November 1999
Features
ARLINGTON AND METRO TO CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF SMART GROWTH
Join us on December 1, 1999 as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Metro Orange Line in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. At noon, past and present the County will unveil a historic exhibit in the third floor Regal Cinemas Lobby of Ballston Common Mall. The exhibit will highlight the positive effect that the Orange Line has had on development along the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY TRADE MISSION TO U.K. SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY
You are invited to join the Virginia Economic Development Partnership's trade mission to England and Scotland from January 24-28, 2000. The mission includes visits to London, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Glasgow, with pre-screened appointments, business matchmaking and networking events at every location. Want to go? The trip costs about $3,000, including economy airfare, lodging, events and most in-country transportation. For more information, call the Virginia Economic Development Partnership at 703-689-3098 or contact VEDP via email at tbennett@vedp.state.va.us.BEST DOCTORS, INC. TO LOCATE IN ARLINGTON
The South Carolina-based doctor referral organization has chosen Arlington as the location for its new service center. The company will create 50 new jobs in the region, and invest at least $500,000 in the facility this year. Arlington competed successfully with Georgia and New York locations for the investment.ARLINGTON CONTINUES TO ATTRACT TECHNOLOGY
Maybe it's because Business Development Outlook Magazine confirmed in September that Arlington is the second safest community in the U.S. Or because, according to Yahoo! Internet Life, Arlington is one of the most wired metro areas. Perhaps we can thank Arlington's plentiful, diverse workforce, its successful public transportation and urban development and its proximity to the Nation's Capital. The truth is, technology firms are drawn to Arlington because of all these things and more.Over the past few weeks . . .
Merrill Lynch has signed its lease for retail space at Stafford II, 4121 Wilson Boulevard. They are due to move in December 1999.
www.merrilllynch.comSystems Management Engineering, Inc., an engineering consulting group that specializes in innovative software and information solutions that integrate and streamline business processes, moved into 1100 N. Glebe Road from Springfield, VA.
www.sysmanagement.comEntevo Corporation has doubled its space requirements at 2300 Clarendon Boulevard. Entevo was the first provider of cross-platform directory management solutions and designs develops and markets a suite of directory-based management products.
www.entevo.comWhetstone Logic, Inc., one of Arlington's new up-and-coming Internet companies, opened its first office in Rosslyn at 1601 N. Kent. Whetstone specializes in high-end Web data for the political and issue advocacy communities. It is a subscription-based Web site.
www.whetstonelogic.comMitsubishi Electric's USA press office and Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation have moved into 1560 Wilson Boulevard, 11th Floor. They wanted to be close to Mitsubishi Motors (in the same building, different floor), Washington, D.C. and love the urban environment that Arlington provides.
www.mitsubishielectric-usa.comThe George Washington University is planning to move its Crystal City graduate school facility to One Virginia Square - and to more than triple its size. One Virginia Square is due to be completed by the end of 1999.
www.gwu.eduPOTOMAC INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES MOVING TO BALLSTON
The Department of Economic Development and Barbara Wahle of Lowe Enterprises Mid-Atlantic, Inc., are pleased to announce that the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies has signed a lease to locate in Ballston Metro Center. The non-profit research organization will occupy about 14,000 square feet on the mezzanine level for its roughly 50 employees. By virtue of an approval by the County Board to convert upper-level retail space to office use, the Potomac Institute will have an opportunity for distinctive space for its clients and visitors from around the world.The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies provides non-partisan analysis of technology and technology policy to leaders in government, business, and academia. Studies have been done on a wide range of topics, including defense acquisition reform, dual use technology, space commercialization, cyber terrorism, and biological terrorism. The new location allows the organization to work even more closely with both the National Science Foundation and to DARPA, and to be part of the growing cluster of technology firms in Ballston.
REPORT CONFIRMS NATIONAL AIRPORT'S POSITIVE EFFECT ON ARLINGTON ECONOMY
An economic-impact study based on 1998 data, and recently released by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, shows the direct and indirect benefits from airport operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. In 1998 the airport served over 15.9 million passengers and generated direct benefits of $2.4 billion in business revenue for the local and regional economy and provided over 10,000 jobs with $384 million in personal income. When indirect benefits are taken into account, business revenue grew to $5.3 billion, jobs increased to 16,500 and personal income increased to $664 million. Additional spending for capital improvements at the airport totaled $31 million in 1998. For more details visit the Airports Authority's web site at www.mwaa.com.ARLINGTON COMPANY WINS NUMEROUS AWARDS AT NATIONAL AUTODESK CONFERENCE
Arlington based Republic Research Training Centers Inc. (RRTC), a leading provider of instructor-led AutoCAD and Microsoft BackOffice training, received numerous awards at the recent national Autodesk Training Center (ATC) conference. Autodesk presented RRTC with awards based on the evaluations of 147 ATC's across the country. The awards included:
- Instructional Quality Award (third consecutive year)
- Facilities & Staff Award (second consecutive year)
- Outstanding Performance Award (second year)
- Instructor Quality Award
Through strong strategic partnerships with Autodesk and Microsoft, RRTC has earned the status of Autodesk Premier Authorized Training Center (ATC) and Autodesk Registered Author/Publisher, as well as Microsoft Partner Level Certified Training Education Center (CTEC) and Microsoft Certified Solution Provider (MCSP). Additionally, RRTC develops Autodesk-certified courseware for other training centers. For further information on RRTC call 800.476.4454, or visit www.rrtc.com.
RRTC OFFERING DISCOUNTS ON MICROSOFT TRAINING
Receive 20% off any one Microsoft BackOffice class or any one Microsoft BackOffice class.For specific details about these packages, visit the RRTC Web site at www.rrtc.com/microsoft/packages/training/html
LEADERSHIP OUTFITTERS RELOCATES TO ARLINGTON COUNTY
Leadership Outfitters, which develops and delivers customized curriculum and practical implementation tools for team building and organizational leadership for a variety of organizations, is now headquartered in Arlington. With a clientele that includes Fortune 500 companies, associations, universities, student groups and small businesses, Leadership Outfitters has become a leader in team building, leadership development, corporate coaching, and teaching effective communication and presentation skills. For more information call 703.769.7660, or visit www.leadershipoutfitters.com.IMPROVE YOUR ABILITY TO DO BUSINESS WITH JAPANESE COMPANIES through the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)'s Technology Tie-up Promotion Program (TTPP). TTPP takes advantage of Internet technology to establish business connections between Japanese companies and other interested businesses.Americans and other foreign businesses may place information on TTPP's website about the kinds of contacts they are interested in making.
The information is then publicized to Japanese companies via the Internet, and American businesses also have the option of viewing a list of registered Japanese companies that are seeking contacts with companies in other countries. The database is organized by technical field and by the type of exchange that may be of interest to businesses.
Sales agreements and joint research and development ventures are examples of the kinds of exchanges that may emerge from these connections. There are no intermediaries involved that may impede communication -- businesses may contact one another directly, and there is no charge for the service and no obligation to participate.
For more information on JETRO and its programs, visit www.jetro.org.
1999 BUS TOUR MAKES AREA BROKER AN ARLINGTON BELIEVER
Arlington got a rousing testimonial from a consultant specializing in tenant representation for non-profits at a recent meeting of the Finance and Administration Section of the American Society of Association Executives. As a result of attending the Arlington Real Estate Bus Tour, Mr. Eric West, principal at West, Lane & Schager Realty Advisors, LLC, told association financial managers and local bankers attending an ASAE session on mergers in the association community that "Arlington really has its act together." The tour convinced him that the planning and office space are in place for associations and non-profits seeking to lower their expenses, and that the community has a pro-business attitude. Mr. West and his firm specialize in assisting trade associations and non-profit organizations.