Crystal City Goes Two Ways Big changes are ahead for one of Arlington’s largest downtowns. This summer, Crystal City will unveil new building addresses, new retail and restaurants – and a whole new direction! Beginning on June 26th, Crystal City’s streets will run two-ways, making Crystal City much easier to navigate. The two-way streets are part of a larger initiative spearheaded by Charles E. Smith which includes updates to building addresses to accurately reflect street location, directional signage, and the attraction of hot new restaurants and great retail including Jaleo, Oyamel, McCormick & Schmick’s, Bailey’s Pub and Grille, Coldstone Creamery, Caribou Coffee, and others. This summer, be sure to visit this downtown with the “freshest” face in Arlington. For details, click here.

Arlington’s Federal Agenda Federal actions can have major impacts on Arlington’s economy in a myriad of ways, given the rapid changes in the U.S. economy, and Arlington’s significant federal presence. As a consequence, Arlington provides for a federal liaison through the County Manager’s Office with a responsibility to track federal issues that might benefit or harm the County’s economy, to serve as an advocate for the community, and to represent its interests. Arlington's Federal Legislative Affairs Coordinator Frank Shafroth provides insight on Arlington’s priorities vis-à-vis the federal government and its strategic focus on the future. Click here to read guest columnist Frank Shafroth’s Arlington’s Federal Agenda.

Women, Youth Represent Growth Areas According to a Zelos Group report, women and younger users are more apt to adopt new wireless services and applications. The report notes that 28 percent of female mobile subscribers surveyed claim to play games on handsets compared with only 17 percent of male counterparts — meaning women may be a more viable market to target. Younger users — those under 25 — are early adopters, driving market uptake of new services. While Zelos says carriers are focusing wireless e-mail initiatives on corporate users and middle-aged mobile professionals, only 6 percent of 25- to 44-year-olds say they use wireless e-mail services compared with 15 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds. For more information, click here.

Hotel Operations Costs on the Rise Despite positive RevPAR growth in 2004, PKF Consulting and the Hospitality Research Group’s recent report indicate declining profits in U.S. hospitality sectors. Increases in wages, and employee benefits (7.1% in 2003 over 2002 according to the study) are cited as concerns. Utility costs, despite deregulation and increased conservation programs, have risen 5.9% nationally. Insurance costs are also cited as problem areas. For more information, click here.

ABBIE Award Winners Announced The 2004 ABBIE Awards were presented on Friday, May 28th at the Sheraton National Hotel. Held in conjunction with Arlington’s Economic Development Commission (EDC), this annual event featured eight ABBIE Awards. Congratulations to all who were honored! The 2004 ABBIE Award winners are: Chinn/Baker Funeral Service; Arlington Promotional Products; Plateau Systems; Vanguard Services Unlimited; Cherokee Information Services, Inc.; Main Event Caterers and American Service Center. AED’’s own Tara Miles, BizLaunch Manager, was awarded the special honor of Friend of Small Business, which was awarded by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. This award is given out rarely, and only to a person who has greatly and significantly contributed to Arlington’s small business community. For more information on the BizLaunch program, click here.

Federal Presence Attracts Mass Firm iRobot to Arlington Signaling its new emphasis on military contracts, iRobot, a Massachusetts-based maker of mobile robots, opened a new office in Crystal City that will serve as a hub for its Government & Industrial Robotics division. The company reported that 50 of its reconnaissance and tactical robots are being used in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information click here.

Watson Wyatt Crosses Potomac Global consulting firm Watson Wyatt & Company will relocate its Washington, D.C. headquarters to 120,000 square feet of Class A office space in Arlington Gateway at 901 North Glebe Road. Watson Wyatt will occupy the space in four phases beginning May 2005 through July 2005; the building is scheduled for delivery in May 2005. Along with other tenants including Nixon & Vanderhye P.C. and ESI International, Arlington Gateway is now 70% pre-leased.

EPA Signs Lease in Crystal City The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) leased over 400,000 square feet of office space at Potomac Yard, a 300-acre site located in Crystal City. The two 12-story office buildings are currently under construction and expected to deliver in 2006.

Arlington-based Rajant Lands Army Contracts Last year Arlington-based Rajant landed a $5.4 million research and development contract from the Army. This year, it has landed an additional $800,000 in contracts. Rajant’s technology establishes a wireless high-speed data, voice and video network providing a diameter of about a half a mile. Each additional devise expands the network's area, depending on where it's deployed. "It's a nice product because it helps our soldiers and it's going to help our first responders as well," said Robert Schena, Rajant's chairman. For more information, click here.

AETC, Inc. Awarded Navy Contract AETC, Inc. was awarded a $5,548,456 cost plus fixed fee contract for research and development in submarine science and technology. The research and development program consists of physics, signal and noise modeling, signal processing, performance and threat assessments, participation in at-sea exercises and demonstrations. For more information, click here.

GSA to Lease Crystal City Space The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) signed a ten-year lease agreement for 278,101 square feet at 2201 Jefferson Davis Highway, known as Crystal Plaza 4. The Federal Supply Service (FSS) will occupy over 90% of this Class A office building in late 2005, when it is vacated by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Arlington's Science Advisory Board Finds Overeaction to Bio Weapon Threat A new poll by The Science Advisory Board, an Arlington-based online panel of more than 20,700 scientists, physicians and other life science and medical professionals, found that scientists -- much like the general public -- overrate the threat of biological weapons. Almost half of those surveyed believe that biological weapons will cause the greatest threat to international security over the next five years, with conventional and nuclear weapons each lagging behind with 20%. "Despite scientists' concerns, biological weapons are not as common, accessible and available as chemical weapons," said Tamara Zemlo, the director of The Science Advisory Board. For more information, click here.

Group-Logic’s MassTransit Chosen as File Transfer by Valassis Arlington-based Group Logic, a leading provider of network workflow products, announced that Michigan-based Valassis, which provides marketing services such as advertising and newspaper inserts and coupons to the consumer goods and retail industries, has selected MassTransit as an integral technical component in the development of its digital asset management system. "We're creating an all digital structure that will support a real-time 100% digital workflow," explains David Rapp, Technology Research and Development Manager at Valassis. For more information, click here.

AES Corporation Reports 18% Increase in First Quarter Fortune 200, Arlington-based AES Corporation recently reported first quarter results that included an increase of 18% in operating income to $618 million on sales of $2.3 billion. President and CEO Paul Hanrahan said, "We achieved broad-based, strong and encouraging sales and operating income growth during the quarter across our diversified portfolio of generation and distribution businesses. Our continued focus on operations, combined with stronger macroeconomic fundamentals, are both reflected in this quarter's results, and we continue to see additional opportunity ahead.”

Tourism

Travel Purchases via Internet on the Rise The Internet continues to change the landscape for tourism; consumer utilization of the Internet to plan some aspect of a future trip, whether for business or pleasure, continues to rise, according to new data from a YPB&R/Yankelovich Partners 2004 National Leisure Travel Monitor. The rate at which consumers now use the Internet to book travel services is growing even faster, suggesting that consumers are likely to use the Internet to purchase travel services with even greater frequency in the months ahead. For more information, click here.

Travel Industry Association Forecasts 3.2% Increase in Summer Travel Americans will take more than 334 million person-trips (one person traveling 50+ miles, one-way, away from home) during June, July and August 2004. Air travel is expected to increase five percent this summer, primarily due to leisure travelers, compared to a three percent increase in auto travel. Florida leads the list of top ten destinations for this summer, but both Washington, D.C. and Virginia are on the list. For the full report, click here.

Marine Corps Marathon wins Award Following the closure of the 29th Marine Corps Marathon lottery for runner’s numbers, new honors for the race came last week from CEO of USA Track and Field, Craig Masbach, who presented the award for “2003 Charitable Race of the Year”. Charitable partners raised $8 million dollars for various causes at last year’s race. Joining one of these groups can be a way to still get into the race. For more information, click here.

Photo Finish for CSC Invitational (formerly Clarendon Cup) A photo finish named Lars Michaelsen of CSC’s sponsored team the winner of the 2004 CSC Invitational, formerly known as the Clarendon Cup. On June 1, competitors pedaled through Arlington, vying for a first place. Lars Michaelsen won the men’s flat, six-turn, 1 kilometer circuit in 2:13:26. For more information, click here.

Events

Arlington Firms Line up for Tech-e Awards Save the date! Arlington Economic Development and the Arlington Chamber’s e-Council will host the third annual Tech-e awards on November 4, 2004 at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. The Tech-e’s highlight successful technology companies either located in Arlington, or those who are members of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. Award categories include Technology Young Mind Award and Scholarship; Technology Corporate Citizen of the Year; Technology Innovator of the Year; Technology Company of the Year; and the Technology Executive of the Year. Nominations to begin in July; for nomination forms, click here, or call 703.525.2400 for event details.

ITANV Event: Small Businesses Exporting Abroad The International Trade Association of Northern Virginia (ITANV) will sponsor an event on “Success Stories and Challenges of Small Businesses in the International Marketplace” on Wednesday, June 9th from 12:00–2:00 p.m. at the Tower Club in Tysons Corner. For registration information, click here.

Subcontracting Opportunities in Iraq
June 16, 8:00 a.m.–Noon
The federal government awarded over 5 billion dollars to seventeen contracts to provide dedicated support under the Coalition Provisional Authority Program Management Office (PMO). These companies have to set aside 10% to a goal of 23% of their work to small businesses. Have your business be a part of the Iraq reconstruction effort by attending this informative seminar.
Location: George Mason University, Arlington Campus, 3401 N. Fairfax Drive, Ste 244, Arlington, VA 22201

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

Arlington’s Second Annual Small Business Trade Fair
June 26, 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Time is running out. Don’t forget to register for the business event of the year. Network with the area’s leading service providers and meet entrepreneurs from around the region. Five business sessions are available for you to choose from: Marketing, Retail, Technology, Government Contracting & Financing.
Location: Arlington Career Center, 816 S. Walter Reed Drive, Atrium, Arlington, VA 22204.

¿Necesita un Plan de Negocio? (Need a Business Plan?)
15 DE JUNIO, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
¿Cansado de trabajar para otros? ¿Desearía ser dueño de su propio negocio? ¿Preparado para iniciar su negocio pero necesita ayuda para desarrollar el plan de negocio perfecto? ¿En qué se fijan los bancos y otros prestamistas al revisar su propuesta? ¿Necesita proyecciones de futuro a pesar de no haber estado en el negocio por mucho tiempo? Si tienes dudas sobre alguna de estas preguntas y más, únete a nosotros el próximo mes de junio y aprende las estrategias para escribir el plan de negocio perfecto.
Location: Biblioteca Central de Arlington, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Auditorium, Arlington, VA 22201

Author Talk with Washington Post Columnist Michelle Singletary
June 16, 7:30 p.m.
Michelle Singletary, nationally syndicated Washington Post columnist and writer of the Post’s column “The Color of Money” will discuss her book, 7 Money Mantras for a Richer Life. Signed copies of the book are available for sale at Olsson’s Books and Records.
Location: Arlington County Public Library, Central, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA