Courthouse Plaza to Welcome New Marriott Concept Hotel Arlington Board Chairman Barbara Favola announced that Courthouse Plaza will be the location of the first of a new "urban prototype" SpringHill Suites hotel from Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR), along with the first Georgia Brown's restaurant to be located outside Washington, D.C. The Donohoe Companies, Inc. was named "preferred developer" of the new hotel-restaurant complex, which will complete the acclaimed Courthouse Plaza development. The 190-suite SpringHill Suites facility will feature upgraded exterior materials and an elegant, urban interior design that matches the urban environment at Courthouse Plaza. Washington, D.C. restaurant Georgia Brown's will act as a destination restaurant and retail anchor for the hotel. News release-->

Washington Capitals Skating Facility Approved A joint venture between the Washington Capitals and Arlington County to develop a community ice rink in Ballston won approval by the County’s Board. The facility, which will serve as the Capitals training facility and house the team’s administrative offices, will be open for community use year-round. “Arlington is very pleased to have such a highly visible and desirable amenity within the County, which will bring benefits to both Arlington residents and the businesses surrounding it” stated Arlington County Board Chairman Barbara Favola. “Arlington has worked very hard to make this project happen and we believe it will be a tremendous asset for the community. We’re thrilled to welcome the Capitals to their new home.”

The facility will be the first indoor ice rink inside the Capitol Beltway in Virginia. News release-->

Alexan Receives Approval The Arlington County Board approved the Alexan Condominium project, which will bring 20 new family sized affordable homeownership units to South Arlington. The Alexan at South Glebe will be a 251-unit condominium building with a four-story element and an 11-floor tower. Proposed by Trammel Crow Residential, Inc., it would be located at 2485 S. Glebe Road, on the current site of an Econo Lodge motel. “This project continues the momentum that is revitalizing South Arlington,” said County Board Chair Barbara Favola. “In addition, it will help maintain the diversity and vitality of the Nauck community and surrounding areas.” News release-->

Arlington Restaurants Make News Welcome Arlington newcomer Tallula, recently profiled in the Northern Virginia Journal. The article cited Tallula's quick rise to “Arlington institution” status, and its “sophisticated look, attractive menu, and extensive wine list.”

Looks like Washington D.C. isn't the only place with a hot new restaurant scene...also receiving kudos in the Washingtonian “100 Very Best Restaurants” issue (Jan. 2005) were Arlington favorites Carlyle Grand Café, Layalina, Ray’s the Steaks, Woo Lae Oak, and the new Crystal City location of Jaleo. Clarendon’s Eleventh Street was named “What’s Hot” and described as a "swanky, yet friendly bar and lounge…attracting a laid-back crowd of twenty- and thirty-somethings.” Under the heading of “Twenty Places to Watch” Bistro des Celestins, an offshoot of Arlington’s award-winning La Cote D’Or was noted, along with Crystal City’s new Oyamel, a Mexican concept restaurant from the owners of Jaleo and Zaytinya. Congratulations to Arlington's many fine restaurants

Metal Storm CEO Resigns Metal Storm, an Australian defense-technology company with offices in Arlington, says CEO Charles Vehlow has resigned after major surgery. General manager, Ian Gillespie, has been appointed acting CEO until a new chief executive is selected. The board accepted Vehlow's resignation with regret, says interim Chairman Terry O'Swyer. Metal Storm develops electronically initiated ballistics systems using its "stacked round" technology. Full story -->

United Defense Wins $48M Contract Arlington-based, Bradley Fighting Vehicle maker United Defense Industries received a $48 million contract add-on to modify amphibious assault vehicles going to Taiwan. The contract is a modification to a $64 million contract received in June 2003. The assault amphibious vehicles are designed to improve mobility for transporting troops and cargo from ship to shore. With the new modifications, the overall contract value is about $112 million. Full story -->

UDI also won a $95,000 Navy maintenance contract, and although a drop in the bucket for the company, the contract has big potential. Under the contract, United Defense Industries' Norfolk shipyard will support maintenance planning for 10 Navy destroyers whose home port is Norfolk. If the Navy exercises all options, the five-year contract has a potential value of $50 million. Full story -->

General Dynamics Wins $5.8 Million Contract The Arlington-based Advanced Information Systems, a unit of General Dynamics, received a $5.8 million contract to provide analysis, design and implementation support for the Acquisition Wide Area Network system of the National Security Agency/Central Security Service. Full story -->

CACI Wins Navy/Marine Contract CACI International has won a $16 million contract from Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Norfolk, Detachment Philadelphia, for technical services to support the Fleet Assistance and Shipboard Training program, known as FAST. The FAST program focuses on solutions to supply problems from an applications, systems and training perspective. Full story-->

GSA Hires Arlington’s DMJM The General Services Administration has hired Arlington architecture firm DMJM Design to restore the Lafayette Building at 811 Vermont Ave. NW. Chicago-based consulting firm McClier and New York-based engineering firm Flack + Kurtz also are involved in the project. The contract is worth close to $100 million. DMJM’s Arlington office beat five other architecture firm on GSA’s short list for the contract. DMJM recently moved into the Hartford Building in Clarendon at 3101 Wilson Boulevard.

Public Transit and Shopping Centers: Access or Denial? Former Arlington Economic Development staff member Thomas R. Devaney answers this question in a recently published article in the International Council of Shopping Center’s Legal Update publication. The discussion addresses both the legal and philosophical issues of denying or allowing access, including an analysis of the implications of each. Currently, Mr. Devaney practices in the Washington, D.C., area and has extensive experience in all types of commercial real estate transactions, including sales and acquisitions, financing, construction, and leasing. Mr. Devaney is co-author of the Georgia chapter in State by State Guide to Commercial Real Estate Leases, published by Aspen Press. Full article-->

Clarendon Wells Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. has acquired 3100 Clarendon Boulevard for $83.1 million or $349 per square foot from Jamestown. The 14-story, 238,183-square-foot Class-A office building was built in 1987. 3100 Clarendon Boulevard is the only office property in the Clarendon submarket with direct access to the Metro station from within the building. The building is 100% leased to the General Services Administration (GSA).

Virginia Square Lasalle Investment Management acquired the 158,230-square-foot Virginia Square Plaza located at 3811 North Fairfax Drive for $64.2 million, approximately $405 per square foot from Principal Life Insurance. Virginia Square Plaza is 100% leased by government contractors including Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI, SAIC, SRA International and Schafer Corporation.

Inauguration 2005: Come Early, Stay Late, Stay Arlington Inauguration activities are not just limited to the confines of Washington, D.C. In fact, the Arlington hospitality community is looking at another large, early-first-quarter boost in business as it does every four years. More information-->

Washington Reagan National is Back Airline use of Reagan National has returned to pre 9/11 levels and the passenger counts are expected to grow to record levels in 2005. James E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority stressed that “absent from the landscape is general aviation, which still needs to find its way back to Reagan National.” Passenger use of Washington Dulles increased from 1.321 million in September 2003 to 2.095 million in September 2004 – an increase of 58.5%. Operationally, Washington Dulles is now one of the five busiest airports in the United States. More information-->

Air & Space Museum Special Exhibition Visitors to the National Air and Space Museum may be surprised to discover that the museum maintains one of the world's great collections of art documenting and interpreting the past, present and future of flight. The collection includes over 4250 objects -- paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, ceramic and textile items pieces of jewelry and other works of art. The artists represented range from those who specialize in aerospace themes to some of the most familiar names in 20th century American art, including Howard Chandler Christy, Norman Rockwell, Jamie Wyeth, Robert Rauschenberg and Alexander Calder. More information-->

NEW for 2005: Beginning with this issue, econ.news will cover Small Business News and BizLaunch events each month. This new section will highlight news and events for small businesses in the region, and will profile small businesses in Arlington. If your business has a story to tell, or if you have news or events pertinent to small business, we'd like to hear from you. Send your information and news to the econ.news editor for consideration.

¿Interesado en Empezar un Negocio? Arlington County enjoys one of the most diverse residential communities in the Washington, D.C. region. But did you know that we also match that diversity in our business community? In particular, Arlington enjoys an impressive number of Hispanic residents, business owners and entrepreneurs. To serve this active community, BizLaunch, Arlington’s Small Business Assistance Network, partners with the Greater Washington Ibero Chamber of Commerce to offer business information, counseling, research and education to Arlington’s Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs. Learn more about this unique partnership -->

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

Starting a Business Successfully in Arlington County
Thursday, January 27, 2005, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Arlington Central Library Auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA
For more information and to RSVP contact Darnell Roseboro at (703) 228-0898 or register online.

Overview of SBA's Programs and Services
Thursday, February 10, 2005, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Arlington Central Library Auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA
For more information and to RSVP contact Darnell Roseboro at (703) 228-0898 or register online.

Starting a Business Successfully in Arlington County
Wednesday, February 23, 2005, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Arlington Central Library Auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA
For more information and to RSVP contact Darnell Roseboro at (703) 228-0898 or register online.

The Nuts and Bolts of Starting A BusinessThe ACAP Micro-Enterprise Business Incubator Advisory Group will sponsor a community forum: "Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Business,” on Wednesday, February 9, 2005, from 5:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at 3033 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. The forum will provide a wide variety of information on starting a business. Entrepreneurs who become tenants of the incubator enjoy many benefits and services such as affordable office space, mentoring, no cost business technical training, no cost for business support services and low interest loans to expand business. For more information, please contact Chona Bravante, MBI Program Coordinator, at 703-241-2040 ext. 34.