agencies, and citizens with available summer jobs, internships, or community service opportunities. Plus, the Expo helps teens develop their job search strategies, interviewing skills and other valuable life skills of independence, community activism, and self-confidence! As many as 1,000 students attend the Expo every year! Last year, more than 200 local businesses, non-profits, citizens, and volunteer agencies participated in the 2004 Expo. For more information phone (703) 228-1404 or register online.

Events

First Friday Networking Breakfast
First Friday of the month
Sponsored by Women's Business Center of Northern Virginia, from 8 - 9:30 a.m. at WBCNOVA, 7001 Loisdale Road, Suite C, Springfield, VA. Fee: $5.00. For more information phone (703) 778-9922, or visit WBCNOVA.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Workshop
April 6, Noon to 1:30 p.m.
At the Martin Luther King Library, A-level at 901 G Street, Washington, D.C. Sponsored by Washington Emerging Technologies Center, this program is designed as an introduction to the SBIR program. The 90-minute interactive workshop provides basic information on how to successfully participate in the federal government's billion-dollar small business development contracting program. This session will provide information on how to develop a detailed commercialization strategy outline. More information -->

14th Annual International Franchise Expo
The world's premier annual franchise expo showcasing hundreds of franchise concepts and covering a vast array of industries at all investment levels. April 8 – 10, 2005 at the Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place, Washington, DC, 20001 from 0:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sponsored by the International Franchise Association. Admission rates vary. More details -->.

Arlington to Hold Food Vendor How-to Event
Interested in becoming a food vendor? Experts from Arlington’s Health Department, Police Department and Business Licensing will provide useful tips at this seminar on Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. at 3033 Wilson Boulevard, Room 7E. Contact (703) 228-7400 for more information.

Paint the Town with Technology
April 13, 5 - 9:15 p.m.
Sponsored by NVTC, at the Hilton, 7920 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA. Member fee: $195, Non-Member fee: $295. Join more than 900 executives from the technology community and "Paint the Town." Register online.

Swedish-American Entrepreneurial Days in Washington, D.C.
On Wednesday April 20 through Friday April 22, the Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce (SACC-USA) will hold its principal trade event between Sweden and the United States, to assist companies who are interested in initiating business and trade between the two companies. The event is made possible through close cooperation with the international and local business communities in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland. Over the years, this has helped a number of Swedish companies enter the U.S. market and has spurred companied in the U.S. to initiate or expand their business interests in Sweden. Register online.

SBA Expo '05
April 26 – 28, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sponsored by SCORE at the Hilton Washington, 1919 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC SBA Expo is a dynamic three-day event that brings together current and hopeful small business owners, corporations, trade associations, federal government employees, and community leaders to celebrate the common vision for the development and growth of small businesses nationwide. Attendees have the opportunity to participate in an array of events all designed to enhance opportunities for entrepreneurs through valuable networking possibilities, unique educational information, and unparalleled inspiration. For more information call 800-818-5319 or visit the SBA Web site.

Winning Proposals and Pricing/Cost Strategies: A Guide for the Federal Contractor
April 26 – 27, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sponsored by Pepper Hamilton & FTI Consulting, Pepper Hamilton LLP, 600 Fourteenth Street, NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC. Fee: $199. Join members of Pepper Hamilton and FTI Consulting as they address how to prepare for an/or continue doing business with the government, the importance of understanding the rules and regulations, key issues affecting contract finance and accounting as they relate to government contracting from the macro to the micro view, and risk minimization. All seminar participants will receive a complimentary copy of Winning Proposals and Pricing/Cost Strategies: A Guide for the Federal Contractor, a 100+ page book written by Michale A. Hordell, Laura L. Hoffman, Charles L. Wilkins and Tim DiGuiseppe. For more information phone (215) 981-4905.