Serious, But Manageable: Arlington County Responds to BRAC Announcement On May 13, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued recommendations to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission that would relocate nearly 4 million square feet of DoD leased office space from Arlington to military bases, most located in this region. With nearly 20,000 jobs facing relocation, Arlington is the most affected jurisdiction in the U.S.

While the loss of 4 million square feet is serious, Arlington officials have publicly stated that the situation is manageable. A coalition of Virginia’s local, state and federal officials have been actively involved in the BRAC process, and are currently reviewing strategies to address the potential changes. Congressman Jim Moran and other members of the VA delegation will hold a BRAC Town Hall Meeting to discuss on the impact of the BRAC recommendations for Northern Virginia on Monday, June 20, 2005 from 12:00-1:30 p.m. at the George Mason University Law School Atrium, 3301 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22201. For more information, contact Arlington Economic Development at 702-228-0808.

Heads Up: Large-Scale Public Safety Exercise at Pentagon On Wednesday, June 8, 2005 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., the Pentagon will host a large-scale, multi-location exercise in Arlington named Gallant Fox III. The three primary exercise locations will be at the Pentagon, the Navy Annex (east end of Columbia Pike) and Jefferson Plaza 1 (1411 Jefferson Davis Hwy.) This exercise will involve a large number of emergency vehicles from local fire, police and rescue units. There will also be practice evacuations from the Pentagon and Jefferson Plaza 1 and role players and observers wearing yellow and orange armbands. Loud noise simulation devices (“flash-bangs”) will be used during the exercise. If you know of family members, friends or co-workers who will be in these areas next Wednesday, please make sure they are aware of the exercise. Please do not call 911 unless there is an actual emergency outside of the exercise. If you have any questions, please call the Arlington County Information Line at 703-228-3000.

Caps Facility to Break Ice with All-Day Celebration The Washington Capitals, Arlington County and Ballston Common Mall will hold a June 11 ground-breaking ceremony to celebrate the construction of the Ballston Ice Skating Facility at the Ballston Common Mall in Arlington, Va. from 2p.m. to 5p.m. The new complex, which will serve as the Capitals training facility and a community recreation center, is in the beginning phases of construction and is expected to open in summer, 2006. The celebration will include a variety of events and activities, including an ‘ice-breaking’ ceremony featuring team and County officials, an autograph signing by Capitals alumni, street hockey games and clinics, a VIP reception at Bailey’s Pub & Grille, mall shopping discounts for fans and many fun activities for children. The event is open to the public and is free.

Hurricane Season has Arrived! June 1 marked the beginning of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, which is expected to bring a higher than normal number of hurricanes to the East Coast according to hurricane experts. Even when hurricanes strike other areas of the country, they can still cause significant property damage and loss of life in our area. To help you weather the storm, Arlington has created a hurricane and storm awareness Web page with information on how to be prepared before and after severe weather strikes.Hurricane season ends Nov. 30. Be prepared by signing up for Arlington Alert, which sends Arlington-specific information within seconds to pagers, cell phones, PDAs, e-mail and BlackBerry devices. It's the best way to receive emergency information when you need it most. It works even during power outages; during Hurricane Isabel in 2003, the system was indispensible. There is NO COST to sign up. Click here to subscribe.

Psst! Get the Inside Scoop! Get a free subscription to Arlington Insider, the best way to keep up with all the latest news and information in Arlington. This biweekly e-newsletter is a quick read and features Arlington news, updates, news clips and tips. More than 5,000 Arlingtonians have signed up to receive Insider and the number grows every week. What do they know that you don’t? To subscribe, go to the Arlington County Web site, and click on the “Arlington Insider” Quick Link.

U.S. Airways Announces Merger with America West In May, Arlington-based U.S. Airways announced merger plans with Tempe, Arizona-based America West. While U.S. Airways is still finalizing specific plans, officials from both airlines have said they'll establish their new headquarters in Tempe. Arlington officials will be working closely with U.S. Airways and the Arlington Employment Center to replace many of the jobs that may depart. Despite the planned headquarters move, a stronger, combined airline could result in bigger business for U.S. Airways at Reagan National Airport, where it conducts nearly 350 daily flights, or about 43 percent of the airport's daily volume. Between April 2004 and March 2005, US Airways served more than 4.5 million passengers and ranked first in volume at Reagan National. More information -->

AES Profits More than Double Power-plant owner AES reported sharply higher earnings on rising sales and lower expenses. The company says first-quarter net income was $133 million, more than double the $48 million in the same quarter a year ago. Sales rose 17 percent to $2.65 billion. AES continued to reduce its debt last quarter, cutting interest costs by $26 million. AES, which is based in Arlington, benefited from both higher rates at the utilities it owns and from currency translations. The company owns or has a stake in power-production businesses in 27 countries. More information -->

CACI Names Senior VP for Homeland Security Arlington-based CACI International, a provider of information technology to the government, has named Ronald Cournoyer as its senior vice president for homeland security. Cournoyer previously led CACI's managed network services business development efforts. His background includes executive and technical positions with BDM and TRW, as well as a 24-year Air Force career.More information-->.

Forest City Acquires Ballston Common Office Center Forest City Enterprises has acquired Ballston Common Office Center, the 176,000-square-foot office structure that sits above the 578,000-square-foot Ballston Commons Mall. The Cleveland-headquartered real estate firm paid TA Associates Realty $61.5 million or $333 per square foot for the eight-story, Class A office building. The property is currently 98% occupied by The Better Business Bureau, IT training and software consulting group Global Knowledge, and lead tenant US Coast Guard.

Canon USA Inc. Renews Lease at Sequoia Plaza Phase 2 Canon USA Inc. renewed its 60,500-square-foot lease for 5 years at Sequoia Plaza Phase 2, located at 2110 Washington Boulevard. Situated at the intersection of Route 50 and Washington Boulevard, Sequoia Plaza is also home to Northrop Grumman and Maden Technologies.

RevPAR Increases Continue in April Smith Travel Research statistics show that in April, 2005 the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room) jumped 17.3% over last year. Arlington RevPAR rates jumped 18.8% in the same period, posting increases of 19.3% in upper tier hotels, and a 20.7% increase in middle tier hotels. Only the lower tier showed a slight dip of 0.9%. More information-->

Crystal Gateway Marriott Renovations to Be Completed Crystal Gateway Marriott will soon complete a $3.5 million renovation of its public space, lobby and restaurants, in mid-June of this year. With these renovations, the hotel will now provide guests with two restaurants and a lobby lounge. The more formal dining restaurant, BIN 1700 will be open for lunch and dinner and will offer a full wine list. For family dining at breakfast, lunch or dinner, MEZ is a great choice. Hotel officials report that the hotel’s meeting space is especially attractive to meeting planners because 90% of space is contained on one level, and is free of pillars, providing unobstructed views throughout. For more information, contact Rick McCarten at 703-271-5111.

U.S. Air Force Bands to Perform at Annual Concert Series In June, July, and August, the National Air and Space Society will host the 3rd annual summer noon concert series featuring ensembles from The United States Air Force Band's eight performing units. The United States Air Force Band Silver Wings will perform on Wednesday, June 1 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. at Gallery 104, West End in the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall. Admission is free. More information-->

Summer Concert Series at Pentagon Row Pentagon Row and Z104 present the 3rd Annual Rock at the Row Summer Concert Series on Thursday nights, June 2 - August 4 from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Pentagon Row Plaza. In the event of rain, concerts will not be rescheduled. Call 703-413-6692 for more information. Upcoming concerts include Bens Bones on June 9; the Reflex on June 16; Jokers Wild on June 23 and Fools and Horses on June 30. Complete listing-->

BizLaunch Offers On-site SCORE Counseling BizLaunch is once again offering SCORE business counseling. Each Tuesday of the month between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and noon, a SCORE counselor will be available to meet with area entrepreneurs to review business plans, overview marketing strategies, analyze financials and more. Book your SCORE appointment today or call (703) 228-0808.

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

Third Annual Small Business Expo, June 11
On Saturday, June 11, 2005, Arlington will hold its third annual Small Business Expo from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Arlington Career Center, 816 South Walter Reed Drive, Arlington, VA. Sponsored by the Small Business Coordinating Council, the Small Business Expo will provide Arlington entrepreneurs with access to resources to help build their businesses, including real-life advice from successful business owners, and resources from state, local and federal government entities. The third annual Small Business Expo will include sessions on negotiation strategies for small business, marketing techniques, financing and record keeping. In addition, a special session on starting a business will be conducted in Spanish to help serve Arlington’s growing Hispanic community of small business owners. More information, or to register-->

Overview of SBA’s Programs and Services (Finance Workshop)
June 14, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m
Arlington County Public Library, Central, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Auditorium, Arlington, VA 22201
Learn about all of the benefits and services currently offered by the SBA’s Washington Metropolitan Area District Office. Have you utilized the complimentary business resources offered by the SBA such as SCORE, 8(a) and BIC? Learn new ways that you can improve your business. For more information, contact droseboro@arlingtonvirginiausa.com, or Register online-->

BizLaunch Business Bootcamp in Spanish
September 23 & September 24, 2005
Arlington Economic Development, Suite 1500, Arlington, VA 22201
Sponsored by BizLaunch, Northern Virginia Community College & The Ibero American Chamber of Commerce; $75. Learn all you need to know in 1 ½ intense days to understand what it means to be an entrepreneur – all in Spanish. Business experts from Northern Virginia Community College will help you to learn all the key aspects of becoming a small business owner and growing your business. For more information or to register, contact Catalina Ford cford@iberochamber.org, or call 703-228-0802.

Women Changing the World….National Business Women’s Conference
June 7, 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Hotel on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001; $275. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a career executive, a seasoned manager, a successful business owner, are about to open your own business or a university student gearing up for the fray, this Conference will provide tools, techniques, information and contacts that will prove valuable. It is for, by and about successful women. For more information or to register, call (202) 785-4922 or click here -->

How Customer Loyalty Drives Sales and Profits
June 10, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Sponsored by the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Inc. & Savar and Associates. The successful retailer earns his customer’s loyalty. This seminar will highlight the importance of attitude and customer experience, what customers want; brand, brand promise and customer retention. Plus, get five tips that ensure customer loyalty and business growth. For more information, contact George Williams at (703) 739-3820, ext. 11, or e-mail Williams@alexecon.org. Register online -->

Blueprint for Success for Small, Women and Minority-Owned Businesses
June 22, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
University of Maryland University College, Inn and Conference Center, 3501 University Boulevard East, Adelphi, MD 20783. Attend valuable business sessions on Strategic Partnerships and the economic environment for small, women and minority-owned businesses. Special guests include Governor Robert L. Ehrlich who will address MBE economic empowerment. The featured keynote speaker is Charles “Roc” Dutton. More information -->, or call 1-877-558-0998.

Women-Owned Small Business Procurement Conference
June 29, 8: 30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
At the Johnson Center (Ground Floor), George Mason University, Fairfax Campus, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA; $40. The Department of Defense, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, in partnership with George Mason University Procurement Technical Assistance Center will host DoD's 2005 Women-Owned Small Business Procurement Conference. This will be a one-day, all-day educational/training/workshop for women entrepreneurs interested in obtaining practical advice about doing business with DoD. More information -->

U.S. Senator George Allen to Celebrate General Aviation
On Thursday June 23, from 6 to 9 p.m., U.S. Senator George Allen will join the Washington Airports Task Force, Signature Flight Support and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority in a salute to general aviation at Signature Flight Support’s hangar at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Come wine and dine and enjoy exhibits of the new GA capabilities on the horizon including the Small Air Transportation System (SATS) and the new family of microjets, which will significantly expand the availability of personal air transportation. These new capabilities, as well as the traditional range of general aviation capabilities, from MedEvac and humanitarian services, to large corporate aircraft, will be on display. While celebrating the expanding role of general aviation, the event will also salute efforts to return general aviation to Reagan National, as well as recognize Customs and Border Protection, who protect the skies over our Nation’s Capital. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, please contact Carol Welti at (703) 572-8714 or by e-mail at carol@washingtonairports.com.

British-American Business Association Event
The British-American Business Association (BABA) will sponsor an event at Arlington Economic Development on Tuesday, June 21 from 6:30pm – 9pm. Keynote speaker will be Cresencio (Cris) Arcos, Director of International Affairs for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Ambassador Arcos will address DHS' activities from an international dimension, with a special focus on what DHS is doing with the U.K. To register -->

What does the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement Mean for Your Company?
The International Trade Association of Northern Virginia and the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce’s International Business Exchange Council will sponsor an event at Arlington Economic Development on Tuesday, June 28 at 8am – 9:30am. Panel will discuss the 2005 US-Australian Free Trade Agreement and how it came about. They will provide information on background negotiations and share their knowledge on the specific industry sectors affected by the agreement, and the opportunities for American companies. To register-->

Inside Track - Don't Just Set Prices: Manage Them Strategically
Sponsored by American Marketing Association, DC Chapter and Arlington Economic Development June 16, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Arlington Economic Development, Arlington Business Center, 1100 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 1500, Arlington, VA. Early bird fees are available online. Thomas T. Nagle, PH.D; author of Amazon's #1 selling book on pricing, "The Strategy and Tactics of Pricing” and Chairman and CEO of the Strategic Pricing Group will illustrate, with examples from his years of experience, how successful companies proactively manage their markets in all these dimensions to make their pricing more profitable. Fee includes program, hors d'oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages; early bird discounts are available online at AMADC. For more information, phone (703) 228-0808.