Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille has announced the appointment of 10 business and community leaders to the City's newly created Mayor's Economic Sustainability Work Group. Established by the City Council, its mission is to "build on the work of the City's Economic Development Sustainabilty Summit" of January 2006.
"I am very pleased that these outstanding leaders have agreed to participate in this important venture for our city. We are truly fortunate to have assembled such a diverse and successful group to help chart Alexandria's future economic course," Euille said.
The group's primary goal is to study the economic challenges and opportunities facing Alexandria over the coming years. Based on those findings, they will make recommendations to City Council by the end of 2006 as to how best to deal with those perceived opportunities and challenges.
Specific areas upon which the Work Group will focus include:
* Reviewing and analyzing information pertaining to the City's economic and financial status, demographics, and economic development potential based on the City's adopted land use plans.
* Assessing the City's reputation with potential businesses and exploring ways it can be improved.
* Reviewing and benchmarking the City's existing economic development, tax and business retention, and recruitment policies and programs.
* Examining case studies of other cities that have confronted similar issues.
* Addressing related issues such as affordable workforce housing, reducing revenue reliance on real estate taxes, and identifying ways to expand new revenue sources.
Those named to the group are: James Butler, co-chair, Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations; Lavern Chatman, president and CEO, Northern Virginia Urban League; Dr. Stephen Fuller, director, Center for Regional Analysis, School of Public Policy, George Mason University; Dennis Garcia, CEO, Potomac Management Group; Charlotte Hall, vice president, Potomac River Boat Company; Mark Kington, president, Kington Management Corporation; Greg Leisch, CEO, Delta Associates; The Honorable John K. Meagher, former, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department; Nigel Morris, co-founder and former president, Capital One; and Lonnie Rich, chairman, Board of Director, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.